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Why You Need A Commercial Real Estate Broker To Represent You, Even When You Know The Landlord

Venturing into a new office space lease can feel intimidating. There are so many questions you may have, concerns about things unknown. That’s why having a Commercial Real Estate Broker working on your side is crucial to a successful journey in finding your next office space for rent in Tampa.

Landlords will always have their best interest in mind as the owner and investor of the building. Brokers, on the other hand, are working with your best interest in mind. Even when you have a good working relationship with the Landlord, they are still focused on protecting themselves and their property first and foremost at the end of the day. You could be in a position of thinking you are getting a pretty good deal on your lease and your commercial property for rent in Tampa but are you really? Here are a few things to consider:

Are you aware of current marketing conditions, concessions by Landlords and standard business terms? 

Do you have comparisons to a deal on the table with other possible small office space for rent in Tampa?

When you have concerns about a potential space, who is going to give you honest feedback and real insight about what will work best to meet your real estate needs?

When you don’t have the full overview of the Tampa Bay real estate market, it’s nearly impossible to really get the best possible lease. That’s why having the right Broker can educate you on the market as a whole and advise on business points they are experiencing and seeing at competing properties. Understanding what is a market norm is very important in negotiating a commercial lease and choosing which Landlord to have a long-term business relationship. 

Commercial Real Estate Brokers are also skilled in negotiating terms. They will seek to get you the office space of your dreams with a lease and terms that are not full of deal breaking concessions. Your Broker will help ensure that you are not paying exorbitant Common Area Expenses, hidden fees and other thumbs-down terms but instead that you are treated to a fair lease with all the amenities, parking spaces and square footage you need.

When you need an office space, you need Office Space Brokers.

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Why Did Common Area Expenses (CAM) Invoice Increase?

What are Common Area Expenses?

If you are looking for office space to rent in Tampa, this information will be most helpful to you. Common Area Maintenance (CAM) refers to the shared upkeep and maintenance costs for the common areas of a property. Several examples of common CAM include:

  • Utilities
  • Lawn care and landscaping
  • Bathrooms
  • Sidewalks
  • Elevators
  • Unique property needs such as administrative costs, building repairs, property management fees, property taxes and insurance

Commercial real estate throughout the state of Florida has experienced record highs in two main categories which are causing increases in CAM. Whether you’re looking for a small office space for rent in Tampa or a large office space lease near downtown Tampa, an increase in CAM can impact you. Both categories that have increased are what we in the commercial real estate world refer to as uncontrollable, which are Real Estate Taxes and Building Insurance.

Real Estate Taxes:

Especially, if you are renting space within city limits in Tampa or St. Petersburg, the real estate taxes are higher than those within Hillsborough county and surrounding Pinellas, Pasco and other counties. The specific location of your office space in the greater Bay area can be a factor into your increased CAM.

Insurance:

At the time this blog is being published, there are approximately less than twelve insurance companies that are writing insurance policies for commercial buildings in Florida. The increased hurricane activity over the past three years has caused insurance pricing to increase to the point where insurance companies are removing Florida from their coverage list.

What can you do as a Landlord?

It pays to do due diligence when it comes to selecting who insures you. Shop around to get pricing from several companies and if you own more than one property, bundling insurance can often give a discount. Happy tenants lead to happier Landlords. As such, it is in your favor as a Landlord to keep the CAM invoice from increasing when possible. 

What can you do as a Tenant?

When looking for commercial space, having a Landlord who owns multiple commercial properties might not a better deal on insurance premiums. Especially the larger Landlords in Florida and those who may own buildings across the country can actually lead to a higher CAM for you. Keep this in mind as you search for your best fit for an office space to rent. 

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2nd Quarter 2021 Office Market Indicators and Report

Important Highlights:

Tampa Bay:

  • Office vacancy rates increased in Hillsborough County and Pinellas County, both counties experienced overall growth rents of +/- 6% Year Over Year. Both Class A and Class B building’s rents grew.
  • The unemployment rate in Tampa Bay increased to 4.6% in May 2021, compared to the end of 1st Quarter 2021, which was approx. 4.2%. Non-agricultural employment sector increased and Financial Activities, Professional & Business Services, and Construction were amongst the top sectors which gained jobs.
  • Florida ranked in the number one spot for net migration for the fifth consecutive year. According to data from the U.S. Census; Florida saw the largest gain of residents between July 2019 and July 2020 with 252,717 new residents. 
  • Tampa ranked ninth in tech talent growth over a five-year span, increasing 23.5% from 2016 – 2020 in U.S. markets. Meaning Tampa acted as a job creator, supplying employment to tech workers that we’re unable to find employment in their metro of origin.

