Hit the ground running with these commercial real estate trends. Nearly every industry is under pressure, but commercial real estate has headaches that threaten to cease outgrowth and opportunities. But a careful eye and an open mind will give you a leg up on the competition.
If you've found yourself in a down market, you're probably not getting many calls. No callers mean no clients, which means no money (right?). But here's something to brighten your day: Experts say there are billions of dollars worth of real estate assets on the sidelines in small markets across the country.
It's not just the big markets primed for a rebound; even smaller markets can be significant players in the next real estate boom. Yes, even you — say it with me now: "Even I."
Experts say that there may be billions of dollars worth of investment assets on the sideline in small markets, and now is the time to get in on it.
With the housing market recovering, commercial real estate follows in its footsteps. Commercial properties are becoming more attractive investments, and investors pay more attention to them. The consensus is that rental rates will stay at relatively the same range before the recession.
The most significant push for commercial real estate is that banks are becoming more focused on their businesses. Many experts have said that banks have been taking advantage of their clients, now making them aware of their errors. Many lenders have withdrawn from the market without the funds or business, causing investors to scramble to find another suitable lender.
As a result of these bank problems, many investors are looking for more secure investment options. The good news is that commercial properties have never been more appealing to investors. With most banks focusing on their core business and taking care of their distressed assets, the funding capital is now wide open. It means that investing in commercial real estate was more accessible than ever before.
Commercial real estate has become much more stable and reliable. Prices have remained steady, and the market has experienced an apparent recovery. According to experts, the costs will continue to rise as long as there is a consistent increase in demand, which there is currently.
Tech will always be a significant part of the commercial real estate landscape, but it's becoming more so. "Tech companies have been one of the biggest generators of jobs for cities over the last several years," says Anderson. "Social media, travel — those are all companies that have generated employment for people in cities like San Francisco."
Given that trend, expect tech to keep growing as a factor in commercial real estate. Smith Research, a commercial real estate analysis firm, estimates that tech companies will occupy 4.4 million square feet of office space by 2014. That's an 85 percent jump since 2009, when the Great Recession started.
Meanwhile, other markets with high-growth companies may notice the effect of some competitors becoming big fish in a small pond. Some may find that their job growth slows as big companies monopolize available commercial property slots.
"The tech industry will expand its footprint in different markets," says Anderson. "You need to be aware that the companies that were two years old that are now three years old will get new jobs and new offices in other markets."
You'll need to kick-start your local economy by attracting new companies. You'll probably want to lay out a bigger budget for rent or renovations — and maybe lease more than one floor of your building.
The office market has been suffering for years now, and few expect it to get much better shortly. That's because the market faces two significant challenges: changing demographics and dwindling demand.
First off, let's look at changing demographics. The workforce is becoming increasingly mobile, which means they don't need to work in an office building anymore — they can do their jobs from home or on the road. That's an issue for landlords who have already leased out long-term office space to companies that are going to be looking for cheaper real estate options as the economy recovers.
Second, let's look at waning demand. According to Smith Research, the amount of office space being leased fell 50 percent between 2007 and 2010. It is good news if you're a landlord or a tenant — not so much in the commercial real estate broker business.
Your best bet is to offer flexible office space — work stations, hot desks, pop-up offices, etc. Keep in mind that you'll need to keep up with the competition by offering better facilities for less money.
Retail has been hurting for years, but experts say that will get even worse shortly. Why? Because some analysts say that retail could be going the way of the dodo.
"The retailers are in trouble because they can't compete with Amazon," says Anderson. "On top of that, there's a lot less valuable square footage."
Here's why: The Internet enables people to buy everything from groceries to clothes online, which means there's less foot traffic for big-name retailers like Wal-Mart and Sears. And that means fewer people are willing to spend more on the same products.
Plus, credit is a big issue, as it always has been. Recent bankruptcies from retailers like Toys "R" Us, RadioShack, and Payless put more pressure on other retailers to be better prepared for a downturn.
"Smaller, independent retailers are one of the last sectors we can depend on," says Anderson. "This isn't just an issue for big chains. It's an issue for retail in general."
