Northridge Commercial Real Estate In Review 2014

Reflecting on 2014, Northridge commercial real estate was interesting as movement of property was healthy as compared to previous years.  To note, in October, the well known Black Angus Steak House on Corbin Avenue traded hands. The property was sold as an investment property to an individual for $3.9 million. The passive investment with leases through 2018 is situated on 1.66 acres with 106 parking spaces allowing for a variety of uses down the line. Corbin Avenue from Nordhoff north to Plummer Street has some real intrinsic value as real development possibilities within the vicinity will dramatically change the atmosphere.

Retail and Fast Food center such as on Corbin Avenue and Nordhoff across from Lowe’s have been getting a lot of attention and achieving high sales prices for the Sellers. Local passive single tenant NNN leased properties are in demand. Also to note the redevelopment of the Nordhoff and Reseda eating establishment corridor with the newly opened Starbucks.

With entertainment, the Northridge bowling alley on Balboa, Matador Bowl comes to mind. It only makes sense for a business operator to own the property. Financing for SBA and special Owner-User lending programs are supporting the higher values in real estate that typical passive investors are finding it hard to financially pencil out. Interest rates such as the 10yr treasury will continue to remain low with a possibility of slight increases over the next 2 years.

Health Care properties in Northridge, more particular assisted and senior living facilities has been active with REITS and equity partnerships in 2014.  Northridge Senior Living on Lindley Ave is one of two properties to note. However the newly built property located at 9222 Corbin – The Village at Northridge will be one to watch. I speculate, interesting additions to the property are to come in the next couple years.

The Northridge Post Office was traded under the radar.  Eyes on this property for future planning has not been overlooked. This property should be interesting to follow in the next 5 years as plans will be in the works to transform the property.

In mid October of 2014, the Northridge Businesses Center sold for almost $46.5 million. This property although located in an area that is transforming will be the catalysts for other similar outdated office and R&D parks to repurposing and reinvest. This property known as The Campus will be interesting to follow as revitalization takes place in this area of Northridge.

Q2 2014 Office and Industrial Report San Fernando Valley

A Surge in Leasing Activity and Marked Improvement in Employment Drives Vacancies Down and Lease Rates Up

Another surge of leasing activity and marked improvement in employment levels drove office vacancy rates down to 15.5 percent in the second quarter compared to 15.8 percent in the prior period. Vacancy has improved by 150 basis points (bps) compared to the year-ago period.

There were 1,355,898 square feet leased in the quarter, up nearly 20 percent over the prior quarter although 365,762 square feet less than the space leased in the year-ago period. Velocity declined 18 percent from the first half of 2013 as well. A total of 2,492,863 square feet was leased in the first half of 2014 versus 3,039,301 square feet leased in the first half of 2013.

But the modest slowdown comes as lease rates show increasing strength. The average lease rate in Q2 was $2.27 per square foot, up $0.03 per square foot from the prior quarter and $0.05 per square foot compared to the year-ago period. Indeed, much of the pressure landlords were feeling to lease their buildings last year has subsided, and the average asking rate in the current quarter is the highest we have seen in the market since the fourth quarter of 2010.

It should be noted however, that average asking rates are still16.5 percent off their highs of $2.72 per square foot in Q2 2008

Absorption has been positive for the past four quarters with another 210,100 square feet absorbed on a net basis in Q2. This follows a Q1 absorption rate of just 59,131 square feet and a significant improvement from the year ago period when 179,715 fewer square feet were leased than were vacated.

Median sale prices for office buildings have been trending upward for the past three quarters and registered $196 per square foot in Q2 with a total of 10 buildings sold. Including distressed sales and those for which no sale price was reported, the median price was $230 per square foot with a total of 12 building sales.

Year to date the median price of buildings sold in the region was $190 per square foot. There were 22 office buildings sold in the period. Prices have risen 6 percent compared to 2013 when the median price of buildings sold was $179 per square foot.

 Industrial Vacancies Continue to Fall and Sales Momentum Builds

 Vacancy levels in the Los Angeles North in­dustrial market fell even further and the steady pace of absorption continued in the second quarter.

