Q3 2014 Austin Office Market Research & Forecast Report
1. www.colliers.com/Austin
Q3 2014 | OFFICE MARKET
AUSTIN OFFICE
MARKET INDICATORS
Q2 2014
Q3 2014
CITYWIDE NET ABSORPTION (SF)
99K
728K
CITYWIDE AVERAGE VACANCY
10.7%
9.7%
CITYWIDE AVERAGE RENTAL RATE
$27.70
$28.20
CITYWIDE DELIVERED INVENTORY (SF)
143K
0
CLASS A RENTAL RATE
CBD
$39.76
$41.57
SUBURBAN
$30.49
$30.81
CLASS A VACANCY
CBD
16.0%
12.1%
SUBURBAN
10.5%
10.1%
RESEARCH & FORECAST REPORT
AUSTIN OFFICE MARKET
2.8M SF of construction paired with high occupancy rates prove Austin’s office market is hotter than ever in 3Q 2014.
Office vacancy rates decreased by 4.0% between quarters as new tenants lease space in Austin’s CBD. Citywide absorption reached 728,703 SF in the Q3 2014 compared to 99,000 in Q2 2014, making this by far the strongest quarter for Austin’s office market this year.
Although there were no deliveries in Q3 2014, nearly 2.9 million SF of office space is currently under construction. Some of these buildings include the Colorado Tower, already 95% preleased, IBC Bank Plaza, which is 90% preleased, and finally 311 Bowie Street where Whole Foods has preleased 40,000 SF of office space.
The citywide average rental rate increased 0.9% from $27.70 per SF to $28.20 per SF over the quarter and 6.2% from $26.56 per SF to $28.20 per SF over the year. The average CBD rental rate increased to $39.34 from $37.90 last quarter, and the average suburban rental rate increased slightly from $26.02 to $26.43.
According to the Texas Workforce Commission, the Texas economy and workers across all major industries continue to perform at a record pace. Austin’s unemployment rate fell to 3.9% from 4.9% over the year.
The continued construction paired with high demand for office space both inside the CBD and out, proves that Austin’s market is stronger than ever. Competition for downtown office space is at an all time high as we see a creative, well-educated workforce infiltrate the city and continue to drive occupancy rates up.
ABSORPTION, NEW SUPPLY & VACANCY RATES 0.0% 2.0% 4.0% 6.0% 8.0% 10.0% 12.0% 14.0% 16.0% 18.0% -1,000,000-800,000-600,000-400,000-200,0000200,000400,000600,000800,0001,000,000Net AbsorptionNew SupplyVacancy
UNEMPLOYMENT
8/13
8/14
AUSTIN
4.9%
3.9%
TEXAS
6.4%
5.5%
U.S.
7.3%
6.3%
JOB GROWTH
ANNUAL CHANGE
# OF JOBS ADDED
AUSTIN
3.5%
31K
TEXAS
3.4%
381.6K
U.S.
1.8%
2.5M
JOB GROWTH & UNEMPLOYMENT
(Not Seasonally Adjusted)
2. RESEARCH & FORECAST REPORT | Q3 2014 | AUSTIN OFFICE MARKET
$26.00
$28.00
$30.00
$32.00
$34.00
$36.00
$38.00
$40.00
$42.00
Class A Office Rents
CBD Rents
Suburban Rents
4.0%
6.0%
8.0%
10.0%
12.0%
14.0%
16.0%
18.0%
20.0%
CBD VS. Suburban
Class A Office Vacancy
CBD Vacancy
Suburban Vacancy
QUOTED GROSS RENTAL RATES FOR EXISTING TOP PERFORMING OFFICE BUILDINGS
BUILDING NAME
ADDRESS
SUB
MARKET
RBA (SF)
YEAR BUILT
%
LEASED
AVAIL. SF
RENT ($/SF)
OWNER
Frost Bank Tower
401 Congress Ave.
CBD
535,078
2003
93.7%
42,596
$51.53
Parkway Properties, Inc.
One Congress Plaza
200 Cesar Chavez
CBD
518,385
1987
74.1%
139,990
$43.07
Parkway Properties, Inc
One American Center
600 Congress Ave.
CBD
503,951
1984
96.2%
93,160
$42.44
Parkway Properties, Inc.
300 West Sixth
300 W. 6th Street
CBD
454,225
2001
95.5%
20,311
$49.17
Parkway Properties, Inc.
