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4th Quarter 2022 Tampa Bay Office Market Report and Q1 Forecast

Important Highlights:

Tampa Bay:

  • Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties’ unemployment rate of 2.6% is drastically lower than the nation’s rate of 3.7%. 
  • Year over year, average asking rates remained the same, falling by little than 1 cent per square foot. 
  • The Tampa Bay area continued to win awards for its workforce, with Lightcast ranking Florida as the top state and Hillsborough as the eighth-best county for talent attraction in 2022. 

Office Market:

  • Vacancy increased to just over 20% primarily due to the increase in large sublease space that came back to the market totaling Approx. 900,000 SF
  • Leasing activity was robust, over 3 million SF leased but did not hit record-breaking numbers in 2021. Over 80% of the activity was accounted for in Hillsborough County and a substantial decrease in Pinellas County. Westshore experienced the most leasing activity.
  • Direct Face Rents were up over 1% compared to Q4 2021. 
  • Direct absorption trended favorably, finishing the year with more than 105,000 square feet. In addition, the main submarkets’ combined direct absorption of 535,000 square feet per year, comprising Westshore and CBD markets, highlights those submarkets’ demand under the current economic uncertainty.

                                                   

Let’s Talk Rent Numbers:

Submarket Overall Average Asking Rent-All Classes Overall Asking Rent Class A
Westshore $34.01 Sq. Ft.  $38.81 Sq. Ft.
Downtown Tampa $29.19 Sq. Ft. $31.95 Sq. Ft.
Northwest Tampa $26.17 Sq. Ft. $28.19 Sq. Ft.
South Tampa $23.82 Sq. Ft. N/A
I-75 Corridor $26.08 Sq. Ft. $27.22 Sq. Ft.
Downtown St. Petersburg $28.29 Sq. Ft. $34.61 Sq. Ft.

 

Building Highlights: 

  • Despite the current economic instability, such submarkets continue to be in great demand. As they search for space in mixed-use buildings, Tenants like Aviation Authority, White & Case, and Primo Water moved into 174,000 s.f. of new construction in Westshore and Tampa CBD this year. Companies believe these mixed-use developments may entice workers back to the workplace.
  • A focus on a flight to quality buildings providing Tenant focused amenities and strategically located where employees currently live, near their grocery store, gym, and where they spend free time.

2023 1st Quarter Forecast:

  • The regularity for businesses to invite workers back into the office will continue to rise. In order to sustain teamwork, camaraderie, and creative collisions, those that have flexible schedules may find it advantageous to base their scheduling on personnel who operate in the same teams or departments. 
  • If a business delays office space matters [renewing a lease vs. relocating] until the last minute, Tenants will find themselves at a disadvantage, with few alternatives, and minimal, if any leverage with negotiating based on the construction timelines and competing for availability in popular submarkets such as Westshore and Downtown Tampa. 
  • Tampa Bay will continue to see out-of-state businesses migrate and expand to Tampa Bay. 
  • Demand for under 5,000 SF office space could continue to remain high

What does this mean for Tenants?

  • Evaluate what is the best long solution for your company. What is best for the long-term well-being of the company. In a world where some work is moving more remote, how could mentoring, professional growth, and possibilities for younger employees look? Is it a hybrid, remote, or in-office job? 
  • Vacancy rates continue to be lower in comparison to those in other major US cities and are not feeling the same “pain” despite the fact that Landlords are more prepared to offer rent abatement and increased Tenant Improvement allowance due to high construction costs.

What does this mean for Landlords?

  • In order to provide at least basic building standards and Tenant specific finishing, Landlord’s must consider increasing Tenant Improvements allowances for construction expenses to compete for the right Tenants.

  • Profit margins will be impacted by inflation, but increased rents and 3-4% annual increases can aid in the impact of inflation.

  • Capturing Tenants will be easier when Landlord’s provide turn-key spec office spaces that are move-in ready for companies with pressing deadlines.

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Why Your Neighbors In Your Office Building are Important

What are the different types of office spaces? - Avanta Business Centre

 

The reality is your office neighbors have almost the same impact as the next-store neighbors of your house or apartment. If you are miserable in your office because your office neighbors are too loud, it’s going to be much harder to want to be in your office and get work done. If you are looking for a quiet, peaceful, and professional setting with neighbors who are the same, vice versa. You have to find office neighbors that share the same values as you.

