— By John Wadsworth and Aaron Phillip, Colliers — The Orange County medical office building (MOB) market continues to show resilience post-pandemic despite headwinds of the new interest rate environment. The overall Orange County MOB market consists of 10 million square feet with a current vacancy of 8.5 percent, down 100 basis points from the end of 2022. The average rental rate is $3.48 per square foot, per month, full-service growth, with an increase of 9.3 percent from mid-year 2022. The lack of significant MOB construction completions, coupled with much of the existing vacancy found in older, functionally obsolete buildings, has kept supply largely in line with demand. The velocity of MOB leasing activity has softened compared to pre-pandemic transaction volume, with healthcare providers still digging out of the financial “COVID hole.” Among other market pressures, labor costs and retention across healthcare employment significantly contribute to continued narrow margins on provider balance sheets. From larger health systems to smaller independent practices, all have been impacted, slowing the pace of expansion projects and mandating shorter, more flexible transactions until more permanent real estate solutions can be implemented. Despite the market challenges posed by the pandemic, MOB absorption has remained positive countywide, …
