San Fernando Valley & Conejo Valley Landlords vs Tenants

 

2011 still has its challenges ahead for our economy.  I don't expect things to ease up a bit, but I do think our economy is slowly getting better. Still there is a lot of uncertainty with new and exisiting businesses. This uncertainty with businesses are very appearent in the San Fernando Valley and Conejo Valley and the leasing market reveals this truth.  Long term leases are challenging for majority of new and growing businesses and negotiating lease terms has been no easy ride.

Landlords need some incentives in this market to get their vacancies leased up.  1 month rent abatement per year, 6 month teaser rates, free parking, tenant improvement allowance and an active broker willing to work are some successful elements in this market. In the San Fernando Valley and Conjeo Valley market, there are still too many vacancies to raise rents much further. Creative rent structures is another creative element is consummating a new lease. Its not unusual to see a flat lease for the next few years either. 

Tenants getting closer to lease end have been beginning to tour the market place about a year to six month in advance to see where they can strike a deal. I convey to each tenant that every landlord has a different business model. Whether their model is occupancy percentage, credit tenancy, price per square foot for rent, etc. makes its difficult for some tenants to understand that even though there is vacancy in their local market place, landlords may not necessarily budge where tenants would like. I let each tenant I represent know that the only way to find out where the landlord is will to make a deal is by requesting a lease proposal and negotiating.

Majority of the time, unless specific reasons other than rental price, most tenants will continue to renew their lease. $.10 per square foot isn't really going to make much of a justification to move unless they are a small tenant.  It's typical for tenants to tour the marketplace and to have found themselves back at thier exisiting space renewing their lease for another few more years with some incentives like free rent, new carpet and paint.

For Landlords, it can be very advantagous to consider early lease renewals for tenants. Why? The known is better than the unknown and diminishes the risk of losing a credit worthy tenant. It's easier to control costs like improvements to space, commissions, loss of income for vacancy, and overall real estate costs associated with time. 

But the only really way to know if you had a good lease is only after the lease is over.   

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

San Fernando Valley Enterprise Zone Expansion

The City of Los Angeles has expanded the Enterprise Zone to now include Chatsworth, Canoga Park, Van Nuys Airport Area, Woodland Hills and the Northeast Valley.  Some of the incentives below:

• Employment tax credits of $37,400 per employee hired, spread over five years;


• 35 percent utility rate reductions over five years from the Department of Water and Power;


• Sales and use tax income credits for purchases of machinery and equipment;


• Lender interest deduction for loans made to Enterprise Zone businesses; and


• Priority bid preferences for Enterprise Zone businesses bidding on state procurement contracts.

The Enterprise Zone sounds interesting, but will it be effective in stimulating the growth and development of new and existing business in the San Fernando Valley? 

From the surface the benefits seem apparent in the manufacturing and distribution sector. And this benefit isn't just for a tenant, but as a landlord you reap the benefits of less stringent city ordinances and flexibility to allow for a few more types of uses. And in conjunction to the other city monies floating around for real estate owners, if you can find it "CRA", you might just be in luck.

So this enterprise zone solution is going to stimulate the economy, right? You have a great business plan. As a new business in the enterprise zone, you get 100% tax credits for the purchase of new equipment and machinery to get your business going.  You can hire someone that qualifies under any one of the 13 different categories (saves you up to $13,440 over a 5-year span), like the recently laid-off and don't forget those living in the work opportunity tax credit area which saves you and additional $2,400 per year. You have reduced parking requirements, city fee waivers, and DWP rate discounts that all put money back in you pockets, right.  It does seem promising.

So the question is, where can a new business get a LOAN? Um! Are we still at the mercy of the banks and politicians that help nurture the lending incentives? Until the key to lending is turned on, it's going to be a slow process to get things jump started. 

SEZ Zone Expansion Info Package