Tenant activity for industrial has increased over the past few months and is closer to historic norms. We are seeing increased activity in the capital markets.
Current Issue
Go inside the latest monthly issue of Real Estate NJ, the only New Jersey-based magazine dedicated to commercial real estate in the Garden State.
Owners Council Q&A: Jack Morris
I’ll always be bullish on New Jersey. As with any market, we may need to endure some ups and downs, but our state’s fundamentals give us a high floor and a very high ceiling. Qualities like access to New York City, a highly trained workforce, great medical facilities and care, an array of recreational assets and municipalities that are attractive to families give New Jersey long-term appeal. Also, citizens value safety and security, and I want to give kudos to the incredible law enforcement professionals who serve our communities in New Jersey each and every day.
Owners Council Q&A: Jeff Milanaik
Our industry, like all others, has seen an ebb and flow since 2020. While we received the benefit of thriving business immediately following the pandemic, the last few years have brought us stabilization. As seasoned professionals in the industry, Bridge Industrial recognized that the level of activity we had during COVID could not be sustained for an extended time. In fact, as early as 2022, in my role as NAIOP Corporate Chair, the signs of a shift began to appear, and activity began to shrink. However, as we are heading into the end of 2024, we are beginning to see signs of increased activity and customer demand.
Owners Council Q&A: Katie Kurtz
In many property types, the market remains at somewhat of a standstill, with the high cost of capital making desired return metrics hard to hit. However, the strength of the multifamily and industrial sectors allows smart investors to transact. The promise of further rate cuts does bring reasons for optimism. Predicting the exact industry response is challenging though, as it will take time for the market to adjust to the new rates and benchmarks before transaction volume picks up.
FDU poll finds bipartisan backing for Turnpike expansion from New Jersey voters
It used to be said there was no Democratic or Republican way to pick up waste or plow snow. Even in our divided times, according to a recent FDU poll, New Jersey Democrats and Republicans feel the same about traffic — they want it fixed and strongly agree on an important project to expand the New Jersey Turnpike from Newark Airport to the Holland Tunnel.
Owners Council Q&A: Lance Bergstein
The macro environment had an exponential effect on the commercial real estate market. The impact of increased inflation and borrowing rates magnified some of the underlying fundamentals in the New Jersey market. With that said, the industrial market in the state remained strong in comparison to the rest of the country. The scarcity of developable land in prime locations for logistics prevented rental rate cuts from becoming prevalent in the overall market. There is strong tenant demand, however, corporate spending approvals have been the barrier. As spending approvals become more attainable, there will not be enough chairs (buildings) left for tenants when the music stops. I continue to believe that New Jersey is underserved from an industrial and housing perspective and am very bullish on the activity our market will see in the next 18 months.
Looking forward
As you’ll read in this month’s cover story, builders and advocates see New Jersey’s new affordable housing guidelines as a good starting point after more than a decade of uncertainty, conveying cautious optimism even as they confront the financial hurdles, legal battles and political debates that have slowed housing production in the past.
