The Northwood Group

Building Partner Investors

Utah Real Estate


Investors Seek Secondary & Tertiary Markets

February 27, 2012

 

As the commerical real estate market begins to recover, we are seeing an increase in acquistion activity among investors both institutional and private.  While the majority of investment activity in recent years has been in primary markets, many investors of late have been seeking better returns in secondary & tertiary markets.

It is hard to believe that there is already significant cap rate compression in many markets.  However there remain opportunities for smart money willing to consider markets that maybe haven’t been considered in the past.  Secondary markets typically have higher upside, less competition, and better returns.

There are a few factors that investors want to consider when looking at secondary markets.   Those include population growth, employment growth, financing availability and potential risk related to a local economy’s reliance on any one particular industry.

Utah is recognized as one of the strongest secondary markets in the country.  It maintains very strong historical population growth and employment growth.  Many companies look to the state as a place to do business because of its highly educated workforce as well as its relatively low cost of labor.  Because of these factors institutional investors, strong private investors as well as the smaller 1031 exchange buyers, have found strong rates of return relative to risk.

It is interesting to note that nearly half of the deals that I have been involved in have been with out-of-state buyers.   Utah definitely should be on investors radar as they are looking to place money.

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Notable Utah Transaction – Hobby Lobby – Logan

February 22, 2012

Investors in Utah, each month I provide some information on a notable transaction that occurred in the State of Utah.  This month I am highlighting the Hobby Lobby in Logan Utah.  A few of the highlights of this deal were:

  • Single Tenant
  • 9 years remaining on lease
  • 8.21% Cap Rate
  • 55,137 square feet
  • 3.86 acres

 

Please let me know if you would like additional information regarding this sale.

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Property Investment in Utah? See What the Rest of the Country is Saying.

January 30, 2012

As I talk with investors from around the country, many are looking at Utah for the first time.  These investors are weighing the stability of their property investment with the potential for growth.  While Utah has historically not seen the extreme pricing shifts that other markets in the country have, it has continued to provide strong, stabilized growth for those willing to place their money there.

Commercial real estate in Utah continues to outperform the national economy.  Utah boasts significantly lower unemployment and vacancy and has performed steadily through some turbulent times.  The national media has recognized Utah for its economic performance in recent years:

  • Utah Ranked #1 Best State for Business — Forbes Magazine (2010 & 2011)
  • Utah #1 Best Managed State  — Governing Magazine (2009)
  • Utah #1 Economic Dynamism — Kauffman Foundation (November 2010)
  • Utah #1 for Expected Economic Recovery & #1 for Economic Outlook — ALEC
  • Utah #1 Most Fiscally Fit State  — Forbes Magazine (2010)
  • Utah #2 Best Business State  — Polina Corporate, 2010 “Rebuilding American’s Economic Power”
  • Utah #3 “Most Competitive States” for Business — Beacon Hill Institute, 2010

In addition to these accolades Utah was recognized in the July/August issue of Business Facilities Magazine as one of the best overall states in this industry with #1 rankings for “Best Business Climate” and “Quality of Life” and top 10 ranking in several other categories.

I have provided a segment of the 2011 Forbes Article Below:

“Utah repeats this year as Forbes Best State for Business and Careers in our sixth annual look at the business climates of the 50 states. No state can match the consistent performance of Utah. It is the only state that ranks among the top 15 states in each of the six main categories we rate the states on.

Utah highlights include energy costs 31% below the national average and employment growth that has averaged 0.6% the past five years. Compare that to the U.S. as a whole where job growth has averaged negative 0.6% since 2005. Utah’s 5% corporate tax rate is well below western neighbors Arizona, Idaho and New Mexico. Utah ranks sixth in a new Tax Foundation study that looks at the tax burden on business in each state across different industries. As part of the ranking, we included the study which will be released to the public in the coming months.

Businesses are getting the message on Utah. Procter & Gamble, ITT, Home Depot and Boeing all announced expansions in Utah this year. The Goldman Sachs office in Salt Lake City is its second biggest in the Americas with more 1,000 employees and significant expansion expected over the next four years.

Technology companies particularly have had Utah on their radar as an affordable alternative to California with overall business costs in Utah 10% below the national average. Adobe Systems, eBay, Electronic Arts and Oracle have all expanded in Utah in recent years.

Companies are also attracted by Utah’s population growth which is one of the fastest in the country and provides a burgeoning workforce. “Utah has a young, dynamic economy with a vibrant high-tech sector,” says Mark Zandi, chief economist of Moody’s Analytics.

The Utah story is far from over. Job growth is projected to be 2.4% annually through 2015 according to Moody’s, sixth best in the country (for more states with strong job growth forecasts, see “The Best States for Jobs“).”

It is interesting to see many investors from around the country looking at Utah for the first time for property investment.  Many are adding Utah to their property investment horizon and many more are expected to in the coming years.  If you do not already own property in Utah it may be a place that you want to check out.

 

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Introduction to Utah Property Investors

January 16, 2012

I appreciate you taking the time to visit this Utah Property Investors.  The intent of the blog is to congregate all of the information that a property investor in commercial real estate would need to know in order to make educated decisions on acquiring or disposing of commercial real estate in Utah.

Over the coming year the blog will address the following topics:

  1. I will address a wide array of opportunities and issues facing property investment real estate across the nation with a specific focus on Utah
  2. Monthly and quarterly updates of capital markets, financing, construction cost fluctuations, & commercial real estate markets
  3. Highlight available and notable closed investment properties in Utah
  4. Note particular investor needs in the market for those needing to exit existing properties

I hope that you will use the information, insight, and ideas as a valuable resource in your business.

Highest Regards,

Brandon L. Wood, CCIM
President | Principal Broker

The Northwood Group

www.northwoodgrp.com
P: 801.593.5500
brandon@northwoodgrp.com
 

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Construction Cost Update

December 30, 2011

Quarterly, we receive construction cost estimates from Bonneville Builders. While it is difficult to make accurate estimates without an understanding of the specific project, it is helpful to have some ballpark figures to run as estimates, especially as you are looking at potential re-tenanting costs, etc. when considering a commercial real estate investment deal. Click on the link below for the table.  I hope that you find this helpful.

 

 

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