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Vacancy and Construction Level Off and Net Absorption Slows
Phoenix, November 1, 2017– The Greater Phoenix office market leveled off during third quarter. Net absorption and new construction figures were low and vacancy has remained flat. This is according to a report released by Colliers International in Greater Phoenix, which can be read in its entirety by clicking Here.
“We experienced two factors that impacted activity during the third quarter, “ says Pete O’Neil, research director for Colliers International in Greater Phoenix. “Employment growth in the white collar, office industries slowed and we also experienced some significant tenant move-outs that put a hit on the absorption figures. We don’t anticipate more of this moving out activity in upcoming months, so fourth quarter absorption should bounce back.”
The Greater Phoenix office vacancy rate remained unchanged at 16.3 percent, which is 30 basis points below a year ago. The most significant decline in vacancy is being experienced in Class A properties. This category of office building had a 40 basis point dip in vacancy during third quarter to 14.1 percent. This helps balance some modest increases in the mid- to lower-tier buildings. Vacancy is generally trending lower with 12 of the area’s 25 submarkets posting recent vacancy rates under 15 percent.
Rental rates are rising, but at a slower pace than in recent years. Average asking rent is now $24.20 per square foot, 3.2 percent higher than a year ago and .6 percent higher than mid-year 2017. Despite declining vacancy in Class A properties, rental rates in those assets are growing at a much slower pace than the market as a whole.
Net absorption was positive in the third quarter, but a few tenant move-outs dragged down the overall total. Net absorption was just 71,000 square feet in the last three months, down from 570,000 square feet in second quarter. Tenants have moved into a net of more than 1.6 million square feet during 2017, compared to nearly 2.5 million square feet in the first three quarters of 2016. Large lease activity did pick up in third quarter with tenants of 50,000+ square feet.
Construction has slowed with deliveries of new office properties totaling less than 55,000 square feet during the third quarter. During second quarter the market delivered 315,000 square feet of new office space. Year-to-date the market has added 1.6 million square feet, down from 1.8 million in the first three quarters of 2016. Significant projects in Chandler and Tempe are being constructed and a total of approximately 1.7 million square feet are currently being built in the Valley. New projects are leasing quickly.
Sales of office buildings also dropped during the third quarter, down 3 percent from second quarter. Year-to-date, sales activity is down six percent from one year ago. The median price of properties changing hands was $139 per square foot, down slightly from the median price in second quarter. Prices are higher in larger buildings that exceed 100,000 square feet, at $195 per square foot in transactions posted thus far in 2017. Cap rates averaged in the mid- to high- seven percent range during third quarter, which is up approximately 50 basis points from the second quarter.
Despite the slowdown in the third quarter, the Greater Phoenix office market is expected to have a healthy close to the year. Net absorption should increase during the next three months and the vacancy is expected to drop another 30 basis points Greater Phoenix should reach the lowest year-end vacancy since 2007 by the end of 2017. The outlook for the office market is a bit more conservative than in the past two years as local employment growth has slowed. Fortunately, during this office market expansion cycle, construction activity has been judicious so Phoenix has not suffered its traditional overbuilding boom.
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About Colliers International Group
Colliers International Group Inc. (NASDAQ and TSX: CIGI) is an industry leading global real estate services company with 15,000 skilled professionals operating in 68 countries. With an enterprising culture and significant employee ownership, Colliers professionals provide a full range of services to real estate occupiers, owners and investors worldwide. Services include strategic advice and execution for property sales, leasing and finance; global corporate solutions; property, facility and project management; workplace solutions; appraisal, valuation and tax consulting; customized research; and thought leadership consulting.
Colliers professionals think differently, share great ideas and offer thoughtful and innovative advice that helps clients accelerate their success. Colliers has been ranked among the top 100 global outsourcing firms by the International Association of Outsourcing Professionals for 12 consecutive years, more than any other real estate services firm. Colliers also has been ranked the top property manager in the world by Commercial Property Executive for two years in a row.
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Colliers International in Greater Phoenix has served clients locally and globally for more than 35 years.
