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Tag Archives: office


Amazon Employees to Return to Office Three Days a Week

Amazon is instructing corporate staffers to spend at least three days a week in the office, CEO Andy Jassy wrote in a memo on Friday.

It marks a shift from Amazon’s previous policy, which left it up to individual managers to decide how often their employees would be required to work from the office.

 

Jassy said he and the S-team, a tight-knit group of senior executives from almost all areas of Amazon’s business, decided at a meeting earlier this week that employees should be in the office “the majority of the time (at least three days per week).” They made the decision after determining that it would benefit the company’s culture and workers’ ability to learn from and collaborate with one another.

Amazon plans to implement the change on May 1. There will be some exceptions to the rule, Jassy said, such as customer support roles, which have the option of working remotely.

*Article courtesy of CNBC

For more information about New Jersey or Philadelphia health care space, industrial space, retail space, office space, land or other New Jersey and Philadelphia commercial properties, please call 856-857-6300 or send an email to info@wolfcre.com. Wolf Commercial Real Estate, is a leading New Jersey and Philadelphia commercial real estate broker that specializes in healthcare, office, retail, land, industrial, and investment spaces.

Wolf Commercial Real Estate, a full-service CORFAC International brokerage, and advisory firm that provides a full range commercial real estate listings and services and property management services for landlords, owners, investors, tenants and more.

As experts in both Philadelphia and New Jersey commercial real estate listings and services, the WCRE team provides ongoing detailed information about commercial properties to our clients and prospects to help them achieve their real estate goals.

Concessions Offered to Lure Office Tenants

A growing spread between starting and effective rents illustrates how office landlords — even among coveted Class A buildings — are seeing their rental income eroded as the office market remains squarely in favor of tenants.

It represents another challenge facing the office market, which continues to see depressed leasing activity and rising vacancy, including from sublease space.

New York commercial real estate data and analytics company CompStak Inc. found, since the end of 2019, Class A effective rents in office space across markets it analyzes are up 1.4% while starting rents are up 4.5%. Starting rent is the rate at which a lease is signed while effective rent represents the rate after concessions are factored in.

*Article courtesy of Philadelphia Business Journal

For more information about New Jersey or Philadelphia health care space, industrial space, retail space, office space, land or other New Jersey and Philadelphia commercial properties, please call 856-857-6300 to speak with Jason Wolf (jason.wolf@wolfcre.com) at Wolf Commercial Real Estate, a leading New Jersey and Philadelphia commercial real estate broker that specializes in both New Jersey and Philadelphia cannabis, healthcare space, office space, retail space, land and New Jersey and Philadelphia industrial space.

Wolf Commercial Real Estate, a full-service CORFAC International brokerage, and advisory firm, is a premier New Jersey and Philadelphia commercial real estate brokerage firm that provides a full range of New Jersey and Philadelphia commercial real estate listings and services, property management services, and marketing commercial offices, medical properties, industrial properties, land properties, retail buildings and other New Jersey and Philadelphia commercial properties for buyers, tenants, investors, and sellers.

A New Jersey and Philadelphia commercial real estate broker with expertise in New Jersey and Philadelphia commercial real estate listings, Wolf Commercial Real Estate provides unparalleled expertise in matching companies and individuals seeking new New Jersey and Philadelphia office space, New Jersey and Philadelphia retail space, or New Jersey and Philadelphia industrial space with the New Jersey and Philadelphia commercial properties that best meets their needs.

As experts in both Philadelphia and New Jersey commercial real estate listings and services, the team at our commercial real estate brokerage firm provides ongoing detailed information about Philadelphia and New Jersey commercial properties to our clients and prospects to help them achieve their real estate goals.  

Please visit our websites for a full listing of South Jersey, Philadelphia, and New Jersey commercial properties for lease or sale through our Philadelphia commercial real estate brokerage firm.

Mortgage Bonds Coming Due in 2023

Some $17 billion in mortgage bonds backed by office properties is coming due this year, in an environment where the outlook for the U.S. office market is cloudier than ever and companies continue to shed office space to cut costs.