Office Market:

  • Even with a significant amount of sublease space on the market, absorption trended positive for Q2.
  • Office supply increased to historic levels due to the approximate 500,000 square feet of new construction delivered by SkyCenter One, Midtown West, and The Lofts at Midtown.

Let’s Talk Rent Numbers:

Submarket Overall Average Asking Rent-All Classes Overall Asking Rent Class A
Westshore $34.11 Sq. Ft.  $37.95 Sq. Ft.
Downtown Tampa $36.24 Sq. Ft. $37.98 Sq. Ft.
Northwest Tampa $24.02 Sq. Ft. $26.97 Sq. Ft.
South Tampa $27.48 Sq. Ft. N/A
I-75 Corridor $25.26 Sq. Ft. $28.01 Sq. Ft.
Downtown St. Petersburg $30.87 Sq. Ft. $31.73 Sq. Ft.

Construction Highlights: 

  • SkyCenter One the 497,787 s.f. The building was completed this quarter at, Midtown West and The Lofts at MidtownMidtown West
  • In Hillsborough County, there is new construction at 1001 Water Street in the CBD, Midtown Two in Westshore, and an office building in the University of South Florida Research Park in the Northwest submarket. These are expected to deliver by the end of the year. 

2021 3rd Quarter Forecast:

  • Total vacancy is expected to rise as current construction projects are slated to deliver by year’s end.
  • Tenants proceed to bring their teams back to the office as flex schedules are being tested with a hybrid of working from home and in the office. 
  • Continuing expansion and relocation by companies from out of state moving to Tampa Bay for our business-friendly environment 

What does this mean for Tenants?

  • Tampa Bay is unlike other significant markets such as New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. Although Landlords are being more flexible with the economics of leases, vacancy rates do not compare with other significant markets around the US. Landlords across the country do not have the same motivation to fill vacancies in Tampa Bay as they might be in other parts of the country.
  • Leverage market conditions by taking advantage of available sublease space which can provide more competitive rates, shorter-term and furniture 
  • Evaluate your current office space. If you realize there are inefficiencies, you and #1-sublease a portion if you there a long term remaining on the lease or #2-when your lease ends, move to a more efficient space. 

What does this mean for Landlords?

  • New lease demand grew 6.0 percent from the 1st quarter of 2021. More Tenants expanding in the market and relocating to Tampa Bay from out of state.
  • Adjusting asking rent as a competitive advantage over Landlord’s  who have to maintain their face rates
  • Consider providing more flexible lease terms and concessions, such a rent abatement to accomplish deals
  • Ensure Tenant’s have strong financials with low debt to income ratios when signing new leases
  • Start marketing available space 6 months in advance for under 5,000 SF and 9 months + for over 5,000 SF that is coming available
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1st Quarter 2021 Office Market Indicators and Report

Important Highlights:

Tampa Bay:

  • Unemployment rate in Tampa Bay decreased to 4.2% in February 2021, compared to the end of 4th Quarter 2020, which was approx. 5.9%. Non-agricultural employment sector decreased and Financial Activities, Professional & Business Services and Construction were amongst the top sectors which gained jobs.
  • “The annual Cost of Living Index reported the Tampa metro area as one of the most affordable metros in the US. With a cost of living lower than the national average, Tampa Bay remains to be an attractive place for new residents and companies looking to relocate.”
  • Zillow listed Tampa amongst five markets it expects to be the hottest in 2021.
  • Class A vacancy increased to approx. 14% by the end of 1st quarter and Class B vacancy fell to 15%.

Office Market:

  • New lease demand was up by approx. 120% in Hillsborough and Pinellas County.
  • Office supply increased due to large sublease blocks on the market and over 570,000 square feet of new construction deliveries by Heights Union West (Tampa Heights), Sparkman Wharf (Channelside) and Renaissance Center VII (Northwest Tampa). 