Vacancies declined to 3.4 percent in the quarter, down 20 basis points (bps) from the prior period and 110 bps compared to the year-ago period. Nine of the area’s 13 sub­markets are now showing vacancy levels be­low 3 percent leaving few options for tenants looking for industrial space.

Absorption has been very strong, and in Q2 2014 354,300 square feet was leased on a net basis. By comparison, 423,752 fewer square feet were leased than were vacated in the second quarter of 2013. For the year to date, 1,034,000 square feet of space was absorbed versus 233,723 square feet of ab­sorption in the first half of 2013.

With the steady pace of improvement, land­lords are beginning to increase rents. After more than two years with little change in lease rates, the average rate rose by $0.02 per square foot compared to the prior three quarters to $0.64 per square foot and by $0.03 per square foot versus the year ago period. The last time average lease rates were $0.64 was the third quarter of 2009.

While rock-bottom vacancy levels and expec­tations that lease rates will continue to rise are fueling investment activity, the shortage of suitable buildings is spurring more busi­ness owners to opt for purchasing rather than leasing their space. In the year-to-date period 42 industrial buildings were sold at a median price of $128 per square foot, an in­crease of 17 percent in the price of buildings sold compared to 2013. Sale prices have risen 28 percent over the past two years.

For the most recent quarter, 19 buildings were sold at a median price of $120 per square foot. Including distressed properties and those for which no sale price was report­ed, 25 buildings were sold at a median price of $119.

Much has been written recently about the constrained supply for industrial buildings, and nowhere is that more true than in the Los Angeles North market. The conversion of much of the area’s manufacturing real estate to multifamily or retail space and scarcity of raw land has left few opportunities for the development of new inventory, and a mere 59,000 square feet of new industrial con­struction is currently underway.

Lease Tarzana Office Space and Retail Storefront Available for Rent

18376 Ventura Boulevard, located in Tarzana is east of Reseda Boulevard on the south side of Ventura Boulevard.  Located south of the 101 Ventura Freeway and across the street from Coco’s Restaurant with close proximity to Vons, CVS, Chase Bank, Bank of America, Providence Tarzana Medical Center, Encino Tarzan Library and other retailers and office buildings.  18376 Ventura Boulevard office over retail storefront building has a unique setting and charm available for businesses looking to rent or lease a space for their business. This Ventura Blvd. location is truly a unique and charming freestanding building that is one of a kind on Ventura Blvd. The office and retail space has great visibility on Ventura Blvd and offers a creative space for a variety of businesses.  This prominent location on Ventura Blvd has signage that will appeal to a retailer looking to capture the highly traffic on Ventura Blvd.     

Other thoroughfares close by are Reseda, Corbin, Plummer, Parthenia, Tampa, Winnetka, Lassen, Lindley, Roscoe, Devonshire, Mason, White Oak, Balboa, Zelzah, Strathern, Saticoy, Sherman Way, Chatsworth, De Soto, San Fernando Mission, Canoga, Warner Ranch Rd, Warner Center Ln, Owensmouth, Califa, Variel, Erwin, Serrania, Kelvin, Rinaldi, Topanga Canyon, Vanowen, Victory, Oxnard, Ventura, Burbank, Hayvenhurst, Woodley, Haskell, Sepulveda and 118 Ronald Regan Freeway, 405 San Diego Freeway, 101 Ventura Freeway.

Servicing the Los Angeles County & Ventura County and surrounding areas of the San Fernando Valley & Conejo Valley: Chatsworth, Canoga Park, Winnetka, West Hills, Woodland Hills, Warner Center, Reseda, Van Nuys, Granada Hills, North Hills, Northridge, Porter Ranch, Tarzana, Encino, Sherman Oaks, Valley Village, Studio City, Lake View Terrace, Lake Balboa, Shadow Hills, Sun Valley, Sunland, Tujunga, Toluca Lake, Valley Glen, North Hollywood, Sylmar, Van Nuys, San Fernando, Arleta, Panorama City, Pacoima, Burbank, Glendale, Hidden Hills, Calabasas, Agoura Hills, Westlake Village, Newberry Park, Thousand Oaks, Oak Park.

Leasing Space? What you need to know! BOMA, Rentable vs. Usable

Buildings are typically measured using a standing method called “building owners and managers association” or BOMA measurement standards. 1915 BOMA first published an accepted and approved methodology of floor measurement for office buildings by the American National Standards institute.  As design standards have changed throughout the years, so has the way BOMA measurement standards are used.

