The market has really ebbed and flowed over the last 12 months. There were spurts of positive progress coupled with deterrents. I think this recent rate cut will help the macro environment but many of the fundamentals have remained the same. As a whole, the country is in an interesting political environment, which is perhaps more impactful to the economy than raw economic data.
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.