1. Q1 2013 | OFFICE MARKET
HOUSTON OFFICE MARKET
RESEARCH & FORECAST REPORT
HOUSTON’S OFFICE MARKET BUILDING ON A BOOM –
9.4M SF UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Houston’s strong job growth continues to boost Houston’s office market in
Q1 2013. Although leasing momentum slowed in the first quarter, vacancy
MARKET INDICATORS levels only increased 10 basis points between quarters, and decreased by
Q1 2012 Q1 2013 120 basis points on an annual basis. Absorption slowed too, due to a lack of
CITYWIDE NET quality blocks of space. Houston’s office market posted only 76,000 SF of
ABSORPTION (SF) 1.3M 76K positive net absorption in the first quarter, much less than the 1.3M SF
)
posted in the same quarter one year ago. Absorption will pick up
CITYWIDE AVERAGE momentum again later in the year when some of the 9.4 million SF of office
VACANCY 15.1% 13.9% space under construction is delivered.
The citywide average rental rate increased slightly from $23.70 per SF to
CITYWIDE AVERAGE
$23.86 per SF over the year; however, some of the top-performing Class A
RENTAL RATE $23.70 $23.86
rental rates increased by as much as 8.5% to 10.0%.
CLASS A RENTAL RATE The Houston metropolitan area added 118,700 jobs between February 2012
CBD $36.43 $36.86 and February 2013, an astounding annual increase of 4.5% over the prior
SUBURBAN $27.82 $28.43 year’s job growth. Further, Houston’s unemployment fell to 6.3% from
CLASS A VACANCY
7.3% one year ago, which bolstered annual Houston area home sales by
17.1%.
CBD 12.8% 11.9%
SUBURBAN 13.6% 11.2% With continued expansion in the energy industry and a strong housing
market, Houston’s economy is expected to remain healthy for both the near
and long-term.
ABSORPTION, NEW SUPPLY & VACANCY RATES
JOB GROWTH & UNEMPLOYMENT 2,500,000
(Not Seasonally Adjusted) 17.0%
2,000,000
UNEMPLOYMENT 2/12 2/13
15.0%
Houston 7.3% 6.3% 1,500,000
Texas 7.2% 6.5% 13.0%
1,000,000
U.S. 8.7% 8.1%
11.0%
500,000
ANNUAL # OF JOBS
9.0%
JOB GROWTH CHANGE ADDED 0
Houston 4.5% 118.7K
-500,000 7.0%
Texas 3.3% 355.6K
-1,000,000 5.0%
U.S. 1.7% 2.2M
Net Absorption New Supply Vacancy
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2. RESEARCH & FORECAST REPORT | Q1 2013 | HOUSTON OFFICE MARKET
VACANCY & AVAILABILITY only 76,000 SF of positive net absorption in the
first quarter, much less than the 1.3M SF posted
CBD VS. SUBURBAN Although Houston’s overall average vacancy
in the same quarter one year ago. Absorption
CLASS A OFFICE VACANCY rate increased 10 basis points between
will pick up momentum again later in the year
quarters, vacancy decreased by 120 basis
20.0% when some of the 9.2 million SF of office space
points to 13.9% on an annual basis. Between
18.0%
under construction is delivered.
quarters, the average CBD vacancy rate
16.0% increased by 30 basis points to 14.0% from CBD Class A space posted the largest loss, with
14.0% 13.7%, as additional sublease space was added 286,000 SF of negative net absorption, mostly
to the market. On a year-over-year basis, the due to the addition of sublease space vacated by
12.0%
average CBD vacancy rate decreased by 110 Devon. Some of the larger tenants that moved
10.0%
basis points from 15.1%. Between quarters, the into new space or expanded into additional
8.0% average suburban vacancy rate increased by 10 space during the first quarter include Energy
6.0% basis points to 13.9% from 13.8%, and Transfer, moving into 220,000 SF in Travis
4.0% decreased 130 basis points from 15.2% over Tower which they purchased in late 2011; Noble
the year. Energy moved into 497,124 SF in 20555 Hwy
249; Wood Group Mustang moved into 170,000
The CBD Class A vacancy rate increased by 210
SF in Westgate 2 and Subsea 7 Inc. moved into
CBD VACANCY SUBURBAN VACANCY basis points to 11.9% from 9.8% between
100,000 SF in Westgate 1. UHY Advisors TX,
quarters. The CBD Class B vacancy rate
LLC relocated to 90,000 SF in 2929 Allen
decreased more significantly moving 560 basis
Parkway from 85,000 SF in 12 Greenway Plaza.