301 Congress
301 Congress Ave.
CBD
418,338
1986
94.0%
26,974
$45.32
National Office Partners, LP
100 Congress
100 Congress Ave.
CBD
411,536
1987
87.0%
52,383
$47.36
Metlife, Inc.
San Jacinto Center
98 San Jacinto Blvd.
CBD
410,248
1987
81.0%
79,642
$42.89
Parkway Properties, Inc.
Northview Business Center
9001 N. I-35
Northeast
262,067
1973
82.0%
47,584
$19.64
Trigate Capital, LLC
UFCU Plaza
8303 N. MoPac Expy
Central
246,869
1987
90.0%
24,721
$31.00
University Federal Credit Union
University Park
3300 N. Interstate 35
Central
206,657
2009
89.0%
51,863
$34.65
Spear St. Capital GP LLC
Two Barton Skyway
1601 S. MoPac Expy
South
195,639
2000
83.9%
55,137
$37.64
DRA Advisors, LLC
Research Park Plaza – Bldg IV
12301 Research Blvd
Northwest
184,159
2001
98.4%
99,789
$35.59
Union Investment Real Estate GmbH
Note: Avail. SF includes direct and sublet space as well as any future available space listed.
Source: CoStar Property and Austin Business Journal COLLIERS INTERNATIONAL | P. 2
VACANCY & AVAILABILITY
Austin’s citywide vacancy rate decreased 100 basis points from 10.7% to 9.7% between quarters and vacancy decreased across both the CBD and suburban markets. With the influx of growing companies into Austin’s CBD, others are forced out of the city and into suburbs, causing vacancy rates to decrease across the board. Between quarters, the average suburban vacancy rate decreased slightly from 10.5% last quarter to 10.1% in Q3. The average CBD vacancy rate saw an even greater drop this quarter from 11.3% to just 8.4%.
The average CBD Class A vacancy rate decreased 390 basis points between quarters from 16.0% to 12.1%, and the average CBD Class B vacancy rate decreased 190 basis points from 5.0% to 3.1%. The average suburban Class A vacancy rate decreased 40 basis points from 10.5% to 10.1% between quarters, and the average suburban Class B vacancy rate fell 80 basis points from 11.5% to 10.7% between quarters.
ABSORPTION & DEMAND
Austin’s office market posted 728,703 SF of positive net absorption in Q3 2014 making this the most successful quarter in almost two years.
The CBD submarket posted the largest gain, with 279,332 SF of positive net absorption, followed by the Southwest submarket, posting 196,082 SF of positive net absorption in contrast to the previous quarter where the Southwest submarket saw a negative net absorption of 89,623 SF.
Demand for office space remains strong even as office building construction continues. Of the 25 buildings currently under construction citywide, 38.6% of that office inventory is already pre- leased.
RENTAL RATES
The citywide average rental rate increased slightly from $27.70 per SF to $28.20 per SF over the quarter and increased 6.2% from $26.56 per SF to $28.20 per SF over the year. Average citywide Class A rents increased from $32.47 to $32.99 and Class B rents increased from $22.76 to $22.91 over the quarter.
The Class A average rental rate in the CBD increased 4.6% from $39.76 per SF to $41.57 per SF between quarters, while the suburban Class A average rental rate increased only slightly from $30.49 per SF to $30.81 per SF. The average Class B rental rate in the CBD remained unchanged at $33.03 per SF, while the average suburban Class B rental rate increased slightly between quarters.
3. RESEARCH & FORECAST REPORT | Q3 2014 | AUSTIN OFFICE MARKET
COLLIERS INTERNATIONAL | P.3
SALES ACTIVITY
Austin’s office investment sales activity included 13 sales transactions with a total sales volume of approximately $65 million, averaging $166 per SF. Listed below are a few significant transactions that closed in Q3 2014.
LEASING ACTIVITY
Austin’s office leasing activity reached 1.0M SF in Q3 2014 with transactions including renewals, expansions, subleases, and pre-leases in buildings currently under construction.