Let’s Talk Rent Numbers:

Submarket Overall Average Asking Rent All Classes Overall Asking Rent Class A
Westshore $33.24/sq. ft.  $37.12/sq. ft.
Downtown Tampa $36.33/sq. ft. $37.95/sq. ft.
Northwest Tampa $24.20/sq. ft. $26.90/sq. ft.
South Tampa $27.64/sq. ft. N/A
I-75 Corridor $25.08/sq. ft. $27.14/sq. ft.
Downtown St. Petersburg $31.11/sq. ft. $27.06/sq. ft.

Construction Highlights:

  • New construction Landlord’s adjusted asking rents which impacted the direct asking rents across the Tampa Bay Market.
  • SkyCenter One, 270,000 square feet of new office space building under construction at the Tampa International Airport, 384,000 square feet Water Street project in Downtown Tampa and the 384,000 square feet Midtown project, just North of the Westshore submarket, continue to announce national Tenants and are slated to be completed by end of 2021.

2021 2nd Quarter Forecast:

  • Total vacancy is expected to rise as current construction projects are slated to deliver in either Q2 or Q3 of this year
  • Continued relocation and expansion of companies into Tampa Bay do to our more cost-effective real estate options, Florida’s favorable regulations for business and as always, the great weather .
  • Continued increase in sublease space, especially larger block 20,000 RSF and up hitting the market as the work from home trend continues and companies evaluate their office space footprint.
  • < 5,000 RSF subleases will be subleased by companies who want to leverage the market and thus will move quicker than larger spaces.
  • Companies will be rolling out transition plans back into the office fulltime or a flex schedule. Privately held companies may transition faster than publicly traded due to the amount of decision makers involved and size of the company.

What does this mean for Tenants?

  • Evaluate your current office space floor plan and if employees wish to work remotely or in the office with what’s best for the company. Potentially moving to a flex schedule of part-time working from home and in the office can provide an alternative solution to maintain office culture while maintaining the benefits of working from home.
  • If minimizing your office footprint is the right decision there are two solutions: sublease the entire or a portion of their suite. Both scenarios will minimize the monthly financial burden
  • If evaluating relocating your office, take advantage of the short term and lower monthly rent of sublease office space on the market

What does this mean for Landlords?

  • Adjusting asking rents to stay competitive in the market
  • Consider providing more flexibility in lease term and concessions to accomplish deals
  • Ensure Tenant’s have strong financials with low debt to income ratios when signing new leases
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3 Office Space Design Strategies To Minimize The Potential Spread of Covid

Being mindful of long term implications of Covid, the impact on your employees and office space, is a key to consider when evaluating your office space layout. 

Here are three design and layout strategies which could minimize the influx of large groups of people congregating in common areas or for employees feeling uneasy to return to work.

1) Individual Offices for Employees

The past few years an open office layout was trending for companies to create collaborative workspace areas. Going back to having employees with their own individual offices will limit exposure and minimize the amount of air being shared amongst other employees. With a surplus of subleases 

2) Tenants Have Their Own Bathrooms and Kitchen

Having a space that provides the Tenants with their own kitchen in a Full Service building is something you typically see across Tampa Bay in Westshore, Downtown Tampa and Downtown St Petersburg. Larger Tenants, when negotiating their build out in a Full Service building could have a restroom added to their build out. Negotiating any real estate transaction boils down to the economics of the deal. 

Ensuring your own restrooms is usually common for single story or single Tenant buildings. If having your own restroom is important, this will restrict what buildings you will be evaluating when touring. Considering a sublease space might be a viable option for your company! 

3) Tenant has their own entrance into the building

Similar with sharing bathrooms in a Full Service building, sharing common area entrance, lobby and even Tenant lounges or conference centers is an amenity in Full Service buildings Landlords have added. To minimize the influx of people in these areas at the same time or multiple people using the same area at different times, leasing a building where each Tenant has their own entrance will minimize any shared space.  Having your own entrance into a building is achieved by leasing a single Tenant building, meaning, you are the only Tenant leasing in the building or a building which has walk-up entrances with no common area lobby is shared. 

No one has all the answers, however; the health and safety of employees should be a top priority.  By taking the necessary precautions it will satisfy the employees and avoid adding to the surplus of sublease space. Give our team at Office Space Brokers a call 813-289-3700, for a consultation to strategize your company’s office space steps.