That’s according to a recent report by New York-based Moody’s Analytics, which also noted office building commercial real estate loans, maturity extensions and potentially even maturity failures could become commonplace amid weak office market performance and interest-rate hikes. 

The number of mortgage bonds backed by office properties coming due was $7 billion in 2022, and $4 billion in 2021, making 2023’s $17 billion on the verge of maturing a significant increase.

*Article courtesy of Philadelphia Business Journal

For more information about New Jersey or Philadelphia health care space, industrial space, retail space, office space, land or other New Jersey and Philadelphia commercial properties, please call 856-857-6300 to speak with Jason Wolf (jason.wolf@wolfcre.com) at Wolf Commercial Real Estate, a leading New Jersey and Philadelphia commercial real estate broker that specializes in both New Jersey and Philadelphia cannabis, healthcare space, office space, retail space, land and New Jersey and Philadelphia industrial space.

Wolf Commercial Real Estate, a full-service CORFAC International brokerage, and advisory firm, is a premier New Jersey and Philadelphia commercial real estate brokerage firm that provides a full range of New Jersey and Philadelphia commercial real estate listings and services, property management services, and marketing commercial offices, medical properties, industrial properties, land properties, retail buildings and other New Jersey and Philadelphia commercial properties for buyers, tenants, investors, and sellers.

A New Jersey and Philadelphia commercial real estate broker with expertise in New Jersey and Philadelphia commercial real estate listings, Wolf Commercial Real Estate provides unparalleled expertise in matching companies and individuals seeking new New Jersey and Philadelphia office space, New Jersey and Philadelphia retail space, or New Jersey and Philadelphia industrial space with the New Jersey and Philadelphia commercial properties that best meets their needs.

As experts in both Philadelphia and New Jersey commercial real estate listings and services, the team at our commercial real estate brokerage firm provides ongoing detailed information about Philadelphia and New Jersey commercial properties to our clients and prospects to help them achieve their real estate goals.  

Please visit our websites for a full listing of South Jersey, Philadelphia, and New Jersey commercial properties for lease or sale through our Philadelphia commercial real estate brokerage firm.

Office Owners Want to Own More Than Office Space

Many of the most prominent office developers in the U.S. are shifting gears, looking to buy or build real estate that isn’t office. 

Boston Properties Inc. is planning to develop 2,000 residential units up and down the East Coast. The firm, which owns more U.S. office space than any other publicly traded company, also is developing millions of square feet of lab and life-science space. 

*Article courtesy of The Wall Street Journal

For more information about New Jersey or Philadelphia health care space, industrial space, retail space, office space, land or other New Jersey and Philadelphia commercial properties, please call 856-857-6300 to speak with Jason Wolf (jason.wolf@wolfcre.com) at Wolf Commercial Real Estate, a leading New Jersey and Philadelphia commercial real estate broker that specializes in both New Jersey and Philadelphia cannabis, healthcare space, office space, retail space, land and New Jersey and Philadelphia industrial space.

Wolf Commercial Real Estate, a full-service CORFAC International brokerage, and advisory firm, is a premier New Jersey and Philadelphia commercial real estate brokerage firm that provides a full range of New Jersey and Philadelphia commercial real estate listings and services, property management services, and marketing commercial offices, medical properties, industrial properties, land properties, retail buildings and other New Jersey and Philadelphia commercial properties for buyers, tenants, investors, and sellers.

A New Jersey and Philadelphia commercial real estate broker with expertise in New Jersey and Philadelphia commercial real estate listings, Wolf Commercial Real Estate provides unparalleled expertise in matching companies and individuals seeking new New Jersey and Philadelphia office space, New Jersey and Philadelphia retail space, or New Jersey and Philadelphia industrial space with the New Jersey and Philadelphia commercial properties that best meets their needs.

As experts in both Philadelphia and New Jersey commercial real estate listings and services, the team at our commercial real estate brokerage firm provides ongoing detailed information about Philadelphia and New Jersey commercial properties to our clients and prospects to help them achieve their real estate goals.  