Leasebacks — in which a landlord sells a building to a tenant, who then leases it back to the landlord — have been popular options for companies that want their own offices but don't have the money or expertise to build or buy one outright. They're also famous for landlords who can't find tenants to rent their buildings long-term.
"That's not a lot," says Anderson, "but there was only one year with less [leasebacks] — 2009. So it's a consistent growth trend."
In 2012, leasebacks were more popular in the Northeast and Midwest, and two regions were hit harder by the recession. In fact, in 2012, those areas accounted for nearly half of all leasebacks. Leasebacks are still relatively rare in the South and the West, recovering from the recession.
Convinced you want to become a commercial real estate agent? Get started today with our guide to creating an office/leasing career.
With the number of commercial real estate professionals expected to drop 25 percent during the next four years, there will be more demand for office space than supply, especially in big cities. That means many landlords who haven't already taken advantage of leasebacks will have to find tenants fast — and maybe even sell their buildings — if they want to keep from losing money.
Anderson and other experts expect many owners to sell or turn their buildings to investors and developers, who may turn them into mixed-use commercial spaces like condos, restaurants, or hotels.
"That should be a big trend for the next five years," says Anderson. "Even if you have ten years left on your lease, you might as well sell it now."
As the economy recovers, companies worldwide will need to figure out how to cut costs. And this means real estate — especially office space. The market for commercial real estate is booming, but so is competition.
"There's a lot of very cheap commercial real estate out there," says Anderson. "If you can find something that you can get into and then rent it out at a good price, it will be good for your business — even if you're not buying or building. It's always good to have options."
A lot of companies might need your help finding that office space. And since you'll be in the real estate agent business, it's a good idea to start looking for creativity in office space right now so as not to miss out on any deals.
Commercial real estate financing isn't exactly easy to get. But as the economy recovers, it will get a lot harder.
Still, some positive news: Commercial real estate financing is improving thanks to better lending standards. There's also been a lot of consolidation within the commercial mortgage industry — in fact, Fannie Mae recently announced plans to acquire Springleaf Financial to strengthen its position in the secondary market. It should lead to even more mergers and acquisitions as time goes on.
The commercial real estate market is booming — but demand for agents is also way up. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the number of agents will grow 26 percent by 2026, faster than the average for all occupations nationwide.
On top of that, it's not just residential real estate agents who are in high demand these days; many people with careers in other fields are applying to become commercial real estate brokers, including accountants and lawyers.
"There's going to be a shortage of residential and commercial agents in the next five years," says Anderson. "It's a good time to get into the market."
Even if you don't want to branch out into the commercial real estate market soon, Anderson says it's good to start taking classes about it now. There are several ways for you to get involved in commercial real estate:
It's not very difficult to learn the basics of working with commercial real estate if you research different ways of learning, says Anderson. It was not very expensive, either.
Commercial real estate trends are constantly changing, so it's hard to keep track of them. However, a few have gained traction recently and are worth paying attention to.
One of those trends is the continued rise of co-working spaces. These are becoming more and more popular for several reasons, with frugal living and hectic schedules being two big ones. The popularity has only expanded in recent years and has shown no signs of slowing down.
This trend is more about the phenomenon in general than anything. While there are a few large and well-known coworking spaces around the world, many different types of businesses have popped up to cater to specific interests and industries. It means that if you're looking for a space that caters to a particular niche, chances are good you'll be able to find one near you, no matter where in the country or world you live.
Some people turn to co-working spaces for their flexibility, even though this trend is gaining popularity in more traditional office structures. However, the main draw to these types of areas is the cost.
One of the biggest perks of co-working is the sense of community you get out of it. Many people find it easier to work where they can easily collaborate with others, which is why co-working spaces have become so popular among freelancers and small business owners.
Numerous commercial property investors in the market focus on a wide variety of real estate. These professionals have extensive experience and knowledge that can be invaluable when seeking commercial real estate investment opportunities.
Financial institutions have been at the forefront of commercial real estate trends. With a heightened awareness and risks from the public, banks are now making it more difficult for people to get into trouble with their loans.
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Written and Published By The Strategic Advisor Board Team
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