Sperry Van Ness International Corporation’s (SVNIC) 2015 Market Update Reports assess the current state of the national commercial real estate market, and identify micro-trends within specific geographic regions and industries for 2015. Today we are delving into the 2015 Top Multifamily Markets to Watch. Not the largest or the most actively contested markets, the 2015 Multifamily Markets to Watch are each at an important juncture that presents unique opportunities for investment. Together, they reflect the diversity of trends that is driving the economy and commercial real estate performance in markets across the country.
Top Multifamily Market to Watch: San Francisco, CA
San Francisco’s tech industry is booming, bringing with it jobs, rental households, and multifamily investment dollars. In spite of new development, the city still ranks as one of the most expensive (if not the most expensive) places to live in the United States. Chandan Economics reports that rents for mortgage-backed properties increased at a double-digit pace in 2014. Across the multifamily inventory, the average apartment rent was nearly $3,000. Prospects for income growth are well-capitalized into the market’s aggressive pricing; domestic and cross-border investors ready to pay a premium for liquidity are best prepared to navigate around buying opportunities.
The influx of young well-paid tech workers and the reach of development into new neighborhoods are not without their problems, as many long-time residents of San Francisco have found themselves on the losing side of gentrification. Affordability remains a concern for San Francisco residents and the stringent rent-control regulations remain bothersome for developers looking for short-term value-add investments. San Francisco should see 10,000 new units delivered before the end of 2015. The strong demand side fundamentals of the local economy should absorb the new supply easily. Among the notable projects, approvals are now in place for Parkmerced in the Outer Sunset. The first phase includes more than 1,500 units and will eventually rise to nearly 9,000 apartments. Lennar’s Hunters Point Shipyard-Candlestick Point redevelopment, which will produce 478 affordable and 755 market-rate units, is also underway, with the first affordable units expected in 2016.
To read more on San Francisco and other top multifamily markets, download the full version of the 2015 Multifamily Market Update report here.
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