Please visit our websites for a full listing of South Jersey, Philadelphia, and New Jersey commercial properties for lease or sale through our Philadelphia commercial real estate brokerage firm.

Fundamental Change Coming to Office Sector

As the CEO of a company that produces one of proptech’s leading data visualization tools—offering advanced predictive analytics—Navigator’s Taylor Odegard has no trouble visualizing the future of offices in central business districts.

From a booth with a commanding position on the CREtech 2022 show floor in NYC last week, Odegard gave us his assessment of the office sector, specifically the fate of office towers populating central business districts in major urban centers.

Odegard also thinks traditional office leasing scenarios will evolve to match the new reality. “The traditional [model] of a five-year, 10-year or 15-year lease will change fundamentally, with terms where you can retract and grow within the lease—elastic leases,” he told GlobeSt.com.

Odegard sees a permanent paradigm shift in CBD office towers due to the rise of hybrid work, one in which landlords and tenants have diametrically opposite priorities.

*Article courtesy of GlobeST.com

For more information about New Jersey or Philadelphia health care space, industrial space, retail space, office space, land or other New Jersey and Philadelphia commercial properties, please call 856-857-6300 to speak with Jason Wolf (jason.wolf@wolfcre.com) at Wolf Commercial Real Estate, a leading New Jersey and Philadelphia commercial real estate broker that specializes in both New Jersey and Philadelphia cannabis, healthcare space, office space, retail space, land and New Jersey and Philadelphia industrial space.

Wolf Commercial Real Estate, a full-service CORFAC International brokerage, and advisory firm, is a premier New Jersey and Philadelphia commercial real estate brokerage firm that provides a full range of New Jersey and Philadelphia commercial real estate listings and services, property management services, and marketing commercial offices, medical properties, industrial properties, land properties, retail buildings and other New Jersey and Philadelphia commercial properties for buyers, tenants, investors, and sellers.

A New Jersey and Philadelphia commercial real estate broker with expertise in New Jersey and Philadelphia commercial real estate listings, Wolf Commercial Real Estate provides unparalleled expertise in matching companies and individuals seeking new New Jersey and Philadelphia office space, New Jersey and Philadelphia retail space, or New Jersey and Philadelphia industrial space with the New Jersey and Philadelphia commercial properties that best meets their needs.

As experts in both Philadelphia and New Jersey commercial real estate listings and services, the team at our commercial real estate brokerage firm provides ongoing detailed information about Philadelphia and New Jersey commercial properties to our clients and prospects to help them achieve their real estate goals.  

Please visit our websites for a full listing of South Jersey, Philadelphia, and New Jersey commercial properties for lease or sale through our Philadelphia commercial real estate brokerage firm.

U.S. Return-to-Office Rates Hit Pandemic High as More Employers Get Tougher

Workers are returning to U.S. offices at the highest rate since the pandemic forced most workplaces to temporarily close in 2020, as infection rates continue to fall and more companies intensify efforts to bring employees back.

Office use on average was 47.5% of early 2020 levels for workers in the office over the five business days from Sept. 8 to Sept. 14 in the 10 major metro areas monitored by Kastle Systems. The company, which tracks security swipes into buildings, said that was the highest percentage since late-March 2020.

Midweek days were especially strong, with office use for Tuesday and Wednesday last week at about 55% of the prepandemic workforce, also a high during the pandemic for those days, Kastle said. The data through last Wednesday were the most recent weekly figures available.

*Article courtesy of WJS

For more information about New Jersey or Philadelphia health care space, industrial space, retail space, office space, land or other New Jersey and Philadelphia commercial properties, please call 856-857-6300 to speak with Jason Wolf (jason.wolf@wolfcre.com) at Wolf Commercial Real Estate, a leading New Jersey and Philadelphia commercial real estate broker that specializes in both New Jersey and Philadelphia cannabis, healthcare space, office space, retail space, land and New Jersey and Philadelphia industrial space.

