WeWork Is the Most Curious IPO of 2019

WeWork – now rebranded as The We Company (WE) – filed its initial S-1 on August 14, and the company reportedly plans to go public in September. There isn’t official pricing information, but the company’s most recent funding round – a $2 billion investment from SoftBank in January – valued the co-working company at $47 billion. At this valuation, WeWork would be the 2nd largest IPO of 2019, trailing only Uber (UBER). WeWork might not be the largest IPO of 2019, but it is easily the most ridiculous, and the most dangerous. At least, Uber and other recent big-money IPO’s offered some legitimate innovation in their business models even if their valuations were far too high. WeWork has copied an old business model, i.e. office leasing slapped some tech lingo on it, and suckered venture capital investors into valuing the firm at more than 10x its nearest competitor. Click to read more at www.forbes.com.

Houston Multifamily Occupancy, Rents Up in 2Q 2019

HOUSTON – Local multifamily occupancy (90.2 percent) and rents ($1.17 per square foot) significantly rose over the year in the second quarter 2019, improving on the flat rent and occupancy growth in the prior quarter. Year-to-date net absorption reached 10,094 units, which means Houston has already absorbed more in two quarters than it had all of last year. Deliveries (3,303 units) are up compared with last year, as is the number of units identified as under construction (22,094 units). High-wage job growth has remained strong thanks to manufacturing and professional services jobs. Click to read more at www.recenter.tamu.edu.

Grocery Stores Not Just Boosting Nearby Retailers. They Help Homeowners, Too

The retail sector faces well-documented struggles today. But despite these challenges, several grocery store chains are thriving. Some are doing so well, that they not only provide a boost to the retailers around them, they are helping to increase the value of neighboring homes. ATTOM Data Solutions recently studied the financial impact of grocery stores on nearby homes. To do this, ATTOM researched 1,859 U.S. zip codes that had at least one Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s and ALDI store. ATTOM found that homes located near a Trader Joe’s saw an average home seller return on investment of 51 percent. Homes near a Whole Foods saw an average home seller return on investment of 41 percent. That figure stood at 34 percent for homes near an ALDI. Click to read more at www.rejournals.com.

Six Real Estate Trends To Know In Central Austin In 2019

The median sale price of a single-family home in Austin was $407,400 in May—up 5.8% year over year, according to the Austin Board of Realtors. However, it is not just the residential housing market that is changing in the city. Here are six Central Austin trends to watch in 2019. Builders divide office space into separate classes: Class A is a premier space and Class B is more functional space. In East Austin, an increase in Class A square footage over the course of the last year has driven an increase in rent prices. Source: JLL/Community Impact Newspaper.

  1. Office rent prices on the rise in Austin as new buildings open on the East side According to reports from commercial real estate firm JLL, average rents asked by landlords for office space across the city of Austin are up to $45.22 per square foot in the first quarter of 2019, up from $37.85 per square foot at the same time last year. Click to read more at www.communityimpact.com.

Market Beat: Austin Industrial Q2 2019

Economy: As the first half of 2019 came to a close, the Austin economy continued to perform as one of the strongest in the country. At 3.0%, the local unemployment rate remains near record lows as compared to the United States’ rate of 3.6%. Additionally, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the city added approximately 19,000 jobs over the last 12 months. While the high-tech industry continues to be the significant driver of this explosive growth, a diversified and well-educated employment base has sustained the city’s economic stability.
Market Overview: The Austin industrial market remained healthy to close out the first quarter of 2019. Leasing activity kept up a strong pace throughout the city while vacancy rates remained relatively steady at 8.0% for all product types. Approximately 850,000 square feet (sf) of new industrial product was delivered during the quarter, including Heatherwilde45, which saw more 250,000 sf delivered in that project alone in the Northeast submarket. Absorption levels were tempered as some large move-outs contributed to the overall negative absorption figures. Click to read more at www.rednews.com.

Malls Are Filling Their Empty Spaces With Doctor’s Offices

New York (CNN Business)As malls search for innovative ways to draw in shoppers and fill empty storefronts, they are turning to unexpected partners: health clinics. Mall of America in Minneapolis, America’s largest mall, announced plans last week to open a 2,300-square-foot walk-in clinic in November with medical exam rooms, a radiology room, lab space, and a pharmacy dispensary service. Mall of America is teaming up with University of Minnesota physicians and a Minnesota-based health care system to operate the clinic. The health care industry in the United States has ballooned to $3.5 trillion a year and retailers are increasingly trying to latch onto the booming market. Mall of America’s concept is part of a small but growing trend of mall owners tapping health care providers to help them reinvigorate their shopping centers. Click to read more at www.cnn.com.