DALLAS — Lee & Associates has brokered the sale of a 9,800-square-foot industrial building in West Dallas. According to LoopNet Inc., the single-tenant building at 9101 Sovereign Row was originally constructed in 1957. Stephen Williamson of Lee & Associates represented the undisclosed seller in the transaction. Turner Peterson of Mercer Co. represented the buyer, Apel Construction Services.
By Taylor Williams Retail owners are facing critical questions about whether to sell or hold their properties in the current environment, which is still defined by uncertainty about whether interest rate hikes have truly peaked and investment sales prices have actually bottomed out. Investment sales decisions frequently hinge on analysis of cap rates, defined as a property’s net operating income divided by its sales price. Generally speaking, higher cap rates indicate lower sales prices and are therefore sought by buyers, whereas lower cap rates reflect higher prices and are preferred by sellers. Cap rates are fluid and tend to move linearly with interest rates. Thus, the Federal Reserve’s campaign of 11 interest rate hikes totaling 500 basis points over the last 20 months has caused cap rates in all asset classes to rise, or as industry folks say, to decompress. The extent to which this cap rate movement influences an investor’s sell-or-hold dilemma varies from deal to deal, but the common denominator is that it complicates all such decisions. At the inaugural InterFace Houston Retail conference, a panel of capital markets professionals delved into the numerical analysis and anecdotal evidence that investment sales brokers are relying on to guide clients …
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Is a Rebound in the Cards for Investment Sales Anytime Soon?
Would-be commercial real estate investors and sellers for the last several months have been waiting for a sign that the Federal Reserve has tamed inflation, therefore giving the central bank reason to officially end its tightening program. October’s better-than-expected consumer price index increase of 3.2 percent — versus the 3.3 percent consensus — may have delivered that signal. The futures markets immediately reduced the probability of a Fed interest rate hike in December to zero, with many capital markets analysts suggesting that it would begin to cut rates midway through 2024. But just an end to rate hikes could fuel investment sales activity, says Jeff Rinkov, CEO of Lee & Associates Commercial Real Estate Services. “Once investors see some positive sentiment from the Fed, I think they’ll start to get interested in deploying what we believe is an enormous amount of capital that has been waiting on the sidelines,” he explains. “I also think that’s when investors will be met by more accommodating sellers. At the moment, price discovery continues to be very challenging and is driving a sluggish transaction environment.” Crashing Sales Indeed, investment sales volume through three quarters of 2023 totaled $276.3 billion, a year-over-year decline of 55 …
MESQUITE, TEXAS — A partnership between Phoenix-based developer Creation Equity and Crow Holdings Capital has completed Mesquite 635, an industrial project located on the eastern outskirts of Dallas that totals roughly 556,000 square feet. Mesquite 635 comprises two rear-load buildings and one front-load building. Building A spans 159,728 square feet and features 32-foot clear heights and 37 trailer parking spots. Building B comprises 156,144 square feet and offers 32-foot clear heights and 27 trailer stalls. Building C totals 239,918 square feet and features 36-foot clear heights and 46 trailer parks. LGE Design Build served as the project architect and general contractor.
GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS — Locally based developer JPI has begun leasing Jefferson Cove, a 283-unit apartment community in Grand Prairie, located roughly midway between Dallas and Fort Worth. Jefferson Cove offers one-, two- and three-bedroom floor plans that feature ceramic tile backsplashes, individual washers and dryers and private patios/balconies. Amenities include a pool, fitness center, dog park, outdoor grilling and dining stations, a conference room, resident lounge and multiple courtyards. Rents start at $1,420 per month for a one-bedroom apartment.
HOUSTON — An undisclosed, New Jersey-based automotive parts distributor has preleased the entirety of Vault Distribution Center, a 185,413-square-foot industrial building under construction in South Houston. The standalone, rear-load warehouse sits on 12 acres and offers 32-foot clear heights, 137 surface parking spaces, 23 trailer parking stalls, 34 loading docks, two drive-in doors and an ESFR sprinkler system. Tyler Maner and Woody Hillyer of Stream Realty Partners represented the landlord, Vault Partners, in the lease negotiations. The tenant representative was not disclosed. Vault Distribution Center is on pace to be completed before the end of the year.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS — Shearer Supply, a wholesaler and distributor of HVAC parts and systems, has signed a 34,340-square-foot industrial lease at Everman Trade Center in Fort Worth. The four-building, 457,745-square-foot development is located on the city’s south side and features 24- to 32-foot clear heights and 130- to 210-foot truck court depths. Ken Wesson of Lee & Associates represented the tenant in the lease negotiations. Matt Carthey and Thomas Grafton of Holt Lunsford Commercial represented the landlord, Boston-based Cabot Properties.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS — Lee & Associates has negotiated a 33,239-square-foot industrial lease in Arlington. According to LoopNet Inc., the property at 2019-2025 Meridian St. was built on 3.4 acres in 1980, totals 71,973 square feet and features 22-foot clear height and 13 exterior dock doors. Mark Graybill and Reed Parker of Lee & Associates represented the landlord, Chicago-based ML Realty Partners, in the lease negotiations. Adam Curran of Cushman & Wakefield represented the tenant, Centurion Service Group, a platform that connects buyers and sellers of medical equipment.
HOUSTON — Ascendant Development has completed Haven at Elgin, a 649-bed student housing project that serves students at the University of Houston. The 16-story building sits on a 1.3-acre site that is adjacent to campus. Units range in size from 497 to 1,985 square feet and are furnished with vinyl plank flooring, granite countertops, kitchen backsplashes, and stainless steel appliances. Amenities include study rooms on every floor, a fitness center with yoga and spin studios, outdoor kitchen space and a resort-style saltwater pool.
HUTTO, TEXAS — Academy Sports + Outdoors has opened a 50,886-square-foot store at Townwest Commons, a shopping center located in the northeastern Austin suburb of Hutto. The retailer will join EVO Entertainment as the newest tenant of the next phase of the 24.5-acre development. The EVO Entertainment space, which will span 53,000 square feet and open late next year, will feature an 800-seat cinema, bowling lanes, restaurant and bar and an arcade area. NewQuest Properties owns Townwest Commons.