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

Houston is still one of the nation’s hottest retail hubs, according to a recent report by JLL. When retailers look to expand in Texas, they are looking to Houston first. This comes as the result of strong population growth, a favorable business environment and years of growth in the local retail market. Signaling additional confidence in Houston retail, asking rents and construction activity ticked up in the second quarter of 2018. There’s currently 4.5 million square feet of space under construction, representing the market’s 12^th consecutive quarter with more than 4 million square feet of retail construction. Meanwhile, total vacancy sits at 5.4% (even after the closing of 18 Toys ‘R’ Us stores).—Lisa Brown

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