1Renewal
2Expansion/Extension
3Sublease
4Pre-lease/proposed or under construction
Data Source: CoStar Property
Q3 2014 OFFICE LEASE TRANSACTIONS
BUILDING NAME/ADDRESS
SUBMARKET
SF
TENANT
LEASE DATE
Aspen Lake II
Far Northwest
68,500
Q2ebanking, Inc.4
Jul-14
Seaholm Power Plant
CBD
35,000
Under Armour4
Jul-14
River Place Corporate Park Bldg III
Northwest
32,945
Acxiom
Jul-14
One American Center
CBD
32,674
Main Street Hub
Jul-14
One American Center
CBD
30,228
Box, Inc
Unknown
University Park
Central
24,690
Evernote Corporation
Aug-14
Colorado Tower
CBD
24,184
IPSoft, Inc.4
Unknown
Perry Brooks
CBD
23,900
SpareFoot2
Jul-14
Former Austin Children's Museum
CBD
22,000
Google, Inc.
Jul-14
Northview Business Park
Northeast
18,700
GateHouse Media
Jul-14
Colorado Tower
CBD
14,180
Kelly Hart & Hallman4
Unknown
Champion Office Park
Northwest
13,500
Jobs2Careers
Sep-14
Lavaca Plaza
CBD
11,199
Outbound Engine
Jul-14
Q3 2014 SIGNIFICANT SALES TRANSACTIONS - (100,000 SF OR GREATER)
BUILDING NAME
SUBMARKET
SF
YEAR BUILT
BUYER
SELLER
CLOSED
Hill Country Galleria
Southwest
257,000
2013
CSTRS & Invesco Real Estate
REIT Management & Research LLC
Sep-14
Cameron Business Park
Northeast
567,381
1984-1995
Greenfield Partners LLC
Scher Investment Group
Jul-14
StoneCreek I & II
North
239,910
1984/2000
CH Realty VI / O Austin Stonecreek, L.P.
Intercontinental Real Estate Group
Sep-14
Crossing at Lakeline
Cedar Park
239,754
2008
DRA Advisors, LLC
Simmons Vedder Partners
Jul-14
Barton Oaks Plaza II & III
South
237,835
1998
Invesco Real Estate
HPI Real Estate/Sarofim Realty Advisors
Jul-14
IBM Tivoli Systems Building 1
North
200,000
2002
Cs Kinross Lake Parkway LLC
International Bush Machines Co
Aug-14
Centennial Towers
Central
156,293
1986
Taurus Investment Holdings, LLC
Braun Enterprises
Sep-14
Arboretum Point
Northwest
150,033
1985
Property Reserve Inc
Fort Bend Investments LLC
Aug-14
811 Barton Building
South
143,183
1986
Cornerstone Real Estate Advisors
TIAA-CREF
Aug-14
Southfield Office Building
South
141,768
1986
Southfield Office Holding LLC
Robert W Gray Builder
Aug-14
Pecan Park
Far Northwest
136,444
2009
IPIX Pecan Park LLC
CapRidge Partners
Sep-14
Plaza On The Lake
Southwest
119,087
1987
Clarion Partners
Endeavor Real Estate Group
Jul-14
921 W New Hope Dr
Cedar Park
107,593
2007
Halo Insurance Agency Inc
LPG Shopping Center Ltd
Jul-14
4. RESEARCH & FORECAST REPORT | Q3 2014 | AUSTIN OFFICE MARKET
AUSTIN OFFICE MARKET SUMMARY (CBD, SUBURBAN & OVERALL)
AUSTIN SUBURBAN OFFICE MARKET SUMMARY COLLIERS INTERNATIONAL | P. 4
INVENTORY
DIRECT VACANCY
SUBLEASE VACANCY
VACANCY
VACANCY RATE (%)
NET ABSORPTION (SF)
RENTAL RATE
CLASS
# OF BLDGS
TOTAL (SF)
(SF)
RATE (%)
(SF)
RATE (%)
TOTAL (SF)
Q3-2014
Q2-2014
Q3-2014
Q2-2014
AVG ($/SF)
CBD
A
20
5,338,588
598,307
11.2%
49,817
0.9%
648,124
12.1%
16.0%
204,114
78,105
$41.57
B
55
3,041,748
95,069
3.1%
0
0.0%
95,069
3.1%
5.0%
56,961
-5,097
$33.03
C
28
1,002,226
40,417