Wolf Commercial Real Estate, a full-service CORFAC International brokerage, and advisory firm, is a premier New Jersey and Philadelphia commercial real estate brokerage firm that provides a full range of New Jersey and Philadelphia commercial real estate listings and services, property management services, and marketing commercial offices, medical properties, industrial properties, land properties, retail buildings and other New Jersey and Philadelphia commercial properties for buyers, tenants, investors, and sellers.

A New Jersey and Philadelphia commercial real estate broker with expertise in New Jersey and Philadelphia commercial real estate listings, Wolf Commercial Real Estate provides unparalleled expertise in matching companies and individuals seeking new New Jersey and Philadelphia office space, New Jersey and Philadelphia retail space, or New Jersey and Philadelphia industrial space with the New Jersey and Philadelphia commercial properties that best meets their needs.

As experts in both Philadelphia and New Jersey commercial real estate listings and services, the team at our commercial real estate brokerage firm provides ongoing detailed information about Philadelphia and New Jersey commercial properties to our clients and prospects to help them achieve their real estate goals.  

Please visit our websites for a full listing of South Jersey, Philadelphia, and New Jersey commercial properties for lease or sale through our Philadelphia commercial real estate brokerage firm.

How shifting office demand may factor into commercial mortgage market

Remote work that started as a temporary solution at the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic has made one of commercial real estate’s most prolific sectors the biggest question mark more than two years later.

In a recent white paper, the Mortgage Bankers Association examined two potential outcomes for the U.S. office market, based on whether current trends in hybrid work permanently stick — and people continue to go into the office less frequently. The second scenario imagines what could happen if a looser labor market means employees will be prompted to go into the office more often, seeking job security.

In the “base case” scenario of widespread hybrid work, companies would require around 80% of office space they previously needed, and income and values could drop 10% to 20% — although that’s heavily dependent on location, the MBA notes. The flight-to-quality trend observed especially in the wake of the pandemic would become more apparent in this scenario, with older, outdated space likely seeing significant discounts while Class A-rated space (or higher) seeing significant premiums.

*Article courtesy of Philadelphia Business Journal 

For more information about New Jersey or Philadelphia health care space, industrial space, retail space, office space, land or other New Jersey and Philadelphia commercial properties, please call 856-857-6300 to speak with Jason Wolf (jason.wolf@wolfcre.com) at Wolf Commercial Real Estate, a leading New Jersey and Philadelphia commercial real estate broker that specializes in both New Jersey and Philadelphia cannabis, healthcare space, office space, retail space, land and New Jersey and Philadelphia industrial space.

Wolf Commercial Real Estate, a full-service CORFAC International brokerage, and advisory firm, is a premier New Jersey and Philadelphia commercial real estate brokerage firm that provides a full range of New Jersey and Philadelphia commercial real estate listings and services, property management services, and marketing commercial offices, medical properties, industrial properties, land properties, retail buildings and other New Jersey and Philadelphia commercial properties for buyers, tenants, investors, and sellers.

A New Jersey and Philadelphia commercial real estate broker with expertise in New Jersey and Philadelphia commercial real estate listings, Wolf Commercial Real Estate provides unparalleled expertise in matching companies and individuals seeking new New Jersey and Philadelphia office space, New Jersey and Philadelphia retail space, or New Jersey and Philadelphia industrial space with the New Jersey and Philadelphia commercial properties that best meets their needs.

As experts in both Philadelphia and New Jersey commercial real estate listings and services, the team at our commercial real estate brokerage firm provides ongoing detailed information about Philadelphia and New Jersey commercial properties to our clients and prospects to help them achieve their real estate goals.  

Please visit our websites for a full listing of South Jersey, Philadelphia, and New Jersey commercial properties for lease or sale through our Philadelphia commercial real estate brokerage firm.

