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: Spokane, WA
The economy of Spokane is attempting to recreate itself from a natural products producer to a more high tech and business-focused cluster but, so far, the results remain mixed. Unemployment has grown recently to 7.7% in January ‘16 but new job creation is occurring at a 1.7% annualized rate, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Top sectors adding jobs include Information, Professional and Business Services, and Educational and Health Services, which are growing at annualized rates of 13.8%, 6.3%, and 3.6%, respectively. Population grew 4.2% from 2010 to 2015, according the Census Bureau, which means that overall demand for retail could grow. Still, sustained reductions in unemployment will need to be seen for significant growth to occur. As the tech industry grows, this is possible.
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.
[bctt tweet=”Spokane, WA is one of 2016’s top retail #CRE markets to watch.” username=”svnic”]
San Francisco has been the iconic American boomtown for centuries and this trend continues today as technology firms have helped lead record job growth that has brought the unemployment rate down to 3.9% in January ‘16 as employment continues to grow at a 3.6% annualized rate, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. San Francisco is also a major port and tourist destination, thus the demand for retail real estate should grow strongly in 2016 and beyond. According to the Census Bureau, population has grown by 5.9% from 2010 to 2014, which is quite impressive given the limited land mass of the city and topography of the Bay Area. As rents and home prices rise, expect San Francisco retail real estate to continue gentrifying as well, causing rent spikes in many sub markets.
Portland has experienced surging new employment in 2015 that has brought the unemployment rate down to 4.7% as of January ‘16, while new jobs are being continually added at an annualized rate of 3.1%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is due to a well-diversified economy and quality of life that will also fuel growth in Portland’s retail real estate market. Top sectors for growth include Information, Leisure and Hospitality, Education and Health Services, and Construction, all growing at annualized rates of 9.4%, 4.6%, 4.5%, and 3.9%, respectively. As the population continues to grow as it has done by 6.1% from 2010 to 2014, according the Census Bureau, there will be greater needs for all real estate including retail establishments in 2016 and beyond.
San Diego has steadily grown since the recession with now record levels of employment that have brought the unemployment rate down to 4.7% in January ‘16, while new jobs continue to be added at an annualized rate of 2.8%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Population has also grown 6.1% from 2010 to 2014 according to the Census Bureau, as people choose San Diego for its high quality of life and climate. Its diverse economy from military and shipping to research and finance has allowed demand and fundamentals for retail real estate to grow with a trend that should persist through 2016 and beyond. The top sectors for job gains are Construction, Education and Health Services, Professional and Business Services, and Manufacturing, with annualized growth rates of 7.4%, 3.9%, 3.6%, and 3.4%, respectively.
Orlando continues to be one of the fastest growing markets in the nation, fueled by record tourism and new business openings and relocations. Unemployment remains stable at 4.7% as new jobs are being created at a 4.9% annualized rate, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Population has also boomed by 9.9% from 2010 to 2014, according to the Census Bureau, creating the demand for more retail real estate. Top employment sectors include Construction, Professional and Business Services, Manufacturing, Educational and Health Services, and Leisure and Hospitality, with annualized growth rates of 14.5%, 8.6%, 7.3%, 4.6%, and 4.4%, respectively. This broad-based growth will enhance the health of the retail real estate sector in 2016 and beyond for both tourist-focused and resident-focused establishments.
Nashville’s economy continues to boom, as employment sets new record highs with continued 4.0% annualized growth that has brought the unemployment rate to a low of 3.7% as of January ‘16, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This corresponds with a 6.7% increase in population from 2010 to 2014, according to the Census Bureau. This growth is putting pressure on retail real estate as fundamentals improve in face of steady growth; a trend expected to persist in 2016 and beyond. The fastest growing employment sector is Mining, Logging, and Construction followed by Professional and Business Services, then Financial Activities and Information, with annualized growth rates of 9.4%, 8.7%, 4.5%, and 4.4%, respectively. This type of broad-based job growth is sure to boost all real estate sectors including retail.
After facing a deep real estate and economic recession, Miami has fully recovered, has more employment than ever, and continues to grow at a 2.9% annualized pace, while unemployment remains stable at 5.2% as of January ‘16, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This growth has been led by a new construction boom fed by foreign investment that has construction jobs growing at a 10.5% annualized rate, making it the far and away fastest growing sector. Population has also grown by 7.8% from 2010 to 2015, according to the Census Bureau, and is expected to continue growing, fueling the need for more retail development. Miami’s joint tourism, retirement, and business growth should force rental rates up and vacancies down in the retail real estate sector for 2016 and beyond.