CLASS A OFFICE RENTS points to 14.6% from 20.2%. The suburban
Class A vacancy rate decreased by 20 basis RENTAL RATES
$40.00
points between quarters to 11.2% from 11.4%
The average citywide rental rate increased to
$38.00 and suburban the Class B vacancy rate
$23.86 from $23.70 per square foot on an
$36.00 increased by 20 basis points to 16.3% from
annual basis, but decreased between quarters
16.1%.
$34.00 from $23.97 per square foot. The CBD Class A
Of the 1,716 buildings in the Houston office average quoted rental rate decreased to $36.86
$32.00
market, only 43 have 100,000 SF of contiguous from $37.02 from per square foot between
$30.00 space available for lease or sublease. Further, quarters, while the suburban Class A average
$28.00 only 19 have 200,000 SF of contiguous space quoted rental rate increased to $28.43 from
available. Citywide, available sublease space $28.20 per square foot. The average CBD Class
$26.00
totals 3.7 million SF or 1.9% of Houston’s total B quoted rental rate decreased to $24.77 from
office inventory, of which 1.6 million SF is $25.00 per square foot, while the average
currently vacant. suburban Class B quoted rental rate increased
CBD RENTS SUBURBAN RENTS to $18.79 from $18.75 per square foot over the
ABSORPTION & DEMAND quarter.
Absorption slowed too, due to a lack of quality
blocks of space. Houston’s office market posted
QUOTED GROSS RENTAL RATES FOR EXISTING TOP PERFORMING OFFICE BUILDINGS
YEAR AVAIL. RENT
BUILDING NAME ADDRESS SUBMARKET RBA (SF) LEASED OWNER
BUILT SF ($/SF)
717 Texas 717 Texas CBD 696,228 2003 100.0% 76,892 $43.79 Hines
5 Houston Center 1401 McKinney St CBD 600,000 2002 95.3% 33,843 $43.66 Wells Real Estate Funds
1000 Main 1000 Main St CBD 837,161 2003 96.2% 180,833 $42.00 INVESCO Realty Advisers, Inc.
Heritage Plaza 1111 Bagby CBD 1,089,266 1986 99.6% 40,400 $42.00 Brookfield Office Properties
BG Group Place 811 Main CBD 972,474 2011 91.1% 86,917 $45.64 CalPERS/Hines
Williams Tower 2800 Post Oak Blvd West Loop/Galleria 1,476,973 1983 98.9% 16,926 $47.12 Invesco Real Estate
Marathon Oil Tower 5555 San Felipe West Loop/Galleria 1,168,805 1983 95.0% 88,616 $36.60 Hanover Real Estate Partners
CityCentre Three 842 W Sam Houston Pky N Katy Freeway 120,211 2012 74.3% 30,950 $40.00 Midway T & C Land Investors
San Felipe Plaza 5847 San Felipe St San Felipe/Voss 980,472 1984 87.0% 135,086 $38.00 Thomas Properties Group, L.P.
One BriarLake Plaza 2000 W Sam Houston Pky Westchase 502,410 2000 98.1% 63,659 $44.55 Behringer Harvard Holdings
4 Waterway Square The Woodlands Development
4 Waterway Ave The Woodlands 232,364 2008 100.0% 42,838 $41.72
Place Company, L.P.
Note: Avail. SF includes direct and sublet space.
Source: CoStar Property
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3. RESEARCH & FORECAST REPORT | Q1 2013 | HOUSTON OFFICE MARKET
SALES ACTIVITY
Houston’s office investment sales activity increased between quarters with 57 properties changing hands compared to 33 in the
previous quarter. According to CoStar Comps, total transaction sales volume for office space in Houston was approximately $892.3
million, averaging $260 per SF. Some of the more significant transactions that closed during the first quarter are listed below.