WCRE SECOND QUARTER 2022 REPORT

With Omicron In The Rear-View Mirror, Southern New Jersey & Philly Markets Face New Obstacles

Uncertainty Returns to Commercial Real Estate in Q2 After a Strong First Quarter

WCRE SECOND QUARTER 2022 REPORTCommercial real estate brokerage WCRE reported in its analysis of the second quarter that new challenges, including fear of a recession, knocked the post-pandemic recovery off course. Although some sectors and indicators remained strong, others were dragged down by persistent inflation, the war in Ukraine, and the ubiquity of hybrid and remote work models, among other pressures. 

“Only a few months ago we were impressed by the unexpected strength of many indicators, but Q2 felt much more like a roller coaster with unpredictable twists, turns, and unfortunately some drops,” said Jason Wolf, founder and managing principal of WCRE. “As usual, industrial stayed far ahead of the pack, and retail leasing in the suburbs was strong, but the office market is still well below pre-pandemic levels, and vacancy is increasing.”

In the second quarter there were approximately 311,271 square feet of new leases and renewals executed in the three counties surveyed (Burlington, Camden and Gloucester). This is a decrease of about 35% from Q1. New tenant leases comprised approximately 215,554 square feet, or about 69% of all deals for the three counties. 

Download Printable Report (PDF) >>>

Other office market highlights from the report:

  • Overall vacancy in the market is now approximately 15.7 percent, a setback compared with the previous quarter. 
  • The sales market-maintained momentum, with 1,296,020 square feet actively on the market or under agreement.
  • Both the total dollars and square feet of completed sales increased in the second quarter, with $114,300,111 in completed sales comprising 906,903 square feet.
  • Average rents for Class A & B product remain unchanged, as they continue to show strong support in the range of $10.00-$15.00/sf NNN or $20.00-$25.00/sf gross for the deals completed during the quarter. These averages have hovered near this range for more than a year.

WCRE has expanded into southeastern Pennsylvania, and the firm’s quarterly reports now include a section on transactions, rates, and news from Philadelphia and the suburbs. Highlights from the second quarter in Pennsylvania include:

  • Vacancy in Philadelphia’s office leasing market is still nearly 20% below the three-year average before the pandemic. There were modest gains in 2021, but those have largely been erased in the past few months. Net absorption was negative 300,000 SF for the past 12 months, which is a marked improvement.
  • The industrial sector in Philadelphia continues its incredible run. Over the past 12 months, 17.5 million new square feet of inventory became available, and the sector saw 15.6 million square feet in net absorption. Rents grew an average 12.2%.
  • Retail remains the sector most responsive to market conditions, but it has also proved to be the most adaptable. Average retail net absorption in Philadelphia continues to improve and was at 1.7 million square feet for the 12 months just concluded. Average rents grew a modest .7%.

WCRE also reports on the Southern New Jersey retail market. Retail highlights from the report include:

  • Retail vacancy in Camden County posted an improvement to 9.0 percent, while average rents were essentially unchanged, in the range of $13.18/sf NNN.
  • Burlington County retail vacancy ticked up slightly to 8.4 percent, while average rents increased by a dime, to the range of $14.41/sf NNN.
  • Gloucester County improved slightly, to 11 percent, building on a solid improvement last year, with average rents inching up further, to the range of $16.53/sf NNN.

The full report is available upon request.

About WCRE

WCRE is a full-service commercial real estate brokerage and advisory firm specializing in office, retail, medical, industrial and investment properties in Southern New Jersey and the Philadelphia region. We provide a complete range of real estate services to commercial property owners, companies, banks, commercial loan servicers, and investors seeking the highest quality of service, proven expertise, and a total commitment to client-focused relationships. Through our intensive focus on our clients’ business goals, our commitment to the community, and our highly personal approach to client service, WCRE is creating a new culture and a higher standard. We go well beyond helping with property transactions and serve as a strategic partner invested in your long-term growth and success.

Learn more about WCRE on Twitter & Instagram @WCRE1, and on Facebook at Wolf Commercial Real Estate, LLC. Visit our blog pages at www.southjerseyofficespace.com, www.southjerseyindustrialspace.com, www.southjerseymedicalspace.com, www.southjerseyretailspace.com, www.phillyofficespace.comwww.phillyindustrialspace.com, www.phillymedicalspace.com and www.phillyretailspace.com

Return-to-office is flattening as companies navigate employee pushback, commutes, higher gas prices

Following the Omicron variant peak this past winter, a moment was seized upon by many U.S. companies. After many fits and starts, it was time for their employees to return to the office, at least a couple of days a week.

