C&W: East Valley Submarkets lead Metro Phoenix Office Health
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Two words tell the story of the 2014 Metro Phoenix office market: East Valley. The Tempe, Scottsdale and Chandler submarkets outperformed the entire Valley, helping to pull the city back to real estate health, according to figures released Thursday by Cushman & Wakefield of Arizona, Inc.
“The Scottsdale and Southeast Valley office corridors have benefitted from incredible leasing activity from a variety of users ranging from insurance companies to tech firms,” says Jerry Noble, managing director of Cushman & Wakefield. “2014 was the strongest year of the recovery, with more leasing activity and a depletion of large blocks of space. These are key indicators of cyclical shift and progress towards equilibrium.”
Overall net absorption for 2014 totaled 1,746,808 square feet, with nearly 1.5 million of that net absorption taking place in the Scottsdale and Southeast Valley areas. Not surprisingly, the two East Valley areas were also the locations of most new projects completed and under construction. According to Cushman & Wakefield’s Q1 2015 podcast: US Economic Outlook and Quarterly Review for Office and Industrial, Metro Phoenix is a prime illustration of a broader, national trend among occupiers—largely tech-related tenants—driving demand across U.S. CBDs
The overall vacancy rate in Metro Phoenix finished 2014 at 21.9 percent, up slightly from a year ago when it was 21.7 percent. “True Class A office product in the most prestigious submarkets are now highly occupied and nearly sold out,” says Noble. “As inventory is depleted in the Scottsdale, Tempe and Camelback Corridor submarkets, nearby areas such as the Central Business District (CBD) and the I-17 Corridor will start to become more popular.” Strong conditions can be found in the Airport Area with 15.1 percent overall vacancy and Scottsdale with a higher 18.4 percent figure. Other areas, such as the Central Business District with 23.0 percent overall vacancy and North Phoenix with 29.8 percent, will benefit from the city’s overall growth in leasing that is anticipated this year.
During 2014, construction reached its highest point since 2010. By year-end Metro Phoenix posted approximately 719,690 new square feet completed with another 2,410,117 square feet underway. Two major Class A spec projects were started last year – Hayden Ferry Lakeside III and Scottsdale Quarter – both are third phases of already successful developments. Allred (in Chandler) and Liberty Property Trust (in Tempe) also broke ground in 2014. All of the completed space and property under construction is situated in Scottsdale, Tempe or Chandler/Gilbert. “It is clear that developers are satisfying existing demand and being judicious about building in highly desirable areas,” says Noble. “The East Valley and Loop 101 locations continue to be in high demand, especially from tech related companies.”
The strong activity of 2014 had little to no effect on Valley-wide rental rates in the Metro Phoenix office market. Year-end statistics show that the direct weighted average rental rate throughout the city was $21.05 per square foot per year, compared to $20.60 a year ago.
“Areas that offer appealing lifestyle amenities experience the strongest boost in rental rates,” says Noble. The ‘live, work play’ areas of Mill Avenue and Old Town Scottsdale experienced dramatic rent increases in 2014, some upwards of 30 percent.”
The office property sales volume dropped in 2014, with just 73 assets changing hands, compared to 90 in 2013. Approximately 60 of the sales in 2014 were investor-driven, while 13 of the transactions involved users purchasing properties. Notable Metro Phoenix office sales included 1501 W. Fountainhead Pkwy for $71,500,000; 20410 N. 19th Ave., for $51,075,000; and 7600 N. 16th St. for $25,000,000.
“This year will bring more capital to the Phoenix market,” says Noble. “Investors looking to park their money in real estate will be seriously evaluating Phoenix because the coastal markets of San Diego, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Sacramento have become too expensive.”
Cushman & Wakefield predicts that 2015 will bring even stronger net leasing than the dynamic 2014 figures. “The nation’s unemployment is at a seven-year low and consumer confidence is at an 11-year high,” says Noble. “Low energy prices also will have a positive impact on Phoenix. These national factors, along with incredible enthusiasm in the Phoenix business community will further drive our real estate economy in the upcoming months.”
For full report PHX OFC 4Q14 SUMMARY – Single Page copy