Landlords Emphasize Top-Quality Amenities, Services in OC’s Office Market

Employers throughout Orange County continue to seek ways to attract and retain the best and brightest talent as unemployment dropped to 2.4 percent in the second quarter, below both the California and U.S. rates. That, in turn, has resulted in landlords reinvesting in their properties, providing creative and flexible work spaces, and offering a variety of onsite amenities and service that help companies fulfill that goal. Landlords continue to seek out creative competitive advantages by …

November 23, 2019California, Market Reports, Office, Western, Western Market Reports

Orange County Tenants, Landlords Embrace the New Retail Norm

Despite the headwinds facing retail real estate, including the continued rise of ecommerce, the Orange County retail market remains resilient. Statistics are favorable. Vacancy is low at 3.7 percent and average market rent is $32.29 per square foot, up 1.15 percent from last year. Cap rates remain nearly 200 basis points below the national average, signaling buyer sentiment that OC retail is a relatively safe haven. Ground-up development is slow and selective, shoring up demand and keeping …

November 22, 2019California, Market Reports, Retail, Western, Western Market Reports

Orange County Braces for Rent Control, Continued Affordability Issues

Orange County’s multifamily market fundamentals remain some of the strongest in the country as local real estate investors brace for new state-wide rent control policies beginning Jan. 1, 2020. There will undoubtedly be an education process for landlords regarding this new law and how it may impact the valuation of multifamily in the future, but the long-term stability of the overall apartment market looks bright. [caption id="attachment_254410" align="alignright" width="100"] Matthew J. …

November 16, 2019California, Market Reports, Multifamily, Western, Western Market Reports

San Diego Retail Development Continues — Strategically

Whether it’s existing properties, new development, redevelopment or a repositioning effort, the key to success in San Diego’s retail market is to focus on customer experience. You have to make it attractive for them to come out from behind their computer screens, go outside, get some fresh air, look a total stranger in the eye and be social. The market is dominated by the coastal areas between Little Italy and Carlsbad. Primary core centers that are well located and occupied with strong …

September 28, 2019California, Market Reports, Retail, Western, Western Market Reports

San Diego’s Office Market Shows Strong Fundamentals, Continued Creativity

The outlook for San Diego’s office market is sunny and bright. Often considered a less costly option for office users as compared to other Southern California markets, San Diego holds consistent appeal for tenants seeking a coastal address where the weather is mild and the vibe is entrepreneurial and business friendly. The market is following the national trend of stronger occupancy rates and robust absorption, buoyed by a healthy economy. At 10.2 percent in the second quarter — the …

September 27, 2019California, Market Reports, Office, Western, Western Market Reports

All Signs Point to a Comeback for San Diego Apartment Investment Sales in 2019-2020

While Proposition 10 — California’s proposal to strengthen rent control — was defeated last November, it somewhat stifled the multifamily investment sector in San Diego as investors worked to figure out the next wave of opportunity. But now that market is starting to bounce back. Total multifamily sales volume in 2018 was just under $2 billion. However, several signs pointed to a resilient San Diego market, including cap rates holding steady at 4.6 percent and an increase in …

September 21, 2019California, Market Reports, Multifamily, Western, Western Market Reports

Plenty of Sunshine Remains in San Diego’s Industrial Market

The San Diego industrial market is still thriving under sunny skies. The 146-million-square-foot industrial base is more than 95 percent occupied. Businesses continue to gobble up space even though rents have grown 6 percent to 8 percent annually since 2015. Though industrial markets around the country continue to do well thanks to a rapidly expanding logistics sector, San Diego’s industrial growth is broader based. Major contributions come from the defense, tech, electronics, cross-border …

September 20, 2019California, Industrial, Market Reports, Western, Western Market Reports

San Diego’s Multifamily Market Outpaces Its 2018 Performance

San Diego continues to exhibit very strong fundamentals with a healthy and diversified economy, as well as a continued shortage of housing supply. The unemployment rate of 3.3 percent is below both the California and national unemployment rate. Tourism, biotech, healthcare, education, military/defense, drone manufacturing, business services, software and other high-tech industries have made San Diego a magnet for venture capital and other business investment, creating the jobs of the future. …

September 14, 2019California, Market Reports, Multifamily, Western, Western Market Reports

San Francisco’s Office Market is More Boom than Bust

San Francisco has been a boom-and-bust market since the Gold Rush. The current intense scrutiny of the yield curve, combined with the stock market’s recent erratic behavior, has sent warnings of the next looming recession. Just how will this affect the office market? Fortunately for the Bay Area, not much. Today, several key factors insulate San Francisco from a severe downturn, unlike past cycles. Among them are Proposition M and a concentration of venture capital, highly skilled talent and …

September 13, 2019California, Market Reports, Office, Western, Western Market Reports

Multifamily Activity Is Strong in Northern California…For Now

Northern California’s multifamily market has a strong development pipeline right now, but after 2020, it drops off dramatically. There is an increasingly toxic political climate in California, with measures like AB 1482 and the revival of Prop 10, which will likely throw a wrench in any planned development beyond 2020. Some of the most notable projects currently underway include Brooklyn Basin’s Orion in Oakland. The first 241 units out of a planned 3,700 have been completed. Brooklyn …

September 7, 2019California, Market Reports, Multifamily, Western, Western Market Reports