Western

— By Mike Adams, managing director, office investor services, Stream Realty Partners — The Orange County office market, like many others, is undergoing significant shifts as tenants reassess their office space needs in the wake of the ongoing transition to hybrid work models. Despite persisting challenges, recent developments suggest certain market segments are showing signs of recovery. This, naturally, sparks optimism that the worst of the downturn could be behind us. A key indicator of this positive shift is the noteworthy net absorption of 231,744 square feet, marking the first positive trend since the second quarter of 2022. Orange County’s Airport area has emerged as a leader in this office recovery, witnessing move-ins totaling 204,376 square feet. While the overall market grapples with challenges, such as a slight increase in the unemployment rate and mixed performance in office-using sector jobs, there are pockets of improvement, especially in the Class A segment. This positive absorption has contributed to a 10-basis-point decline in the total vacancy rate quarter over quarter, dropping from 18.7 percent to 18.6 percent. However, when viewed year over year, the increase from 16.4 percent highlights the enduring impact of recent economic challenges. The current vacancy rate remains notably …