Companies that track office utilization and physical occupancy reported a gradual uptick in office usage this spring, as companies began to figure out the new hybrid work balance. Some have set which days those are; others, wanting to lean into the newly discovered work of flexible work, have given workers choice on when they want to come in.

But after an uptick observed this spring, office-space usage has mostly flattened in the past several weeks, prompting the question of whether current space usage is the actual new normal, or whether more ground will be made up in the coming months.

Boston-based workplace platform Robin Powered Inc. tracks office-space usage via aggregating desk-booking metrics across its customer base, which chiefly includes companies that’ve adopted hybrid-work models. The week of April 25, the percentage of available desk space being used in offices was at 21%, certainly a material rise from the 6% seen Jan. 10. Since then, it’s hovered in the low 20% range, dipping to 17% the week of May 30 before rising to 20% again the week of June 6 and June 13.

*Article courtesy of Philadelphia Business Journal

For more information about New Jersey or Philadelphia health care space, industrial space, retail space, office space, land or other New Jersey and Philadelphia commercial properties, please call 856-857-6300 to speak with Jason Wolf (jason.wolf@wolfcre.com) at Wolf Commercial Real Estate, a leading New Jersey and Philadelphia commercial real estate broker that specializes in both New Jersey and Philadelphia cannabis, healthcare space, office space, retail space, land and New Jersey and Philadelphia industrial space.

Wolf Commercial Real Estate, a full-service CORFAC International brokerage, and advisory firm, is a premier New Jersey and Philadelphia commercial real estate brokerage firm that provides a full range of New Jersey and Philadelphia commercial real estate listings and services, property management services, and marketing commercial offices, medical properties, industrial properties, land properties, retail buildings and other New Jersey and Philadelphia commercial properties for buyers, tenants, investors, and sellers.

A New Jersey and Philadelphia commercial real estate broker with expertise in New Jersey and Philadelphia commercial real estate listings, Wolf Commercial Real Estate provides unparalleled expertise in matching companies and individuals seeking new New Jersey and Philadelphia office space, New Jersey and Philadelphia retail space, or New Jersey and Philadelphia industrial space with the New Jersey and Philadelphia commercial properties that best meets their needs.

As experts in both Philadelphia and New Jersey commercial real estate listings and services, the team at our commercial real estate brokerage firm provides ongoing detailed information about Philadelphia and New Jersey commercial properties to our clients and prospects to help them achieve their real estate goals.  

Please visit our websites for a full listing of South Jersey, Philadelphia, and New Jersey commercial properties for lease or sale through our Philadelphia commercial real estate brokerage firm.

How Office Use Is Evolving the Urban Core

The pandemic has catalyzed an undeniable change in office use, but many companies still have questions and uncertainties about how these changes will take shape and how to plan workplace strategy for the future. Urban centers have, perhaps, been the most disrupted by these changes, with the majority of office space located in the urban core. Data from Dr. Tracy Loh, a fellow with the Brookings Institution, shows that 71% of US office space is located in a downtown market. This is going to be among the biggest challenges for office users and office owners going forward.

*Article courtesy of Globest

For more information about New Jersey or Philadelphia health care space, industrial space, retail space, office space, land or other New Jersey and Philadelphia commercial properties, please call 856-857-6300 to speak with Jason Wolf (jason.wolf@wolfcre.com) at Wolf Commercial Real Estate, a leading New Jersey and Philadelphia commercial real estate broker that specializes in both New Jersey and Philadelphia cannabis, healthcare space, office space, retail space, land and New Jersey and Philadelphia industrial space.

