Sperry Van Ness International Corporation’s (SVNIC) 2014 Top Markets to Watch Reports assess the current state of the national commercial real estate market, and identify micro-trends within specific geographic regions and industries for 2014. Today we are delving into the 2014 Top Apartment Markets to Watch. Not the largest, or the most actively contested markets, the 2014 Apartment 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 APARTMENT MARKET TO WATCH : Denver, Colorado
Denver will add nearly 50,000 jobs in 2014, with much of the growth occurring in high-paying energy, financial services, health care and bioscience industries. Employment growth of almost 4 percent in 2013 and a similar gain expected this year make Denver one of the nation’s fastest-growing job markets. Multifamily rent grew at a remarkable 6 percent in 2013. The addition of 10,000 new units this year will expand the apartment inventory by more than 3 percent, however, enough to slow annual rent growth to a more modest 4 percent. Nearly half of the apartments under construction are in the central business district, where the renovated Union Station is set to open later this year. Existing and planned light rail lines offer development opportunities, as well as value-add plays for investors able to upgrade and reposition existing, older properties in these growth corridors.
To read more on Denver, and other top multifamily markets, download the full version of the Top Apartment Markets to Watch report below.
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Download the Top Trends and Markets to Watch Reports
Apartment Trends and Markets to Watch
Office Trends and Markets to Watch
Industrial Trends and Markets to Watch
Retail Trends and Markets to Watch
Commercial Real Estate Trends and Markets to Watch
Nearly 2 percent annual population growth and a diverse employment base are propelling San Antonio’s economy at a healthy clip, but the market lags the performance and rising profile of the other major Texas metros of Houston, Dallas/Fort Worth and Austin. San Antonio’s longstanding strength in the military and aerospace sectors, coupled with close proximity to Austin’s high tech cluster, has fostered an important cyber security sub sector. Located less than an hour’s drive south of Austin, the Alamo City has also captured a large piece of the Eagle Ford Shale energy boom emanating from South Texas, while its business-friendly climate, thriving tourism and manufacturing jobs attract new residents and fuel home sales. Office tenants were still giving back space in 2012 but absorption turned positive here in 2013. Delivery of several new office projects slowed rent growth and pushed the office vacancy rate into the middle teens last year without softening conditions enough to hamper rental rate growth. More construction is likely to begin in 2014. For investors who missed the opportunity to acquire office assets in Houston, Dallas or Austin at the bottom of the market cycle, San Antonio offers acquisition and development opportunities in a market that is in the early stages of appreciation.