Q1 2013 SIGNIFICANT SALES TRANSACTIONS – (100,000 SF or greater)
SUB- YEAR SALE CAP
BUILDING NAME RBA (SF) BUYER SELLER $/SF CLOSED
MARKET BUILT PRICE RATE
West Loop/
Williams Tower 1,479,764 1983 Invesco RE Hines REIT $412M $278 6.0% 3/2013
Galleria
JP Morgan Asset
West Loop/ 1974/
Post Oak Central 1,279,759 Cousins Properties Management JV GE $233M $182 7.5% 2/2013
Galleria 1981
Pension Trust
800 Bell CBD 1,258,000 1962 Shorenstein Properties ExxonMobil Corp $50M $40 N/A 1/2013
LEASING ACTIVITY
Houston’s office leasing activity reached 2.7 million SF in the first quarter, about half of the amount of activity posted in the previous
quarter. Below is a list of Q1 2013 top lease transactions.
Q1 2013 TOP OFFICE LEASES
Building name/address Submarket SF Tenant Lease date
1
10001 Richmond Ave Westchase 554,385 Western Geophysical Jan-13
Noble Energy Center Two FM 1960 456,000 Noble Energy4 Jan-13
Two Allen Center CBD 315,814 Chevron 3 Jan-13
San Felipe Plaza San Felipe/Voss 166,136 Ensco International1 Dec-12
1
Waterway Plaza I The Woodlands 158,598 Huntsman International LLC Dec-12
Sugar Creek on the Lake E Fort Bend/Sugar Land 156,617 Undisclosed - Confidential Mar-13
16290 Katy Freeway Katy Freeway 144,000 Conoco Phillips3 Jan-13
8 West Centre Katy Freeway 106,801 Cameron International Corp.4 Jan-13
11 Greenway Plaza Greenway Plaza 86,733 Camden Property Trust4 Jan-13
BG Group Place CBD 75,737 Baker Hostetler Jan-13
3009 Post Oak Blvd West Loop/Galleria 49,000 Datacert Inc.4 Jan-13
Dairy Ashford Plaza Katy Freeway 36,832 Dow Chemical Company Jan-13
1021 Main CBD 28,000 Energy XXI Services2 Jan-13
13430 Northwest Fwy Northwest Far 26,527 RICOH Americas Corporation Jan-13
Williams Tower West Loop/Galleria 23,110 Community Bancorp1 Jan-13
America Tower Allen Parkway 22,229 Huron Consulting Services1 Feb-13
Waterway Plaza II The Woodlands 18,543 Steptoe & Johnson LLP Jan-13
Dairy Ashford Plaza Katy Freeway 17,927 Petrofac Inc Jan-13
One Westway Northwest Far 15,945 Cbeyond Jan-13
Columbia Centre Westchase 12,800 First Continental Mortgage3 Jan-13
1
Renewal
2
Expansion
3
Sublease
4
Pre-lease/proposed or under construction
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7. RESEARCH & FORECAST REPORT | Q1 2013 | HOUSTON OFFICE MARKET
HOUSTON SUBURBAN OFFICE MARKET SUMMARY - CONTINUED
Inventory Direct Vacancy Sublease Vacancy Vacancy Vacancy Rate (%) Net Absorption (SF) Rental Rate
AVG
Class # of Bldgs. Total (SF) (SF) Rate (%) (SF) Rate (%) Total (SF) Q4-2012 Q3-2012 Q4-2012 YTD-2012
($/SF)
West Loop/Galleria
A 35 14,733,676 1,587,777 10.8% 195,046 1.3% 1,782,823 12.1% 9.8% -77,025 170,832 $30.73
B 58 7,053,118 925,057 13.1% 14,152 0.2% 939,209 13.3% 16.6% 24,023 99,861 $22.31
C 3 147,042 3,218 2.2% 0 0.0% 3,218 2.2% 1.1% -1,656 -1,562 $19.04
Total 96 21,933,836 2,516,052 11.5% 209,198 1.0% 2,725,250 12.4% 12.0% -54,658 269,131 $27.43
Westchase
A 22 6,798,787 457,802 6.7% 44,639 0.7% 502,441 7.4% 6.0% -85,082 506,669 $34.96
B 58 6,054,268 784,174 13.0% 15,140 0.3% 799,314 13.2% 12.7% 15,413 135,450 $19.14
C 7 316,597 84,989 26.8% 0 0.0% 84,989 26.8% 27.5% 0 -32,840 $18.14
Total 87 13,169,652 1,326,965 10.1% 59,779 0.5% 1,386,744 10.5% 9.6% -69,669 609,279 $26.80
The Woodlands
A 17 3,258,826 10,968 0.3% 3,240 0.1% 14,208 0.4% 0.9% 22,477 97,842 $37.57
B 70 3,855,791 331,224 8.6% 14,801 0.4% 346,025 9.0% 9.6% -16,970 254,378 $21.13
C 6 382,156 3,600 0.9% 0 0.0% 3,600 0.9% 0.0% -3,600 918 -
Total 93 7,496,773 345,792 4.6% 18,041 0.2% 363,833 4.9% 5.2% 1,907 353,138 $25.90
OFFICE DEVELOPMENT PIPELINE
Houston’s construction pipeline continues to expand with 9.4 million SF under construction at the end of Q1 2013. The table below includes
buildings containing 75,000 SF or greater.