Wolf Commercial Real Estate, a full-service CORFAC International brokerage, and advisory firm, is a premier New Jersey and Philadelphia commercial real estate brokerage firm that provides a full range of New Jersey and Philadelphia commercial real estate listings and services, property management services, and marketing commercial offices, medical properties, industrial properties, land properties, retail buildings and other New Jersey and Philadelphia commercial properties for buyers, tenants, investors, and sellers.

A New Jersey and Philadelphia commercial real estate broker with expertise in New Jersey and Philadelphia commercial real estate listings, Wolf Commercial Real Estate provides unparalleled expertise in matching companies and individuals seeking new New Jersey and Philadelphia office space, New Jersey and Philadelphia retail space, or New Jersey and Philadelphia industrial space with the New Jersey and Philadelphia commercial properties that best meets their needs.

As experts in both Philadelphia and New Jersey commercial real estate listings and services, the team at our commercial real estate brokerage firm provides ongoing detailed information about Philadelphia and New Jersey commercial properties to our clients and prospects to help them achieve their real estate goals.  

Please visit our websites for a full listing of South Jersey, Philadelphia, and New Jersey commercial properties for lease or sale through our Philadelphia commercial real estate brokerage firm.

Office demand in major US markets rises in March but ‘too early to tell’ long-term

At least one tracker of office-market demand in major U.S. markets shows an improvement in March, after five months of stagnation.

VTS Inc.’s VTS Office Demand Index, or VODI, grew 20% in March, with all but one of the core U.S. office markets, Seattle, seeing new demand for office space increase. The VODI in March was 66, with a score of 100 representing typical pre-pandemic levels of demand.

The VODI measures unique-tenant tour requirements across 12 billion square feet of office space the company, which operates a leasing and asset-management platform, has insight into.

Eli Gilbert, head of market research at VTS, said the improvement in March is following seasonal trends. The Omicron variant likely impacted activity in the first two months of the year, which also tend to be somewhat slower months for the office market.

While the Covid-19 pandemic isn’t over, there’s a growing disconnect between it and the broader office market. In 2021, for example, the VODI tended to rise and fall based on surges in case counts, such as the spread of the Delta variant in the summer of 2021, for example.

*Article courtesy of Philadelphia Business Journal

For more information about New Jersey or Philadelphia health care space, industrial space, retail space, office space, land or other New Jersey and Philadelphia commercial properties, please call 856-857-6300 to speak with Jason Wolf (jason.wolf@wolfcre.com) at Wolf Commercial Real Estate, a leading New Jersey and Philadelphia commercial real estate broker that specializes in both New Jersey and Philadelphia cannabis, healthcare space, office space, retail space, land and New Jersey and Philadelphia industrial space.

Wolf Commercial Real Estate, a full-service CORFAC International brokerage, and advisory firm, is a premier New Jersey and Philadelphia commercial real estate brokerage firm that provides a full range of New Jersey and Philadelphia commercial real estate listings and services, property management services, and marketing commercial offices, medical properties, industrial properties, land properties, retail buildings and other New Jersey and Philadelphia commercial properties for buyers, tenants, investors, and sellers.

A New Jersey and Philadelphia commercial real estate broker with expertise in New Jersey and Philadelphia commercial real estate listings, Wolf Commercial Real Estate provides unparalleled expertise in matching companies and individuals seeking new New Jersey and Philadelphia office space, New Jersey and Philadelphia retail space, or New Jersey and Philadelphia industrial space with the New Jersey and Philadelphia commercial properties that best meets their needs.

As experts in both Philadelphia and New Jersey commercial real estate listings and services, the team at our commercial real estate brokerage firm provides ongoing detailed information about Philadelphia and New Jersey commercial properties to our clients and prospects to help them achieve their real estate goals.  

Please visit our websites for a full listing of South Jersey, Philadelphia, and New Jersey commercial properties for lease or sale through our Philadelphia commercial real estate brokerage firm.

WCRE FIRST QUARTER 2022 REPORT

After a Pause, Southern New Jersey & Philly Markets Appear to have Overcome Omicron

Commercial real estate brokerage WCRE reported in its analysis of the first quarter that the post-pandemic recovery is back on track.

