Austin, TX | 2016 Top #CRE Markets to Watch: Retail

Posted on July 27, 2016 by SVN

SVNIC’s 2016 Market Outlook Reports assess the current state of the national commercial real estate market, and identify micro-trends within specific geographic regions and industries for 2016. Today we are delving into the 2016 Top Retail Markets to Watch. Not the largest or the most actively contested markets, the 2016 Retail 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 Retail Market to Watch: Austin, TX

Retail real estate should perform well in Austin in 2016 and beyond, as this dynamic economy continues to grow and diversify. According to the Census Bureau, the population of Austin has grown 12.5% from 2010 to 2014. Not surprisingly, the economy looks stellar with a 3.2% unemployment rate as of January ‘16 and jobs are growing at 4.7% annually, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The best sectors for job growth are Mining, Logging, and Construction and Leisure and Hospitality, growing at 11.0% and 9.2% annualized rates, respectively. These forces will keep new residents locating in the metro region and businesses expanding. Retail demand will follow the population and should continue expanding in 2016 with ever-increasing fundamentals.

Advisor Insights: SVN | Tamarack in Austin, TX

SVN’s Austin-based Advisors at SVN | Tamarack have some retail market highlights to share:

Gateway Cities like Austin continue to benefit from diverse job creation ranging from service jobs to higher-end STEM (science, technology, engineering and math). It remains an attractive place to live for all generations. Due to the continued numbers of people moving to Austin all property types are attractive but retail properties will continue to be the most favorable investment type.

Austin has a tight market for space so we will see most new construction in sub-markets of Austin such as Lakeway, Leander and Cedar Park.

With average rental rates averaging $20 – $23.50 per square foot, rates are expected to increase by more than 4% by the end of 2016.
Values in the retail market are expected to increase by 2% – 3.9% by year end.
Absorption has been positive for the previous five years and is expected to increase to an estimated 350,000 square feet within 2016. With slightly more than 300,000 square feet of retail space expected to be constructed by the end of 2016 the occupancy rate will also increase above its current 94% rate. Retail properties that are under construction, planned and proposed represent a 3% growth to the current Austin market.
Cap rates are currently 6.8% – 7% and are expected to stay relatively flat for the next 6 months.

Stay Updated…

Over the next few weeks, the SVN Blog will be featuring posts that will focus on each of the top markets to watch for industrial, multifamily, office, and retail properties. SVN Advisors from selected top markets have provided their industry expertise regarding what to look out for in their specific market in the coming months. Don’t miss out on these important insights – subscribe to the SVN Blog on the right side of the blog homepage.

To read more on other top retail markets, download the full version of the 2016 Retail Market Outlook report here.

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Austin, TX | 2015 Top #CRE Markets to Watch: Multifamily

Posted on July 2, 2015 by SVN

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: Austin, TX

Following sustained growth in demand from strong migration to Austin, apartment effective rents as of the first quarter of 2015 were more than 30% higher than in 2010. Developers have responded in force to the persistence of rent growth over the last half-decade. Deliveries exceeded 9,000 units in 2014 and another 8,000 are expected in 2015. Even in the context of Austin’s strong job growth numbers, the pipeline is deep. Axiometrics estimates that Austin had roughly three new jobs for every multifamily unit that came online last year; of the most active investment markets, only Washington, DC had a weaker ratio.

With significant new supply, the occupancy rate in Austin has fallen slightly and landlords in a few submarkets have increased concessions and other incentives in order to attract tenants. Local economists and real estate professionals have mixed views on what the shift in the balance of supply and demand will mean for rents in late 2015, with estimates ranging from 5% year-over-year growth to projections of short-lived flatlining or declining property income. Most prognosticators agree that centrally located neighborhoods will continue to show rental growth in spite of the concentration of new inventory in the urban core. Suburban submarkets could see smaller increases or even some effective rent decreases due to concessions. The underlying demand drivers in Austin are strong, however. The market ranked 6th in a recent Forbes list of Top 10 Labor Markets, with an unemployment rate below 4%, and a growth rate in the local economy of roughly 5%. For investors with longer time-horizons, that leaves room for rent growth to pick up again in the medium-term, offsetting the market’s current aggressive pricing.

To read more on Austin and other top multifamily markets, download the full version of the 2015 Multifamily Market Update report here.

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Austin, TX | 2015 Top #CRE Markets to Watch: Office

Posted on June 18, 2015 by SVN

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 Office Markets to Watch. Not the largest or the most actively contested markets, the 2015 Office 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 Office Market to Watch: Austin, TX

A thriving tech sector set against an otherwise well-diversified local economy has made Austin a favorite of secondary market investors. In 2014, the pace of rent gains approached the double-digits as the vacancy rate fell to one of the lowest levels of any market in the country. Exceptional momentum in the local office market carried forward into the first half of 2015, though the pace of rent growth may taper off as more than 3 million square feet of office space currently under construction comes to market. In-progress projects and those in the planning and proposal stages are projected to expand the office inventory by nearly 10% over the coming years. Pre-leasing will blunt only some of the impact of new inventory. Although several high-profile central business district office construction projects like the 370,000-square-foot Colorado Tower and 195,000-square-foot IBC Tower are nearly entirely pre-leased, enthusiastic developers have allowed projects to go forward with fewer and fewer commitments.

With cap rates below 6%, investors in the Austin market face a higher burden in growing income over their investment time horizon. Current rent growth trends speak to the market’s potential, but investors should be cautious in any case. With a significant expansion in its office inventory over the next several years and more limited pre-leasing than its peer markets, Austin is exposed should the current expansion reach its peak earlier than is widely expected.

To read more on Austin and other top office markets, download the full version of the 2015 Office Market Update report here.

It’s a different world out there.