WASHINGTON, DC—Four markets exceeded $10 billion in commercial sales in the first half of 2015. DC is on the list (this time it is a good list) albeit at position No.4.

Thus Avison Young's Fall 2015 Commercial Real Estate Investment Review begins and on exactly the right note, at least as far as the local commercial real estate community is concerned. While locals in the industry are aware that 2015 has been a good one to date, it is nice -- after the hard slog of the past few years -- to have validation and some numbers to back up that sense.

The top four US markets for investment sales for the first half of the year are New York, with $22.4 billion or a 17% share; Los Angeles at $11.4 billion or a 9% share; Chicago at $10.2 billion or a 8% share and DC, with $10 billion and a 8% share.

On another list, compiled by CBRE, Washington DC came in at No. 2. This list analyzed foreign direct investments in property markets. Manhattan was the largest recipient of foreign investment, followed by the DC area. Los Angeles was third, Boston was fourth and Dallas was fifth.

Last year DC was in the fifth spot so the jump is significant, Revathi Greenwood, CBRE Director of Research and Analysis for the Washington/Baltimore region, told GlobeSt.com last week.

But today is Avison Young's turn. This is how the broker breaks down investment sales in the District for the first half of the year.

Office investment volume increased 32% year-over-year, reaching $4.5 billion at mid-year 2015. Now, the office sector is on pace to achieve its highest transaction volume since soaring to $16.4 billion in 2007.

Retail asset sales volume rose 95% year-over-year to $1.8 billion in the first half of 2015, almost surpassing the full-year 2014 total of $1.9 billion. Several sizeable transactions contributed to the impressive first-half 2015 total, and the momentum is expected to continue through year-end.

Sales of industrial properties in 2015 ($669 million at mid-year) are also poised to eclipse the $1 billion in total volume recorded in 2014.

Instant Insights /

DC's Most Excellent Year

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