Building Name Address Submarket SF Pre-Leased Developer Est. Delivery
ExxonMobil North Campus I-45 & Springwoods Village Pkwy Woodlands 3,000,000 100.00% ExxonMobil (Gilbane Building Co) Jun-14
Anadarko Tower 2 1201 Lake Robbins Dr Woodlands 550,000 100.00% Patrinely Group Inc Apr-14
Energy Center Three 935 N Eldridge Pky Katy Freeway 520,340 4.80% Principal Real Estate Investors & Nov-14
Trammel Crow Company
Energy Tower III 11740 Katy Freeway Katy Freeway 428,831 0.00% Mac Haik Realty LLC Jan-14
Two BriarLake Plaza 2050 W Sam Houston Pky S Westchase 331,689 50.80% Behringer Harvard Mar-14
Energy Crossing II 15011 Katy Freeway Katy Freeway 321,508 64.90% LPC Aug-13
Murphy Exploration 9805 Katy Freeway Katy Freeway 320,000 100.00% MetroNational Corp Nov-13
BBVA Compass 2200 Post Oak Blvd Galleria/Uptown 306,012 68.90% Redstone and Stream Apr-13
3009 Post Oak Blvd. 3009 Post Oak Blvd Galleria/Uptown 302,536 21.40% Skanska Commercial Jul-13
Research Forest Lakeside 4 2445 Technology Forest Blvd Woodlands 300,000 50.00% Warmack Investments Apr-13
Granite Briarpark Green 3151 Briarpark Dr Westchase 299,664 2.09% Granite Properties Jul-13
3 Waterway Square Place 3 Waterway Ave Woodlands 232,693 91.50% The Woodlands Development Jun-13
8 West Centre 3505 W Sam Houston Pky N Katy Freeway 228,000 86.80% CORE Parkway Central, Ltd Jul-13
Mustang Engineering 17325 Park Row Katy Freeway 225,885 100.00% Transwestern Dec-13
One Hughes Landing 1800 Hughes Landing Blvd Woodlands 197,841 34.86% The Woodlands Development Sep-13
17320 Katy Freeway 17320 Katy Freeway Katy Freeway 186,375 100.00% Transwestern Dec-13
Texas Instruments Hwy 59 S & University Blvd E Fort Bend Co/Sugar Land 165,000 100.00% Planned Community Developers Mar-14
Sam Houston Crossing II 10344 Sam Houston Pky N Northwest Far 159,056 68.30% Duke Realty May-13
Mason Creek Office Center 21420 Merchants Way Katy Freeway 135,716 0.00% Myers, Crow & Saviers Apr-13
Blvd Place 1 1 Blvd Place Galleria/Uptown 130,916 56.57% Wulfe & Co. Oct-13
CityCentre Four 840 W Sam Houston Pky N Katy Freeway 120,052 52.75% Midway Companies Jun-13
Haliburton North Campus Bldg 3000 N Sam Houston Pky North Belt/Greenspoint 100,000 100.00% Haliburton May-13
Blvd Place 2 2 Blvd Place Galleria/Uptown 80,002 0.00% Wulfe & Co. Jun-14
4306 Yoakum Blvd 4306 Yoakum Blvd Allen Parkway (Midtown) 80,000 0.00% Hansen Properties Mar-14
128 Vision Park 128 Vision Park Blvd Woodlands 75,000 0.00% D'Agostino Companies Mar-14
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8. RESEARCH & FORECAST REPORT | Q1 2013 | HOUSTON OFFICE MARKET
LISA R. BRIDGES COLLIERS INTERNATIONAL | HOUSTON
Director of Market Research Houston 1300 Post Oak Boulevard
Direct +1 713 830 2125 Suite 200
Fax +1 713 830 2118 Houston, Texas 77056
lisa.bridges@colliers.com Main +1 713 222 2111 Accelerating success.
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