3-30-12

Mid Atlantic Real Estate Journal — Commercial Office Spotlight — March 30 - April 12, 2012 — 5B

www.marejournal.com

C OMMERCIAL O FFICE S POTLIGHT

Q4 2011 | OFFICE

RESEARCH & FORECAST REPORT EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA | SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY | DELAWARE

PA

Stable or Stalled? REGIONAL OVERVIEW

The regional office markets did not register any measurable improvement during the third and fourth quarters of 2011. The perception is that market fundamentals are less fragile than in the previous two years, but this has yet to be reflected in occupancy trends. Overall, companies are still attempting to minimize the need for additional space when making lease decisions. Annual absorption, at 511,662 square feet, was slightly higher than 2010’s annual total and represents the second year of positive absorption. Leasing activity was sporadic rather than steady, but there were some significant new transactions. One example is Endo Pharmaceuticals; the company announced plans to move from Chadds Ford to a new 300,000-square-foot build-to-suit at Atwater Corporate Center. The regional vacancy remained at 14.7 c percent. Absorption was flat for the fourth c Tenants are still in the driver’s seat for c lease negotiations, with cost-savings driving decisions. Building sale activity remained light, c

NJ

DE

MARKET INDICATORS

2011 Q3 2012 Q1

VACANCY NET ABSORPTION CONSTRUCTION RENTAL RATE

quarter, and low but positive for the year. Class A buildings had one million square feet of positive absorption, while Class B buildings lost over 500,000 square feet.

but there was an increase of properties on the market.

UPDATE New Supply, Vacancy and Absorption Arrows compare current quarter to the previous quarter and forecast the next quarter.

MAJOR OFFICE MARKET VACANCY

20%

MSF

5.0

35%

15%

4.0

30%

CBD Philadelphia

3.0

25%

10%

PA Suburbs

2.0

20%

Southern NJ

1.0

15%

5%

Wilmington / New Castle

0.0

10%

02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11

Lehigh Valley

-1.0

5%

0%

2008

2009

2010

2011

-2.0

0%

Vacancy Rate

Of the regional major market areas, only the Lehigh Valley is back to a pre-recession vacancy levels.

Absorption Construction

www.colliers.com/philadelphia

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