By Kent Elliott, principal, and Chase Fryhover, director, RETS Associates By now, we’re all familiar with the Great Resignation — workers’ mass exodus from their jobs during the pandemic. The phenomenon hit just about every office-using industry, including commercial real estate. In fact, our firm recently conducted a survey of 200 individuals in the industry on job sentiment, which revealed that more than 75 percent of respondents intend to or would consider leaving their current company this year. The trend has affected Texas in a very profound way. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more Texans quit their jobs in September and October 2021 than did workers in any other state. So, what can commercial real estate companies — particularly in the Texas markets — do to maintain a productive and happy workforce and remain competitive in the field? Here are a few recommendations for companies looking to attract and retain talent in the current work environment based on our 20 years of experience as a national recruiting firm for the industry. Be Willing to Bend These days, flexibility is an essential quality at companies where people want to work. This largely began with the pandemic. The business community’s recognition …
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Lee & Associates’ Second-Quarter 2022 Economic Rundown by Sector
Rising interest rates, inflation and general economic uncertainty altered the patterns and outlooks for the industrial, office, retail and multifamily sectors across the United States. As Lee & Associates’ recent Q2 2022 North America Market Report reveals, certain sectors like industrial and multifamily, that were white hot last year, have begun to cool slightly. Meanwhile, retail is making historic gains in the face of decreasing interest in ecommerce. The full Lee & Associates report is available (with further breakdowns of factors like vacancy rates, market rents, inventory square footage and cap rates by city) here. The analysis below provides an overview of four major commercial real estate sectors alongside economic factors impacting each. Industrial Overview: Record Low Supply, Rent Growth Demand for industrial space eased slightly from its record-setting growth of last year but remained strong through for the first half of 2022 as annualized rent growth moved into double digits and the overall vacancy rate fell to 3.9 percent, a record low. Net absorption through June totaled 192.2 million square feet. It was the second highest two-quarter total on record and more than the 170 million square feet of tenant growth for all of 2019. It was exceeded only by 297.8 …
HOUSTON — Northmarq has arranged an undisclosed amount of acquisition financing for a portfolio of three multifamily assets totaling 1,134 units that are located throughout the metro Houston area. Sedona Square is a 250-unit property that was built in phases in the early 1980s and offers one-, two and three-bedroom apartments. Verano was constructed in 1980 and totals 312 units in one- and two-bedroom formats. Rock Creek at Hollow Tree, also constructed in 1980, comprises 572 residences in one-, two- and three-bedroom floor plans. James Currell, Joel Heikenfel and Emily Balazi of Northmarq arranged the debt through an undisclosed bridge/mezzanine lender on behalf of the borrower, Dallas-based WindMass Capital.
EL PASO, TEXAS — Dallas-based Provident Realty Advisors will develop a 308,270-square-foot speculative industrial project in El Paso. The facility will be situated on an 18.4-acre site near the intersection of Windermere Avenue and Loop 375 and will have both warehouse and distribution space. Building features will include 32-foot clear heights and 190-foot truck court depths. Construction is set to begin toward the end of the year. CBRE represented the seller of the land, River Oaks Properties, and will market the facility for lease upon completion.
SAN ANTONIO — Institutional Property Advisors (IPA), a division of Marcus & Millichap, has negotiated the sale of Vantage at O’Connor, a 288-unit apartment community in northeast San Antonio. The property was built in 2020. According to Apartments.com, Vantage at O’Connor offers one-, two- and three-bedroom units ranging in size from 605 to 1,150 square feet and amenities such as a pool, fitness center, media lounge, two pet parks and package concierge services. Will Balthrope and Drew Garza of IPA represented the seller, Vantage Communities, and procured the undisclosed buyer in the transaction.
CARROLLTON, TEXAS — HLC Equity has sold Toscana Apartments, a 192-unit multifamily property in the northern Dallas suburb of Carrollton. The complex was originally built in 1986 and offers a pool, clubhouse, fitness center, pet play area and outdoor grilling and dining stations. HLC Equity acquired the property in 2017 for $13.2 million and implemented a value-add program that upgraded unit interiors and common areas. California-based Archway Equities purchased the asset for an undisclosed price. David Austin and Rob Key of JLL brokered the deal. Toscana Apartments was 99 percent occupied at the time of sale.
MCKINNEY, TEXAS — The Ensign Group Inc. (NASDAQ: ENSG) has acquired the real estate and operations of Park Manor of McKinney, a 138-bed skilled nursing facility in metro Dallas. Standard Bearer Healthcare REIT Inc., Ensign’s captive real estate company, will own the real estate. This acquisition brings Ensign’s portfolio to 259 healthcare operations, 26 of which also include senior living operations, across 13 states. Ensign subsidiaries, including Standard Bearer, now own 106 real estate assets. The seller was not disclosed.
HOUSTON — Marcus & Millichap has brokered the sale of a portfolio of four self-storage facilities totaling 2,199 units in the greater Houston area. Two properties in the portfolio, which spans 429,169 net rentable square feet, are located within Houston, and the other two facilities are located in Baytown and Magnolia. Dave Knobler and Charles LeClaire of Marcus & Millichap represented the seller, a Georgia-based partnership, in the transaction. The duo also procured the buyer, a New York-based partnership. Both parties involved in the deal requested anonymity.
ROUND ROCK, TEXAS — Atlanta-based IDI Logistics will develop Sunrise Commerce Center, a 465,660-square-foot speculative industrial project that will be located on a 36-acre site in the northern Austin suburb of Round Rock. Phase I of the development will comprise three buildings totaling 310,693 square feet, while Phase II will encompass 154,967 square feet across two buildings. Adolfson & Peterson Construction is the general contractor for the project, which was designed by 5G Studio Collaborative. Pacheco Koch is the civil engineer, and Stream Realty Partners is the leasing agent. Construction will begin in September.
SEABROOK, TEXAS — Southern California-based investment firm Brixton Capital has acquired Regatta Bay, a 240-unit apartment community located about 30 miles southeast of Houston in Seabrook. Built in 2003, the property consists of 15 two- and three-story residential buildings and a pool, fitness center, dog park and tenant lounge. The seller was not disclosed. Brixton plans to upgrade the unit interiors, including new appliances, flooring, countertops and cabinetry, as well as updated lighting and plumbing fixtures.