Atlanta's 2015 in CRE-the short version

This is certainly an exciting time to be in Atlanta’s commercial real estate field. At the risk of my first foray into the world of blogging, I don’t want my initial one to be a “blah” blog full of stats and no flavor. I do think at the beginning of the year this is important information to note.

The market is in great shape, according to the 2016 Southeast US Real Estate Outlook by CBRE Research. Some highlights:

• Office: With declining vacancy, increasing absorption and asking rates, and a shortage of new development, Atlanta’s office market favors landlords. Investors are taking note. From 2013 to 2015, more than 45 million sq. ft. of office space has traded hands, or roughly the equivalent of the market’s entire CBD inventory.
• Industrial: Over the past eight quarters Atlanta has experienced much success in the industrial arena, with high absorption levels, low vacancy and an unprecedented demand for speculative and build-to-suit facilities larger than 500,000 sq. ft. Market conditions and investor demand have pushed new development to its highest level in 20 years.
• Retail: Retail sales, rents and occupancy levels are rising throughout the market. Atlanta’s urban core is going through an unprecedented change involving the redeveloping and repurposing of existing infrastructure and the addition of high-end and luxury retail.
• Multifamily: Atlanta saw more multifamily deals and sales volume in 2015 than in the previous three years combined. Buyers’ confidence in the market has been rewarded, as Atlanta is achieving the highest overall return among the major apartment markets.

 The momentum is in place for this year to be just as successful, if not more. We look forward to great success across all real estate sectors in 2016. I’ll keep you posted.