Investor optimism strengthened as recently enacted tax laws and economic durability sustain market confidence. The commercial real estate outlook remains positive, according to a recent Marcus & Millichap survey. Respondents indicated that approximately two-thirds of investors plan to increase commercial real estate investment activity in the next 12 months. More than 70% of respondents believe the new tax law will have a favorable impact on commercial real estate. Additionally, investors expect increased investment capital to enter the market as a result of tax reform. Downside risks at the top of investors' minds include the potential for rising interest rates and increased inflation.—Lisa Brown

BY THE NUMBERS

AUSTIN, TX—CBRE's newly released first quarter Austin retail market view says occupancy remains at all-time highs; holding steady at 96%. Austin's tightening retail market, strong construction pipeline and heavily pre-leased deliveries have caused increased occupancy. However, as completions take longer, occupancy and rental rates are expected to level off in the short term before picking back up later in the year.

AUSTIN, TX—Austin's industrial market tightened for the third consecutive quarter with the vacancy rate for the metro area dropping to 6.9%, a decrease of 20 basis points quarter-over-quarter, although an increase of 110 basis points year-over-year. In addition, net absorption remained in positive territory for the second quarter at 788,295 square feet, up from 655,490 square feet in fourth quarter 2017, according to NAI Partners' 2018 first quarter Austin industrial market report.

HOUSTON—Houston's overall industrial vacancy rate grew slightly to 5.3% in first quarter, an increase of 10 basis points quarter-over-quarter and unchanged year-over-year. Net absorption registered 1.6 million square feet as of the quarter's end, falling behind the five-year quarterly average of 2.6 million square feet, according to NAI Partners' first quarter 2018 Houston industrial market report.

NEWS AND NOTABLES

HOUSTON—CBRE announced that Mike Miggins has joined valuation and advisory services in Houston as a director. Miggins will spearhead the CBRE valuation and advisory services right-of-way practice in the region and will be a member of the national self-storage specialty group, focused on CBRE's South Central region. He will report to Bruce Bailey.

HOUSTON—Hunt Mortgage Group announced that Jeff Payne has joined the firm as vice president. In his new role, Payne is responsible for originating debt for Hunt Mortgage Group's conventional and small balance Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loan programs, and Hunt's proprietary commercial, bridge and mezzanine loan programs for clients in the South Central United States. He will be based in the firm's Houston office and will report to Vic Clark, senior managing director at Hunt Mortgage Group..

SAN ANTONIO—Carlos Marquez, a veteran industrial commercial real estate broker with more than a decade of experience, has joined NAI Partners San Antonio as a vice president. Marquez comes to NAI Partners from CBRE.

DEAL TRACKER

AUSTIN, TX—AHV Communities announced that pre-leasing has commenced at two new communities–Rivers Edge and Legacy, located 15 minutes apart–will bring a total of 175 new rental options to one of the country's fastest growing markets. Rivers Edge, located in Georgetown, TX, includes 92 single-family homes. Legacy offers 83 detached home rentals in Pflugerville, TX, one of the nation's fastest growing cities. The one- and two- story homes at both communities feature three floorplans ranging in size from 1,440 to 1,882 square feet and offer three or four bedrooms.

ARLINGTON, TX—Tom's Mechanical Inc. has renewed its lease for 17,652 square feet of industrial space at Arlington Business Park, 731-745 109th St. Transwestern principal John Brewer represented the landlord, Vista Verde Industrial, in the transaction.

DALLAS—Venture Commercial has completed the sale of two former Albertsons buildings located in two North Texas communities, Murphy and Watauga, representing a total of 123,737 square feet of retail space. In both transactions, John Zikos and Charlotte Cooper with Venture represented the seller, Albertsons LLC, and Sean Porter with Capstone Commercial Real Estate Group represented the buyer, 356 Development.

DALLAS—JCM Holdings LLC signed a new lease for 27,567 square feet of industrial space at Prologis Stemmons 11 at 151 Regal Row. Transwestern vice president Timothy Veler represented the landlord, Prologis, in the transaction. Hanes Chatham of Stream Realty Partners represented the tenant.

DALLAS—Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP subleased 25,902 square feet of office space at Chase Tower, 2200 Ross Ave. Transwestern's team of Alan Harrington, Steve McCoy, Roy Reis and Ford Childress represented Locke Lord in the transaction. Brooke Armstrong and Jeremy McGown of JLL represented the sublessee.

