Strong Office Market Performance in 2018 as Demand Accelerates
As highlighted in Colliers’ Q4 2018 U.S. Office Market Outlook, 2018 was a strong year for the U.S. office market when viewed by any metric. Demand rose and accelerated through the year. Vacancy hit a record low. Rents increased, albeit at a slower pace. Sales volume and capitalization rates (cap rates) held firm. The near-term economic forecast continues to be quite strong, but a slowdown is expected that will likely see a soft landing rather than a correction that could shift office market fundamentals. Tech-centric markets look set to continue to out-perform, while securing the best talent remains a key determinant of tenant choice. The flexible workspace market is still growing at a frenetic pace, but operators may be tested if the market cools.