As tourism growth has once again led Las Vegas to new heights in overall employment, the unemployment rate is still falling as it sits at 6.5% as of January ‘16 while jobs are being added at a 2.5% annualized rate, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Construction is the fastest growing employment sector at an 11.0% annualized rate followed by Education and Health Services at 8.1%. Las Vegas took a pause in population growth due to the recession but the pace is likely to grow in 2016 and beyond; still, the city grew by 5.0% from 2010 to 2014, according to the Census Bureau. Growth in tourism will spur the need for tourist-focused retail in popular locations like The Strip; however, overall growth will also increase demand for retail to service the local population. Over time, Las Vegas is likely to diversify from tourism and become a more balanced economy.
Charlotte has expanded its employment base steadily since the recession bottomed in 2010 and currently has a relatively low 5.3% unemployment rate, as of January ‘16, and 2.8% annualized growth of new jobs, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The region has also grown population by 10.1% from 2010 to 2014 according to the Census Bureau, making it prime for expansion and development of retail real estate. Major growing employment segments include Mining, Logging, and Construction, Financial Activities, and Leisure and Hospitality with 6.4%, 4.8%, and 4.6% annualized growth, respectively. As Charlotte continues to be a popular place to work and live, more firms are likely to enter the market, including those seeking to establish corporate headquarters. Despite these positive forces, North Carolina’s recently enacted “bathroom law” threatens to reverse economic growth as businesses and consumers look elsewhere to avoid the perceived discriminatory law; this could cause pain to the retail sector for the rest of 2016 and beyond if not fixed.
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.
Charlotte is generally well-regarded for its healthy office market and, having recovered substantially from the financial crisis, is drawing retailers with an eye for its improving employment and consumer outlook. With falling retail vacancy rates and only modest levels of construction, market fundamentals are poised to strengthen through 2015 and 2016. Across all retail subtypes, Chandan Economics reports the market vacancy rate for mortgage-financed properties fell below 7% in the fourth quarter of 2014. As compared to a year earlier, the pace of rent growth nearly doubled during 2014.
momentum in the sector’s otherwise prodding recovery. Over the next year, many of those investors will see their patience rewarded. A stronger consumer and a healthy uptick in lease signings, a dearth of new supply, and a growing appreciation for shoppers’ changing tastes are poised to lift occupancy rates and rents for well-located, well-tenanted, and well-managed properties. Risks remain, most clearly from shoppers’ substitution into online commerce for an ever-widening range of quickly delivered products. In managing those risks, the shift to destination “shop and play” retail models — and the emergence of new models including urban outlet centers — are taking on new urgency as competition for consumer dollars intensifies.
of their prospects in the job market, is also on the upswing.
early 2015.
While the impact of e-commerce on retailers has varied dramatically across product types, there is no segment of the market that is fully immune to the fundamental changes in the way Americans shop. Properties that are perceived as more resilient to substitution out of brick-and-mortar, including the most urban locations and grocery- and pharmacy-anchored properties, commanded a larger price premium and lower cap rates in 2014. That divergence in retail property values may narrow in 2015 as a better job market and rising discretionary spending lift some weaker segments of the market.
In addition to boasting some of the top tourist destinations in the United States, Central Florida has cultivated a thriving technology cluster in a 23-county region spanning the breadth of the state. Joint programs by regional universities and community colleges cover a wide range of technology fields, from microelectronics to biotechnology, modeling and robotics, aerospace, wireless technology and digital media. The growing workforce of highly skilled, young professionals is attracting tech employers and fostering startups, adding a significant and expanding source of well-paid residents to help drive retail sales. Tampa and Orlando share a similar overall retail vacancy rate of about 9.5 percent, but Tampa’s malls have outperformed with a vacancy rate below 4 percent and average mall rents of $25 or more per square foot. In Orlando, mall vacancy is 200 basis points higher and average rent is closer to $15. Tampa’s weak spot since the recession has been excess vacancy at strip and neighborhood centers, but falling rents in those subsets showed signs of flattening in late 2013. Orlando in particular has benefited from resurgent tourism that will increase as the economic recovery takes a firmer hold in U.S. markets this year. Investor confidence in Central Florida’s outlook has driven strong demand for net-leased retail since 2011, and would-be buyers are now showing greater interest in multi-tenant properties with below-market rents that offer good upside potential.