DALLAS—Vixxo Corporation has signed a new lease for 10,876 square feet of office space at 2711 LBJ Fwy. Transwestern principals Justin Miller and Nathan Durham, and associate Cohen Howard represented the landlord in the transaction. Steven Schneider of Site Selection Group LLC represented the tenant.

DALLAS—Production and Rigging Resources Inc. renewed its 49,280-square-foot lease at 4900-4930 Sharp St. Canon Shoults of Holt Lunsford Commercial represented the landlord, TA.

CARROLLTON, TX—Felder USA signed a 13,023-square-foot lease at 1420 Halsey Way. Andrew Gilbert of Holt Lunsford Commercial represented the landlord, Red Tail Acquisitions. Adam Jones with Stream Realty represented the tenant.

CARROLLTON, TX—TBS Garage Doors renewed its 14,500-square-foot lease at 1225 Capital Dr. Clay Balch of Holt Lunsford Commercial represented the tenant. Corbin Stall and Eric Crutchfield of Stream represented the landlord, DRA Advisors.

DALLAS—Prestonwood Landscape Services leased 24,100 square feet at 1344 Round Table Dallas. Canon Shoults, Josh Barnes and Clay Balch of Holt Lunsford Commercial represented the tenant.

DENTON, TX—CBRE announces the sale of Shops at Colorado, a 74,310-square-foot retail center. Lincoln Retail Income & Growth Fund purchased the asset from RCG-Denton LLC for an undisclosed price. Shops at Colorado is strategically located at the Northwest corner of Colorado Boulevard and S. Loop 288. It is 100% occupied with tenants including Bed Bath & Beyond, Spec's, Party City and Sherwin Williams.

DENVER—JLL's Capital Markets secured acquisition financing for the brand conversion of the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Denver Tech Center, a 92-key hotel. Under new sponsorship, the hotel will be converted to IHG's newest brand, the EVEN Hotel. The loan was secured on behalf of the new owner, Banyan Lane Holdings LLC. The three-year interest-only non-recourse loan from a bridge lender will allow the sponsor to complete the necessary renovations, implement new management standards and stabilize the hotel under the new brand. Managing director Baxter Fain and Christina Grimme led the JLL team on the financing.

FORT WORTH—Lane Construction has extended its lease for 8,613 square feet of office space at Mercantile Center One, 3001 Meacham Blvd. Transwestern principal Randy Garrett and Jo Thompson, president of La Terra Commercial, represented the tenant in the transaction. Andrew Ward of Mercantile Partners LP represented the landlord.

GRAPEVINE, TX—TTC Equipment & Supply LLC leased 29,600 square feet at 800 Industrial Blvd. Canon Shoults and Clay Balch of Holt Lunsford Commercial represented the tenant. Sarah Ozanne, Blake Kendrick and Ryan Boozer of Stream, and Mitch Pruitt of Prologis represented the landlord, Prologis.

HOUSTON—The Round Top Collection renewed a 44,714-square-foot industrial lease at Pineway Distribution Center, 4650 S. Pinemont Dr. JLL's Geoff Perrott and Jeff Venghaus represented the tenant in the transaction. Kit Dolan with Proterra represented the landlord, Greenbriar Holdings Houston.

HOUSTON—NAI Partners recently arranged the sale of a two-building industrial distribution facility totaling 172,848 square feet on 8.00 acres located at 175 Southbelt Industrial Dr. The purchaser was TTD Houston Realty LLC, a subsidiary of privately owned New England-based online furniture importer and distributor East-West Furniture LLC. East-West will be moving its entire physical operation from the Boston area to Houston.

HOUSTON—NAI Partners recently arranged a 3,513-square-foot office lease for Reliable Wireline Inc. at 2656 S Loop Fwy. NAI Partners' office project leasing team of Zach Leger, Jacob Aldridge and Rani Jones represented the landlord, Forbes Land Corporation, owner of 2656 S Loop Fwy., in the transaction. Colliers' Charles Fertitta Jr. represented Reliable Wireline Inc.

HOUSTON—NAI Partners' Retail team recently arranged a 4,140-square-foot retail lease for furniture retailer Alpha & Omega Furniture at 10600 Northwest Fwy. NAI Partners' Chris Holder and Shaffer Braun represented the landlord, Keystone 290 Partnership Interest LLC in the transaction.

