Despite shifts toward remote and hybrid work, office rents continue to rise in North Carolina’s Triangle region. Among the 25 largest office markets in the country, Raleigh experienced the second-highest rent growth between 2019 and 2022 — a testament to continued tenant demand. We’re also seeing renewed interest in trophy assets, where the average asking rent has reached an all-time high of $43.35 per square foot. Additionally, the first quarter showed a 280,000-square-foot increase in total office supply, indicating investor confidence in Raleigh’s resilience. Compared to rival markets, Raleigh wasn’t overbuilt pre-pandemic. The market doesn’t have millions of square feet of vacant space downtown and is more balanced than its competitors, leaving plenty of opportunity for future growth. Another indicator of Raleigh’s growth trajectory is the 32 percent year-over-year increase in tours given by JLL’s Office Agency Leasing team this year. Given the current economic headwinds, we know that prospects are taking longer to make decisions about their space. However, we also know they are actively evaluating their options and making long-term plans for their team’s future needs. At buildings within our portfolio, badge swipes last quarter reached a post-pandemic peak utilization of 68 percent – just 13 percent shy …