Area calculations from field measurements will most likely never be exactly the same, but considered accurate when results are within 2% or less.

Building measurements are given in terms of Rentable Square Foot (RSF) and Useable Square Foot (USF).  The RSF is the USF plus the Common Areas.  Common areas are considered to be restrooms, elevator lobby, hallways, stairwells, mechanical rooms, etc. These areas are not exclusive to any one tenant, but are shared by all tenants.  Let’s say for example the total RSF of an office building is 10,000 sq. ft. and the Common Area is 1,500 sq. ft .  10,000 sq. ft. - 1,500 sq. ft. = 8,500 sq. ft. of USF.

 A Load Factor is a multiplier to a tenant's USF that accounts for the tenant's proportionate share of the common area.  A load factor can typically range from 15% to as high as 30% for a multi-tenant floor.  In the above example the load factor is 1,500/10,000=15%

For example, leasing a 2,000 sq. ft. office space with a Load Factor of 15% would give you (2,000 sq. ft. – 15% = 1,700 sq. ft.) of Useable space.

Higher load factors may not always mean less, as often times other amenities such as atriums and spacious lobbies are appealing to clients and guests.  Also to note, Tenants occupying an entire floor will not have shared hallways or shared bathrooms and can be charged a lower load factor than a tenant on a multi-tenant floor as their common area will be less.  Knowing your load factor can really save you a lot of money.

Lee & Associates - LA North/Ventura Commercial Real Estate San Fernando Valley Business Journal

Uncovering Opportunities and Creating Outstanding Results!

Still a challenging market ahead for 2011, but many commerical real estate investors once on the sidelines in 2009 and 2010 are beginning to re-enter the real estate market and plan to be active this year. 

 http://www.lee-associates.com/global/about-media-article.php?TeamId=6&IdCat=0&id=1609

Growth Forecast in our Economy

Perception is that our California economy has reached the bottom!

 Are there signs of real optimism? 2012 looks like a turning point in our economy, or is it?  

* Business spending accounted for majority of growth.

* Employment less than impressive.

* New home development has not seen a rebound yet.

* 2010 banks will have taken over 1.2 million homes. (Is a double dip rececssion in the housing market on its way? Banks are slowly moving inventory to prevent a major drop in the residential housing market. The next 3 years will be interesting)

Class A Properties are continuing their run up in prices and low cap rates as investment group are bidding up the prices trying to take advantage of this market. All other classes are still struggling and will continue to have its challenges this year.

Allen Matkins/UCLA Anderson Forecast California Real Estate Survey

California Real Estate Survey

The Loyal And Wise Commercial Real Estate Investor

There is a difference you know between the loyal and wise investor. I just finished a conversation with an older gentleman, probably in his 80's and owns about 5 industrial properties in the valley.  But before the conversation could develop much further he said, "I work with x#$%^, in fact Eric I can't even give you my middle name without x#$%^ being involved.  He was probably too old to want to do anything in real estate anyways. So I moved on... 

I once heard from a very successful real estate investor in Los Angeles say (Portfolio of an excess of $500 million), "You want to know as many brokers you possibly can."   It's pretty simple; you never know when they will bring you the next bet opportunity FIRST. Should I remind you it's the broker who's on the frontline looking to uncover the property with the right story.  You always hope that when they find an interesting deal, they will immediately think of you first.

The best deals never hit the market and that's a fact! 

There are occasions when you find that one investors who will not do a deal without their own Broker and believe me they are far and few between. And most of the time there is something mentally wrong with them. There is however, a successful investor I know out there (Owns in excess of 50K multi-housing units) who has loyalty to a broker.  He's in a category by himself, and like I said mentally wrong.  But most of the deals that are executed by that one loyal investor would have already been shopped around by everyone else by the time it came to them.  They start to get that reputation. "The guy who's married to so and so". Oh, and please don't remind me of the investor who says his relative has a real estate licenses and wants a piece of the pie. Are you kidding me....

I truly believe loyalty if acted upon correctly is vital to succeed in the business, but any investor looking to grow their portfolio needs to be the wise about it.