By Doug Derrick, SIOR, managing broker, NAI El Paso The remarkable pace and volume of industrial growth that has defined the major markets of Texas over the past decade is making its way to El Paso, as evidenced by larger projects for marquee tenants and elevated levels of institutional capital targeting the market. The COVID-19 pandemic has boosted the appeal of industrial assets of all varieties, crowding the space with capital sources, driving up prices and creating lower yields on new investments. This holds especially true in high-growth markets like Dallas and Austin, which is why institutional investors are beginning to target secondary markets like El Paso, where assets can be acquired at lower prices. El Paso is experiencing the same growth in e-commerce and online shopping as the rest of the country. This market also continues to benefit from international trade and manufacturing across the border, adding another unique form of demand for developers and owners in our border town. Over the past decade, the volume of El Paso’s exports has doubled, with much of those goods flowing to Mexico. We expect to see manufacturers continue to locate operations in markets other than China, which should increase demand for …
