Office Volume is Off but Pricing Holds

Duke Realty Trust sold the Baylor Cancer Center at Dallas to Physicians Realty Trust for $290 million last year.

DALLAS—The Texas office market had a rather slow fourth quarter, with dollar volume and average prices both falling below the levels of the previous years. Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston were the most active markets during the final three months of the year. Nevertheless, Yardi Matrix office data shows that, while the Lone Star State recorded a less-than-stellar quarter, the whole of 2017 showed average prices reach a five-year peak, as buyers competed to grab quality office assets.

Yardi’s year-end analysis also shows that Dallas-Fort Worth remains the top target for new office construction in Texas, even if office properties in Houston fetch much higher prices. The DFW market welcomed nearly 6 million square feet of new office space during 2017, and is scheduled to deliver an additional 9 million square feet by the end of 2018.