4.0%
0
0.0%
40,417
4.0%
5.8%
18,257
2,282
$22.56
Total
103
9,382,562
733,793
7.8%
49,817
0.5%
783,610
8.4%
11.3%
279,332
75,290
$39.46
Suburban
A
186
22,620,132
1,928,992
8.5%
348,385
1.5%
2,277,377
10.1%
10.5%
224,770
-1,821
$30.81
B
678
25,799,332
2,515,669
9.8%
241,678
0.9%
2,757,347
10.7%
11.5%
212,602
77,651
$22.43
C
200
6,243,049
406,416
6.5%
2,633
0.6%
409,049
6.6%
6.7%
11,999
-51,699
$18.12
Total
1064
54,662,513
4,851,077
8.9%
592,696
1.1%
5,443,773
10.0%
10.5%
449,371
24,131
$26.43
Overall
A
206
27,958,720
2,527,299
9.0%
398,202
1.4%
2,925,501
10.5%
11.5%
428,884
76,284
$32.99
B
733
28,841,080
2,610,738
9.1%
241,678
0.8%
2,852,416
9.9%
10.8%
269,563
72,554
$22.91
C
228
7,245,275
446,833
6.2%
2,633
0.0%
449,466
6.2%
6.6%
30,256
-49,417
$18.72
Total
1167
64,045,075
5,584,870
8.7%
642,513
1.0%
6,227,383
9.7%
10.7%
728,703
99,421
$28.20
INVENTORY
DIRECT VACANCY
SUBLEASE VACANCY
VACANCY
VACANCY RATE (%)
NET ABSORPTION (SF)
RENTAL RATE
CLASS
# OF BLDGS
TOTAL (SF)
(SF)
RATE (%)
(SF)
RATE (%)
TOTAL (SF)
Q3-2014
Q2-2014
Q3-2014
Q2-2014
AVG ($/SF)
Bastrop County
A
1
35,000
4,000
11.4%
0
0.0%
4,000
11.4%
11.4%
0
0
$28.50
B
5
73,163
3,200
4.4%
0
0.0%
3,200
4.4%
5.5%
800
0
$3.84
C
1
12,740
0
0.0%
0
0.0%
0
0.0%
0.0%
0
0
$16.00
Total
7
120,903
7,200
6.0%
0
0.0%
7,200
6.0%
6.6%
800
0
$10.82
Cedar Park
A
2
232,274
14,723
6.3%
0
0.0%
14,723
6.3%
8.4%
4,904
0
$22.55
B
18
461,013
19,534
4.2%
2,530
0.5%
22,064
4.8%
6.1%
5,850
-5,572
$22.36
C
2
30,601
0
0.0%
0
0.0%
0
0.0%
0.0%
0
0
-
Total
22
723,888
34,257
4.7%
2530
0.3%
36,787
5.1%
6.6%
10,754
-5,572
$22.97
Central
A
3
474,288
111,245
23.5%
0
0.0%
111,245
23.5%
29.8%
30,215
21,481
$33.61
B
46
2,155,627
264,508
12.3%
27,603
1.3%
292,111
13.6%
12.7%
-14,370
-26,887
$21.86
C
42
1,386,918
53,061
3.8%
0
0.0%
53,061
3.8%
5.3%
19,925
-5,642
$18.54
Total
91
4,016,833
428,814
10.7%
27,603
0.7%
456,417
11.4%
12.2%
35,770
-11,048
$23.54
East
A
2
104,821
0
0.0%
0
0.0%
0
0.0%
0.0%
0
0
-
B
25
1,151,892
292,845
25.4%
0
0.0%
292,845
25.4%
25.7%
3,516
8,234
$19.68
C
12
283,878
61,500
21.7%
0
0.0%
61,500
21.7%
26.0%
0
0
$20.28
Total
39
1,540,591
354,345
23.0%
0
0.0%
354,345
23.0%
24.0%
3,516
8,234
$19.82
Far Northeast
B
4
77,268
5,348
6.9%
0
0.0%
5,348
6.9%
3.4%
-2,723
-589
$23.68
C
3
147,843
2,202
1.5%
0
0.0%
2,202
1.5%
2.8%
2,006
0
$13.90
Total
7
225,111
7,550
3.4%
0
0.0%
7,550
3.4%
3.0%
-717
-589
$21.07
6. RESEARCH & FORECAST REPORT | Q3 2014 | AUSTIN OFFICE MARKET
COLLIERS INTERNATIONAL | P. 6
Data Source: CoStar Property
Q3 2014 OFFICE UNDER CONSTRUCTION – 10,000 SF OR GREATER
SUBMARKET
BUILDING NAME
BUILDING ADDRESS
RBA
% LEASED
DEVELOPER
EST. DELIVERY DATE
CBD
Colorado Tower
303 Colorado Street
371,348
94.6%
Cousins Properties
Mar-15
Southwest
3700 San Clemente
3700 N Capital of Texas Highway
249,870
38.1%
HPI Real Estate Services & Investments
May-15
North
Domain 7
11501 Alterra Parkway
221,973
0.0%
Endeavor Real Estate Group
Dec-14
Southwest
Capital Ridge