WCRE FIRST QUARTER 2022 REPORTNow that the highly transmissible Omicron variant of COVID-19 is finally declining, there has been a rapid expansion of economic activity that has had positive impacts on many CRE sectors.

Download Printable Report (PDF) >>>

“What a difference one quarter can make. Just a few months ago, the Omicron variant was dampening demand, increasing vacancy, and generally creating uncertainty. Now, we’re seeing a CRE market that is much improved on many indicators, and continuing to strengthen.” said Jason Wolf, founder and managing principal of WCRE. “Employment, retail sales, and industrial production all expanded throughout Q1, and CRE is in a strong position as a result.”

In the first quarter there were approximately 479,886 square feet of new leases and renewals executed in the three counties surveyed (Burlington, Camden and Gloucester). New tenant leases comprised approximately 296,152 square feet, or about 62% of all deals for the three counties. These totals represent more than 50 percent improvements over the fourth quarter of 2021, which itself had improved significantly over the third quarter.

Other office market highlights from the report:

• Overall vacancy in the market is now approximately 12.15 percent, a significant improvement over the previous quarter. 
• The sales market maintained momentum, with 1,167,321 square feet actively on the market or under agreement.
• Both the total dollars and square feet of completed sales were more than double the totals for the fourth quarter, with $78,365,469 in completed sales comprising 956,596 square feet.
• Average rents for Class A & B product remain unchanged, as they continue to show strong support in the range of $10.00-$15.00/sf NNN or $20.00-$25.00/sf gross for the deals completed during the quarter. These averages have hovered near this range for more than a year.

WCRE has expanded into southeastern Pennsylvania, and the firm’s quarterly reports now include a section on transactions, rates, and news from Philadelphia and the suburbs. Highlights from the first quarter in Pennsylvania include:

• Vacancy in Philadelphia’s office leasing market is still 20% below the three-year average before the pandemic. There were modest gains in 2021, but those have been all but erased in the past few months. Net absorption was negative 1.3 million for the past 12 months.
• As expected, the industrial sector in Philadelphia led all sectors. Over the past 12 months, 14.8 million new square feet of inventory became available, and the sector saw 15.6 million square feet in net absorption. Rents grew an average 12.3%.
• Retail remains the sector most responsive to market conditions, but it has also proved to be the most adaptable. Average retail net absorption in Philadelphia continues to improve and was at 1.6 million square feet for the 12 months just concluded. Average rents grew at 2.1%.

WCRE also reports on the Southern New Jersey retail market. Retail highlights from the report include:

• Retail vacancy in Camden County posted an improvement to 9.7 percent, while average rents jumped $1.70, in the range of $13.13/sf NNN.
• Burlington County retail vacancy improved to 8.2 percent in Q1, giving back improvements from the previous quarter. Average rents fell slightly, to the range of $14.31/sf NNN.
• Gloucester County stayed unchanged at 11.3 percent, building on a solid improvement last year, with average rents inching up further, to the range of $16.38/sf NNN.

The full report is available upon request.

About WCRE

WCRE is a full-service commercial real estate brokerage and advisory firm specializing in office, retail, medical, industrial and investment properties in Southern New Jersey and the Philadelphia region. We provide a complete range of real estate services to commercial property owners, companies, banks, commercial loan servicers, and investors seeking the highest quality of service, proven expertise, and a total commitment to client-focused relationships. Through our intensive focus on our clients’ business goals, our commitment to the community, and our highly personal approach to client service, WCRE is creating a new culture and a higher standard. We go well beyond helping with property transactions and serve as a strategic partner invested in your long term growth and success.

Learn more about WCRE online at www.wolfcre.com, on Twitter & Instagram @WCRE1, and on Facebook at Wolf Commercial Real Estate, LLC. Visit our blog pages at www.southjerseyofficespace.com, www.southjerseyindustrialspace.comwww.southjerseymedicalspace.comwww.southjerseyretailspace.comwww.phillyofficespace.comwww.phillyindustrialspace.comwww.phillymedicalspace.com and www.phillyretailspace.com