HOUSTON—The Shoppes of Kemah is complete and several merchants are open for business with more to follow. Marshalls, Petco and RackRoom opened late last month, and Ulta and GNC will open its doors this month. The $16 million center was completed in less than nine months despite Hurricane Harvey. GBT was determined to deliver to the consumers that live in and visit the Kemah Boardwalk and Kemah Entertainment District. At 96% leased, the center has only one space available.

HOUSTON—JLL completed four leases, totaling approximately 15,000 square feet, at 5300 Memorial, a class-A office building, which is now 84.3% leased. JLL's Russell Hodges and Jessica Ochoa represented the landlord, Philadelphia-based Equus Capital Partners, in the transactions. Houston-based Plavnicky, Kinzel & Makowski LLP signed a 5,054-square-foot lease extension. Vincent Gyorgy of NAI Partners represented the firm. Spain, Price, Reader & Thompson PC signed a new 4,097-square-foot lease and will relocate from Wortham Tower at 2727 Allen Pkwy. Marshall Clinkscales of Colliers represented the Houston-based accounting firm in the transaction. Louisiana-based Gulf Coast Bank & Trust signed a new 3,689-square-foot lease and will relocate from 13105 Northwest Fwy. Avison Young's Josh LaRocca represented the tenant. Moleculin Biotech Inc. signed a new 2,333-square-foot lease and will relocate from 2575 West Bellfort St. Jane Nodskov with ICO Commercial represented the Houston-based pharmaceutical company.

IRVING, TX—Lendlease Partnerships LLC has renewed its lease for 5,858 square feet of office space at Tower 909, 909 Lake Carolyn Pkwy. Transwestern principals Kim Brooks and Justin Miller and vice president Scott Walker represented the landlord, KBS Realty Advisors, in the transaction. Mike Wyatt and Brian Wilson of Cushman & Wakefield represented the tenant.

LEWISVILLE, TX—EA Engineering Science and Technology renewed its 12,795-square-foot lease at 405 State Highway 121 Bypass. Andrew Gilbert and Clay Balch of Holt Lunsford Commercial represented the landlord, Adler Realty Partners. Alex Coe of CRESA represented the tenant.

PLANO, TX—Intellident Inc. renewed its 5,673-square-foot lease at 1000 Jupiter Rd. Josh Barnes and Ben Wallace of Holt Lunsford Commercial represented the landlord KFG Jupiter LLC.

RICHARDSON, TX—Education Galaxy LLC has renewed and expanded its lease to 5,495 square feet of office space at The Forum at Central, 2201 N. Central Expressway. Transwestern principal Justin Miller and associate Cohen Howard represented the landlord in the transaction. Leslie Wood of NAI Robert Lynn represented the tenant.

RICHARDSON, TX—Enseo Inc. renewed its 26,504-square-foot lease at 1680 N. Prospect. Josh Barnes and Ben Wallace of Holt Lunsford Commercial represented the landlord, Adler Realty Partners.

TERRELL, TX—Country Club Manor, a 56-unit apartment property has sold. Trey Caldwell, associate, Evan Burke, associate, Nick Fluellen, senior managing director investments and Bard Hoover, first vice president investments in Marcus & Millichap's Dallas office, had the exclusive listing to market the property on behalf of the seller, a partnership. The investor, a limited liability company, was secured and represented by Evan Burke, Bard Hoover and Nick Fluellen, investment specialists in Marcus & Millichap's Dallas office. Country Club Manor is located at 1451 Colquitt Rd.

WACO, TX—Hunt Mortgage Group provided a first mortgage bridge loan in the amount of $9.1 million to enable the acquisition of a student housing property located at 805 South 8th Street. The loan was provided to California Private Capital Group LLC to finance the acquisition and complete the lease-up of West Campus Lofts, a 72-unit/180-bed student housing complex. The loan is structured as a 24-month floating rate loan with three options to extend the loan term for a period of 12 months each.

THE WOODLANDS, TX—The Howard Hughes Corporation announces that Artisanat Home Décor and The Woodlands Allergy, Asthma & Immunization Center are now open in Creekside Park Village Green. Burgerim and Cupcakes & Bubbles are opening soon.

Instant Insights /

Middle Market Digest: This Week in the South and Mountain Regions

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