0 Boston Office Market Ranks Third In Global Rent Growth

Posted on March 10, 2015 by Wil Catlin

view of Boston's office buildings over the water

Credit: Banker&Tradesman

Boston is 3rd in office rent growth for 2014 behind Singapore and San Francisco. The factors that drive Boston are the innovative economy and the extensive university presence. The YE Market Report (link below) goes through the Downtown Class B office market fundamentals.

“According to Banker&Tradesman, Boston ranked first globally with a 34.6-percent increase in capital value growth. Foreign investors drove up prices of the Boston region’s commercial real estate, with investors such as Toronto-based Oxford Properties Group and Norges Bank Investment Management buying trophy office buildings in Boston and Cambridge. The index is designed to identify which cities are changing the fastest by combining real estate data with socioeconomic factors.”

You can download a pdf of the report here: http://www.bostonrealestates.com/reports/year-end-2014/Downtown/YE-MarketReport-Downtown-lo.pdf

0 Spec Office Construction Coming to Boston

Posted on December 4, 2014 by Wil Catlin

Spec office construction is coming to Boston In 2015 – for who? Well, not for the smaller companies, their footprint would be far smaller than the new construction Class A can accommodate. The recent 4 quarters has seen a tremendous migration to the Financial District from the Seaport and East Cambridge for the value oriented office tenant. Rent within the Class B market still fall within the mid to upper $30’s per square foot.

Banker & Tradesman offers some perspective on the market shift in downtown Boston, noting “the office market continues to recover from the 2008 downturn because of an expanding tech sector and relocations of companies from Cambridge and the suburbs. Recent acquisitions of trophy office towers in Boston and Cambridge reflect the continuing interest of foreign investors seeking higher yields than government bonds, panelists said. In 2015, office investment sales are expected to slow, but overseas investors will continue to put money to work in Greater Boston, said Jessica Hughes, a managing director for JLL.”

You can read the B&T report, here, or check out our analysis of Boston Spec Suites.

0 Boston Wharf Co. Building at 51 Melcher Sells for $52.7M

Posted on August 23, 2014 by Wil Catlin

For $513.49 PSF Synergy Investments has sold 51 Melcher Street to Zurich North America. The building went through a complete renovation and was delivered fully leased to WeWork, Life is Good, and NetSuite.

According to Banker & Tradesman, “Synergy spent millions of dollars repositioning the building in the market, including base building renovations, a new main entrance and lobby, HVAC systems, new and restored windows and new roof, restrooms, plumbing, electrical service and elevators.”

Pricing with the Seaport Class B Market now is running in the upper $30’s to low $40’s PSF.

Click to view the full size graphic

0 This is What Today’s Class B Office Space Tenants Value

Posted on July 28, 2014 by Wil Catlin

· 75% of current market demand is within the creative economy i.e. Tech, Advertising, Architecture & Design

· Landlords using demand to improve spaces and increase rents. Spending TI money now for long term increase their lease ability.

· Small suites are disappearing, especially in the Seaport. Does it make sense to go smaller?

· Low rise Class A vs quality b/b+….the price gap is narrowing.

· Sublease and move?…tenants are weighing this options as rents continue to rise and their current leases have value.

· Red Line is still the demand driver…tenants are looking towards new stops (Park St., Central, Davis) where value exists.

· Unique amenities are important i.e. bike storage, pet friendly, shared conference space, ROOF DECKS!