Commercial Trends

Greetings readers! If there is one thing we can all agree on, is that the world is changing FAST. The 4th Industrial Revolution is here. And it's already showing in the world of commercial real estate. In the spirit of keeping you informed on the latest news, we've put together tidbits from Inside Real Estate's latest newsletter. They went over all kinds of good stuff. Before we share highlights and our thoughts, we encourage you to check out Inside Real Estate's newsletter. It features all kinds of extra info and great graphs that paint a bigger picture.

What we MAINLY wanted to point out is the growth of Artificial Intelligence.

San Francisco's AI Surge

The tech scene in San Francisco is booming with a significant leap in office space leases.

• AI's office footprint grows by 50%
• OpenAI’s major lease at Uber’s hub
• Expected growth to 12 million sq. ft. by 2030

San Francisco's office landscape is rapidly transforming, thanks to the tech industry's burgeoning AI sector. OpenAI's recent leasing activity underscores this trend, highlighting the sector's expanding influence in the city's commercial spaces. Here at WLH, we know MUCH about AI. In fact, we have our own in-house AI division. Seeing how fast this industry is growing is mind boggling. You have those that understand how wild things could get FAST, and those who don't. AI isa going to affect a WHOLE bunch more than the commercial niche. It will affect residential housing, real estate agency, law, and much more. That's why we were NOT surprised to see such a huge boom of AI's footprint growing.

Also Read: PropTech & Luxury Real Estate: Postulating The Digital Future

AI Companies Leased Over 1 Million Sq. Ft. Of Space In San Francisco In 2023

WeWork's Restructuring

WeWork's recalibration efforts are shaping new strategies for space utilization.

• New York leases facing cuts
• Court approval to dictate office exits
• Members to transition to prime locations

WeWork's strategic pivot, amidst a restructuring phase, reflects a broader industry trend towards optimizing commercial space usage. Their lease reevaluation is a move towards efficiency, impacting both their operational footprint and their clientele's experience. Our opinion? The world is changing. And this has an effect on not only the commercial real estate industry, but how the US economy plays out.

CMBS Distress Indicators

The CMBS sector's distress rates tell a story of resilience and challenge.

• Retail distress dips, industrial distress rises
• An unexpected loan maturity default
• Self-storage distress nudges up

In an intriguing turn, the CMBS distress rates are presenting a complex picture, with the retail sector showing some recovery, while industrial and self-storage segments are witnessing distress signals. These fluctuations are critical barometers for market health. We find all of this intriguing to say the least. It will be interesting to see how things continue to change over the next 24 months.

Also Read: 10-Year AZ Housing Trends Released – Stats You Need To Know

Some Sectors Showed A Slight Uptick In Distress

Colliers' Leadership Boost

Greg Becker's appointment signals a strategic move for Colliers.

• Becker to lead growth in Florida, Caribbean
• Comes with a rich appraisal background
• Executive team in the tri-county region expands

Colliers is stepping up its leadership game by bringing Greg Becker on board to drive their industrial business segment. His extensive experience in property appraisal and CRE is set to invigorate Colliers' market presence and strategy. This is worth watching. 

In Closing

Interesting stuff. From the tech-driven expansion in San Francisco to WeWork's strategic realignment and nuanced market forecasts, these updates indicate an industry that's both adapting to current challenges and proactively shaping its future. We share many thoughts about these subjects here on LUXE BLOG. The info provided from Inside Real Estate is good stuff. We encourage you to check out their FULL newsletter (link in top paragraph). As far as commercial real estate here in Arizona, there is much going on. From new high-density communities offering live, work, play to innovation centers, Greater Phoenix is maturing. We watch it every single day. So if you want to learn it, we are here to share our knowledge and experience with you.

Also Read: United States’ Housing Market: Insights From Altos Research