Office and Multifamily Pair for a Successful 1031 Exchange

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA—In a recent transaction, two of the most popular property types in the region, a newly renovated office in Redwood City and a multifamily community in Mountain View, sold for a total transaction volume of $28.6 million. Representing a single client as the buyer in the Redwood City office transaction and as the seller in the Mountain View sale—the transaction was part of a successful 1031 exchange directed by executive managing director Adam Levin and senior managing director Robert Johnston for Levin Johnston of Marcus & Millichap.

“With this exchange, we were able to both secure a competitive price for the multifamily asset, as well as help diversify our client’s portfolio by identifying a high-yielding office building in the desirable Redwood City market, which will create long-term wealth and stability for years to come,” explains Levin.

The 1031 exchange began with the $22.5 million sale of Woodgate Apartments, a 34-unit multifamily community, and concluded with the $6.1 million acquisition of 558 Brewster, a newly renovated single-tenant office building totaling 5,580 square feet.

“A unique investment opportunity in a top-performing market, 558 Brewster is a perfect fit for an experienced investor looking to expand their portfolio,” says Johnston. “The demand for quality office product is at an all-time high. Future job growth in Redwood City is projected to be 37% over the next 10 years, surpassing the US average of 33.5%.”

The area benefits from its proximity to Silicon Valley, attracting major tech companies including Apple, Inc., Tesla, Yahoo and Microsoft, among many others.

“The investment appeal of 558 Brewster is driven by Redwood City’s core downtown location, strong employment fundamentals and low vacancy levels, as well as its close proximity to major employers and transportation corridors,” Levin adds.

Originally constructed in 1981 and renovated earlier this year, 558 Brewster includes two floors of office space. Situated in a prime corner office location of Brewster Avenue and Winslow Street, the property is in walking distance to a Caltrain station and downtown Redwood City. The asset also features ample on-site parking, a carport, storage areas and high-quality kitchen facilities.

Located at 1950 Montecito Ave., Woodgate Apartments is in close proximity to Highway 85 and Highway 101, offering direct access to the entire Bay Area. Originally constructed in 1976, the property offers studios, one- and two-bedroom apartments, as well as laundry facilities and covered parking.

“Given the dynamics of the current economic cycle, investors are increasingly looking to diversify their portfolios. Acquiring an office property in a top-performing Bay Area market at this point in the cycle can be compelling for several reasons: steady cash flow, higher demand, strong income potential and attractive leasing contracts,” Levin tells GlobeSt.com. “The multifamily sector remains one of the strongest performing investment sectors in this region, driven primarily by the Bay Area tech industry. This demand is also present in the office market. At the beginning of 2019, more than 600,000 square feet of commercial space was delivered to the Silicon Valley market and 69% of it was office space.”

The tremendous growth of numerous tech industries including semiconductors, social media and cybersecurity has underpinned an exceptional economic expansion for more than a decade, according to a report by Marcus & Millichap. Fueled by median home prices well out of reach of the average metro resident, these conditions have generated a severe housing shortage throughout the Bay Area.

Developers have mostly focused on locations in North and Central San Jose along the VTA lines and urban Santa Clara. This year, the largest completion will be the second phase of Santa Clara Square, where more than 850 units will come online, joining retail and office space just off Highway 101. Despite considerable and rising supply growth, with overall deliveries reaching a new cycle high this year, vacancy has remained extremely tight, at below 4% metrowide, says the report.

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