AT THE MID-POINT OF 2017, THE EDMONTON MARKET POSTED A FOURTH CONSECUTIVE QUARTER OF RENEWED APPEAL TO COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE (CRE) INVESTORS. AS A BONUS, 2017 IS WIDELY CONSIDERED THE YEAR ALBERTA WILL SEE ITS ECONOMY ENTER A RECOVERY STAGE. THE SENSE OF OPTIMISM THAT SET IN DURING THE LATTER PORTION OF 2016 CONTINUED AND WAS MANIFEST IN THE MORE THAN $1.08 BILLION BEING INVESTED IN COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES FROM JANUARY THROUGH JUNE.
DURING THE FIRST HALF OF 2017, RAYS OF LIGHT CONTINUED BREAKING THROUGH THE CLOUDS CAST BY A NEARLY THREE-YEAR LONG RECESSION. THOUGH THE ALBERTA ECONOMY GENERALLY CONTINUED MOVING AT A SLOWED PACE, A FEW KEY SECTORS EXPANDED AND SEVERAL LARGE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS MAINTAINED THEIR FORECASTS OF AN OVERALL RECOVERY THIS YEAR.
This quarter in the suburban market: Net absorption for the year was negative 824,740 square feet, down from the first quarter’s positive 661,382 square feet. The overall vacancy rate was 20.7%. Available space in large (over 100,000 square feet), true Class A properties are most prevalent in the North and Northwest markets.
This quarter in the downtown market: Net absorption for the year was positive 642,176 square feet. The overall vacancy rate was 13.2%. The West Loop continues to be the Central Business District’s darling with 7 of the 11 proposed and under construction office buildings within its confines.
VACANCY DOWN TO 11%