Birmingham Landlords Prepare as Workforce Transitions Back to the Office

While the Birmingham market never fluctuates too heavily in either direction, it typically remains relatively stable compared to national trends. Such has been the case with the effects of COVID-19.Birmingham is well-positioned for a return to the office, thanks in large part to our economy’s heavy makeup of local and regional businesses. Most smaller businesses have been in the office for some time, while large national enterprises still wrestle with what normal operations will look …

May 2, 2022Alabama, Market Reports, Office, Southeast, Southeast Market Reports

Birmingham is Poised to Stake its Claim as a Burgeoning Retail Destination

Like many of the markets within the Sun Belt, Birmingham’s economy remained relatively resilient through the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite its share of small business and restaurant closures, leasing activity is back to par, and owners continue to see steadily rising rental rates — up 3.1 percent over the last 12 months — as tenant demand continues to be robust.Retail absorption over the last 12 months is a healthy 400,000 square feet compared to -510,000 square feet a …

April 25, 2022Alabama, Market Reports, Retail, Southeast, Southeast Market Reports

Birmingham’s Multifamily Market is Making a Splash as In-Migration Soars

The Sun Belt is experiencing unprecedented growth with in-migration trends setting the stage for further expansion and bolstering in-place multifamily product. This includes Birmingham, which has weathered COVID-19 well not only from an employment perspective, but from a rent growth perspective too. The latter is not sustainable without the former, and local capital investments point to more tailwinds.[caption id="attachment_315295" align="alignright" width="100"] Craig Hey, Cushman & …

April 18, 2022Alabama, Market Reports, Multifamily, Southeast, Southeast Market Reports

Birmingham’s Apartment Market Starts 2020 Hot, but Coronavirus Impact Looms

The Birmingham multifamily market demonstrated its evolving strength last year. Continued job growth and limited apartment inventory led to the area reporting its highest occupancy rate in 10 years (94.8 percent) and monthly effective rent advancing 1.8 percent annually to $984 by year-end. In the early months of 2020, we did not see any slowdown in terms of deal volume. Due to rising concerns around market volatility and ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 crisis, we are faced with uncertainty in …

April 13, 2020Alabama, Market Reports, Multifamily, Southeast, Southeast Market Reports

Birmingham Retail a Solid Bet Before COVID-19 Outbreak, and it Will Bounce Back

What a time to write an article on the state of the retail real estate market in Birmingham. A few short weeks ago this would have been a much easier task. The fundamentals of the Birmingham retail market are healthy and exciting despite the current health crisis and the fact that we have experienced very little population growth. I travel across the country regularly, and there is a national undercurrent about Birmingham that is exciting. Birmingham is spoken about nationally as a city with …

April 6, 2020Alabama, Market Reports, Retail, Southeast, Southeast Market Reports

Birmingham Industrial Market Poised for New Projects with Record Low Vacancy

The surge in demand for Birmingham’s industrial real estate over the last few years has resulted in the highest occupancy rates in over 20 years. Alabama’s level of business friendliness has created a strong economy and high level of job growth since the end of the Great Recession. Manufacturing is a key driver of job growth. Overall vacancy rates in Birmingham’s multi-tenant industrial market have fallen to around 7 percent, which is an all-time low. Average rental rates have crept up to …

November 4, 2019Alabama, Industrial, Market Reports, Southeast, Southeast Market Reports

Birmingham Retail Market Sees Strong Backfilling Activity, Infill Developments

Birmingham’s retail market continued to see positive growth in 2018, and it’s safe to argue this is largely due to a significant amount of retail space being backfilled with entertainment, discount, medical and first-to-market tenants that otherwise may not have been able to enter the market. Dave & Buster’s backfilling a Forever 21 space at the Riverchase Galleria, Urban Air leasing a former hhgregg box in Trussville, Ollie’s acquiring the former Toys ‘R’ Us box in Hoover and …

July 1, 2019Alabama, Market Reports, Retail, Southeast, Southeast Market Reports

Relocations, Expansions Push Birmingham Office Market to a Tipping Point

Birmingham is a unique market for Class A office space. Last year had its fair share of notable transactions (both sales and leases), but overall a few key transactions from previous years pushed absorption in the negative figures. The most significant deal that is still impacting our market was a tenant relocation into the Red Roofs Colonnade (Colonnade North and South) located at the interchange of Highway 280 and Interstate 459, the heart of the 280/459 office submarket. Southern Co. …

June 24, 2019Alabama, Market Reports, Office, Southeast, Southeast Market Reports

Central Birmingham’s Multifamily Development Pipeline Set to Expand Significantly

Contrary to some Southeast markets’ recent shift in focus to the suburbs, construction in Central Birmingham continues to boom with activity. The Central Birmingham cluster — encompassing the CBD, Southside, Parkside District, University of Alabama Birmingham (UAB) and Lakeview neighborhoods — has established itself as a strong-performing submarket with 3,800 multifamily units total, according to CoStar. The growing number of desirable amenities such as parks, restaurants, museums and …

June 17, 2019Alabama, Market Reports, Multifamily, Southeast, Southeast Market Reports

Auto Manufacturing Drives High Occupancy For Birmingham’s Industrial Sector

Birmingham’s investor-controlled, multi-tenant warehouse market remains at or near record occupancy levels — 95 percent for bulk warehouse and 90.4 percent for office/warehouse. The 32-foot clear heights, Class A bulk market is even tighter at nearly 100 percent. Landlords are well into a cycle of market catch-up, rent growth and capital reinvestment. A growing list of tenants, reading the tea leaves, have gone long when appropriate. But what about new construction? A local developer …

June 10, 2019Alabama, Market Reports, Southeast, Southeast Market Reports