Jul
23

National CRE News: US Office Real Estate Market Grows; Businesses Continue To Add Office Jobs

At Midyear, Accelerating New Office Supply Held In Check By Strong Absorption
U.S. Office Market Reaches Supply-Demand ‘Sweet Spot’ as Tenants Trade Up to Higher-Quality Space Despite Rising Rents
Source: CoStar
Reporter: Randyl Drummer
Posted: June 22, 2015

U.S. office market demand growth rebounded in the second quarter of 2015 following slower-than-expected net absorption in the first three months of the year as businesses continued to add office jobs and lease space.

Net absorption roared to 25 million square feet in the second quarter, the second-highest quarter for demand growth since 2006 and more than double the 12 million square feet absorbed during the first quarter.

After years of slow and steady increase in office supply, the level of office space under construction reached 124 million square feet in the second quarter, the highest total since 2009 and slightly eclipsing the 15-year average of 122 million square feet.

Rent growth reached s 4% annual rate in the first half of 2015, while the national office vacancy rate declined 20 basis points to 11.2%. The 27 million square feet of new office space deliveries in the first half of 2015 exceeded the historical first-half average of 21 million square feet, reflecting a relatively healthy office market and broader economy.

“We’re at a supply/demand balance — a really sweet spot in the market cycle for the office market,” said Walter Page, CoStar Group, Inc. director of U.S. research, office, joined by Senior Manager, Market Analytics Aaron Jodka and Managing Director Hans Nordby for CoStar’s State of the U.S. Office Market Midyear 2015 Review and Forecast.

Q2Absorption

Link to Article: Highest Q2 Office Net Absorption in 7 Years