 

Here Are Two Recommendations to Consider When Evaluating an Office Building:

1.Evaluate the Existing Tenants

Take a look at the directory to evaluate what kind of industries of the neighboring Tenants. Are any of the Tenants in the building competing in your industry? Would any of the Tenants be good neighbors to have to refer business back and forth? Check out the parking lot to determine based on the building occupancy, if there is plenty of parking available for the available office space. Some could be over-parking and negatively impact your companies’ experience.

 

2. Are Tenants Considerate in Common Areas

Cleaning after yourself when using the Tenant’s common areas including lounge, conference room and bathroom is a common courtesy and is important to consider when you share common spaces with others. Although majority of office buildings have janitorial services 3-5 times a week, janitorial services typically come in the evening. 

 

A few others include: 

  • Utilizing the smoking areas.
  • Proper hygiene.
  • Having professional behavior is a key component in Tenant common areas. Improper discussions, practical jokes and so on will soon make the workplace unpleasant. 

 

Both of these impact the type of experience your team has in the office building and thus playing a role in their experience at the workplace while your company calls that building home for the next 5+ years.





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Why the Hybrid Work Model is Important 

When the whole globe went into lockdown in 2020, many of us were forced to test out alternative employment arrangements. The majority of businesses took advantage of this as a chance to review their workplace cultures. The traditional full-time office model may soon be replaced by the hybrid model, which will fundamentally alter how businesses operate and interact with their clients, workers, and suppliers. This being said there are many benefits of the hybrid work model. According to Forbes, 83% of 9,326 workers surveyed say they prefer a hybrid model, in which they can work remotely at least 25% of the time.

 

  • A Rise in Productivity 

With more freedom to play to their strengths, people can work more productively under a hybrid approach. Teams may achieve a solid mix of creativity and cooperation by promoting a culture that sees remote work as a beneficial option for finishing deep-focus projects in the office. Giving employees the option to work where and when they are most productive might benefit those who require quiet, alone environments to concentrate. According to PWC, new Research shows that as many companies have boosted workforce productivity and performance during the pandemic

 

  • More Possibilities For Lifelong Learning 

The ability for employees to engage in continual learning outside of the busyness of their typical work environment is another significant and perhaps underappreciated feature of a mixed work arrangement. This implies that if they are working from their office for a portion of the workweek, they may work from home for the remaining time on personal development goals to improve their job performance and career prospects. Especially for those with long commutes, removing the community to and from the office can free up time for personal development and hobbies which would positively impact work performance. 

 

  • Improved Relationships & Collaboration 

Unlike remote work, hybrid work allows for face-to-face contact and cooperation, which promotes healthy team-building and, as a result, improves employee collaboration. Employees will be able to interact and build deeper working connections as a result of being given the opportunity to speak and socialize in person. This will also enhance departmental, team, and workgroup collaboration. This mainly can be true in our present environment, where many employees communicate and collaborate with their coworkers via screens rather than in person. Every face-to-face communication, which might only take place during scheduled meetings when working remotely, might create a chance for mentoring, knowledge sharing, or making crucial business connections.



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Impacts of Long-Term Virtual Work

When people switch to working from home, which momentarily can boost the quantity of work they accomplish each day, work-from-home (WFH) employment cannot provide the real benefits of face-to-face interaction, such as learning and new long-term connections. The benefits of in-person work on productivity are better long-term as opposed to the short-term gains from working more at home for potentially unsustainable periods. In-person work stimulates invention. The one-time benefit from the time saved on commutes will be swiftly outpaced by an even slightly greater growth rate once workers return to their offices.

 

Members of the Team have Less Human Interaction.

Not everyone wants to be “besties” with their colleagues and treat their work for work only; however, according to Business Insider interaction helps in providing a productive and enjoyable environment. It’s also a social setting in which employees get to know one another, have casual chats, bounce ideas off one another, connect as a team, and come to appreciate the business culture. Even when you are no longer obligated to attend the monthly standup meeting physically, you might not know how much you’ll miss those free workplace coffees. 

Low Employee Morale

Building relationships with coworkers is more difficult while working from home. There are fewer chances for chance meetings or social gatherings like lunches, and happy hours. 

Inability to Focus

While some professionals find the home environment conducive to concentration and productivity, others are overwhelmed with distractions: children wanting attention, spouses, and roommates interfering, and street sounds boring into the awareness.

Overworking Dangers 

The possibility of working more hours than necessary exists when you telecommute. Burnout and increased work-related stress are unquestionably consequences of this. This may be prevented by carefully outlining your calendar and allotting certain work and personal responsibilities periods. For some people, having a designated workspace where you can leave when the workday is done is essential.