The Challenge of Ecommerce Real Estate

The Challenge of Ecommerce Real Estate

cluster map postcard (3)

We’ve been examining some of the larger ecommerce distribution companies and while it is a very notable trend in the industry, we’re finding the current leasing impact is substantially less than the publicity it currently garners. But this is still early in the migration to a new distribution platform and a lack of building supply is holding back ecommerce adoption especially in infill markets. Ecommerce users generally want a lot of loading, high clearances, and large employee parking lots. These are not buildings typically found on the market and in this period of extreme shortage, there is no incentive for developers to develop anything “out of the box”. However, those few developers who have been willing to take the risk and build ecommerce buildings on spec have been richly rewarded.
Continue reading “The Challenge of Ecommerce Real Estate”

Strong Demand But Not Much Product

Strong Demand But Not Much Product

2014 ended on a strong note at year end.  All my listings are either leased or sold and it confirms the space shortage that is looming throughout Los Angeles. Tenants should be looking six months prior to lease expiration and be prepared to pay double rent as soon as they find a space they like. Not only has there been very limited new construction over the past several years, but high sale prices have taken a lot of buildings off the lease market. This has put upward pressure on lease rates for functional distribution type warehouses.   Most new developments are exceeding their proformas with deals being struck during construction, especially on the sale side. The predominance of cash buyers, both from foreign investors and funds is dramatic even as the march of higher prices and lower yields continue.

Continue reading “Strong Demand But Not Much Product”

Looking at US Industrial with the US Cluster Mapping Project

Looking at US Industrial with the US Cluster Mapping Project

The Cluster Mapping Project (CMP) was pioneered by Michael E Porter of Harvard University. He is just as well known for his works on Competitive Advantage. His work is a necessary foundation for US Industry and business organizations. I reprint his Value Chain diagram below for company diagnostics, which has been repurposed to examine the competitiveness of regions. To understand the implications of location and clustering, you can read an article Professor Porter published in 1995 about the strategic location of inner cities which is just as relevant today.


Continue reading “Looking at US Industrial with the US Cluster Mapping Project”

SIOR Nashville – October, 2014 – Land Development Roundtable and MAPP Presentation

SIOR Nashville – October, 2014 – Land Development Roundtable and MAPP Presentation

I’ve uploaded my presentation for the Nashville conference in a PDF document. The focus is on industrial land development throughout the United States. Everything goes better with good programming and I hope to demonstrate how the MAPP program is helping me with land developers. I have some other thoughts I will be sharing with you shortly about developing a trading platform for on and off market industrial. In the meantime, please review the attached and contact me with any questions or collaborative enterprises. Nashville Land Development Program

Funds Continue To Dominate Purchasing Activity

Funds Continue To Dominate Purchasing Activity

Funds are dominating the purchase of industrial real estate. Out of the top 40 Los Angeles industrial deals this year, the majority were purchased by funds. For off-market deals, funds purchased closer to 100% of properties that were quietly offered. The size of the fund can range from a $20 Billion public company dealing in billion dollar portfolios to a single operator with wealthy partners buying an old building to rehab. What unites all the funds is their view of real estate as an investment, not as a place to do business.

Continue reading “Funds Continue To Dominate Purchasing Activity”

What’s New at Klein Commercial – March 2014

What’s New at Klein Commercial – March 2014

We’re starting off the year with good listings including a 58,000 SF building in Paramount (lease), a 7500 SF Building in Gardena (sale), a 9 acre development site in Compton (sale), and a 2 Acre Truck Yard in Gardena (lease). I also have deals working in Riverside, CA; Houston, TX; Long Island, NY and of course, Gardena, CA.

Continue reading “What’s New at Klein Commercial – March 2014”

WHITHER OLDER BUILDINGS

WHITHER OLDER BUILDINGS

In Los Angeles, older buildings continue to be valued unlike in many other post-industrial cities. Although these buildings have lower ceilings, poor loading, and limited parking, there have many types of occupants. The main advantages to older buildings are their low rents and central locations. One significant downside is since older buildings compete on low rents, owners can’t afford a lot of improvements. This condition creates blight and despite good occupancy rates, neighborhoods decline. Taxes and planning laws exacerbate the situation.

Continue reading “WHITHER OLDER BUILDINGS”

Tenant Power

Tenant Power

Tenants have underappreciated power especially in cases of new development and investment projects. Most tenants don’t realize their own worth because they are rarely in the market, don’t experience the development cycle and are oriented towards functionality. Conversely, lease terms and tenant credit are essential to the developer. The capital impact of the lease is well understood by the developer but is often neglected by the tenant.
Continue reading “Tenant Power”

Concentration Continues at the Top Tier of Industrial Buildings

Concentration Continues at the Top Tier of Industrial Buildings

The world of big industrial has evolved with fewer and better capitalized buyers. It’s a core group of 15 or 20 nationwide owners that know the markets, have talented principals and to the delight of most sellers, they close for all cash. In contrast, the entrepreneurial developer who played such an important development role in past buying cycles has almost completely vanished from the scene. High Net Worth Funds, REITS, Pension Plans, and the Insurance Companies dominate the ranks of primary industrial investors. Occasionally, developer partners, seek out capital from the large institutions, but control still reverts to the same dominant group of investors.

Continue reading “Concentration Continues at the Top Tier of Industrial Buildings”

1 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 18