320 Capital of Texas Highway
217,490
0.0%
Riverside Resources
Apr-15
CBD
IBC Bank Plaza
500 W. 5th Street
195,378
90.5%
Endeavor Real Estate Group
Dec-14
Northeast
Parmer 3.2
13101 McCallen Pass Dr
192,000
0.0%
Trammel Crow Co
May-15
CBD
5th+Colorado
201 W 5th St
179,846
0.0%
Lincoln Property Company
Mar-16
Southwest
Encino Trace I
5707 Southwest Parkway
160,935
75.2%
Brandywine Realty Trust
Jun-15
Southwest
Encino Trace II
5707 Southwest Parkway
160,849
0.0%
Brandywine Realty Trust
Sep-15
Southwest
Bldg 1
2500 Bee Caves Road
145,437
6.5%
Endeavor Real Estate Group
May-15
Northwest
Champion Office Park I
6500 N Capital of Texas Highway
115,000
0.0%
Endeavor Real Estate Group
Oct-14
Northwest
Champion Office Park II
6500 N Capital of Texas Highway
115,000
0.0%
Endeavor Real Estate Group
Mar-15
CBD
Power Plant Building
Cesar Chavez & West Ave
113,063
61.4%
City of Austin/Trammel Crow Co.
Oct-14
Southwest
317 Grace Ln
317 Grace Ln
87,748
2.5%
Unknown
Apr-15
Southwest
Bldg 2
2500 Bee Caves Road
69,150
20.5%
Endeavor Real Estate Group
May-15
CBD
1303 San Antonio St
1303 San Antonio St
54,442
48.1%
Unknown
Jun-15
CBD
Office Floors
311 Bowie Street
40,985
100.0%
Endeavor Real Estate Group
Mar-15
Southwest
Building A
7710 Rialto Blvd
35,000
87.0%
Barton Commercial
Nov-14
CBD
901 Congress Ave
901 Congress Ave
32,445
80.0%
Unknown
Feb-15
Southwest
Building B
7710 Rialto Blvd
27,637
0.0%
Barton Commercial
Nov-14
CBD
NorthShore
110 San Antonio St
24,000
7.0%
Trammel Crow Co.
Oct-15
Cedar Park
White Stone Professional Park
1785 Whitestone Blvd
16,000
53.8%
Huffman Builders
Oct-14
CBD
Texas PTA Building
408 W 11th St
15,921
41.7%
Square One Consultants, Inc.
Jan-15
Cedar Park
El Salido Pky & FM 620
El Salido Pky & FM 620
10,500
79.1%
Antenora Architects LLP
Feb-15
Northwest
River Place Medical III
10815 Ranch Road 2222
10,000
61.4%
Equitable Commercial Realty
Feb-15
More than 2.8 million square feet of office space was under construction during 3Q 2014. The Colorado Tower, Austin’s first high rise office tower built downtown since 2003, is now 95% leased and will deliver in December 2014. This building is only one example of over one million square feet of office space under construction in the CBD – the majority of which is already pre-leased, including IBC Bank Plaza and 311 Bowie St.
7. RESEARCH & FORECAST REPORT | Q3 2014 | AUSTIN OFFICE MARKET
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HANNAH TYSOR
Research and Marketing Coordinator | Houston
1233 W. Loop South, Suite 900
Houston, Texas 77027
Direct +1 713 830 2192
hannah.tysor@colliers.com
LISA R. BRIDGES
Director of Market Research | Houston
1233 W. Loop South, Suite 900
Houston, Texas 77027
Direct +1 713 830 2125
lisa.bridges@colliers.com
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*Information herein has been obtained from sources deemed reliable, however its accuracy cannot be guaranteed. COLLIERS INTERNATIONAL | P. 7