During the first half of 2018, five of the top ten metropolitan markets for commercial and multifamily construction starts ranked by dollar volume showed increased activity compared to a year ago, according to Dodge Data & Analytics. Of the top twenty markets, eleven were able to register gains. At the national level, the volume of commercial and multifamily construction starts during the first half of 2018 was $101.4 billion, down 1% from last year’s first half, although still 2% above what was reported during the first half of 2016.
The New York NY metropolitan area, at $16.1 billion during the first half of 2018, held onto its number one ranking and comprised 16% of the U.S. commercial and multifamily total, helped by a 44% jump compared to a year ago. During the previous two years, the New York NY share of the U.S. total had slipped to 14% in 2016 and 13% in 2017, after seeing its share reach a peak at 19% back in 2015. Other markets in the top ten showing growth during the first half of 2018 were Washington DC ($5.0 billion), up 23%; Miami FL ($4.9 billion), up 34%; Boston MA ($3.7 billion), up 56%; and Seattle WA ($3.2 billion), up 7%. Of these markets, the top four (New York, Washington DC, Miami, and Boston) showed renewed growth after the decreased activity reported for the full year 2017, while Seattle was able to maintain the upward track present last year. Metropolitan areas showing decreased activity for commercial and multifamily construction starts during the first half of 2018 were Dallas-Ft. Worth TX ($3.4 billion), down 23%; Los Angeles CA ($2.9 billion), down 38%; San Francisco CA ($2.8 billion), down 38%; Chicago IL ($2.7 billion), down 37%; and Atlanta GA ($2.0 billion), down 43%.
For those markets ranked 11 through 20, the six that registered first half 2018 gains were Austin TX ($1.8 billion), up 15%; Kansas City MO ($1.7 billion), up 52%; Orlando FL ($1.6 billion), up 4%; Phoenix AZ ($1.6 billion), up 19%; Minneapolis-St. Paul MN ($1.3 billion), up 34%; and Portland OR ($1.1 billion), up 15%. The four posting declines were Houston TX ($1.9 billion), down 13%; Philadelphia PA ($1.7 billion), down 13%; Denver CO ($1.6 billion), down 25%; and San Jose CA ($1.1 billion), down 37%.
The commercial and multifamily total is comprised of office buildings, stores, hotels, warehouses, commercial garages, and multifamily housing. At the U.S. level, the 1% drop for the commercial and multifamily total during the first half of 2018 reflected an 8% retreat for commercial building that was essentially balanced by an 8% increase for multifamily housing.
“Multifamily housing has proven to be surprisingly resilient so far during 2018, following its 8% decline in dollar terms at the U.S. level that was reported for the full year 2017,” stated Robert A. Murray, chief economist for Dodge Data & Analytics. “With apartment vacancy rates beginning to edge upward on a year-over-year basis, banks had been taking a more cautious stance towards lending for multifamily projects. Yet, after some loss of momentum during 2017, several factors appear to be providing near-term support for multifamily housing. The U.S. economy is currently moving at a healthy clip, with steady job growth bringing new workers into the labor force. The demand for multifamily housing by millennials remains
strong, given their desire to live in downtown areas while the increasing price of a single family home and diminished tax benefits may be dissuading some from making the transition to single family home ownership. As shown by this year’s surveys of bank lending officers conducted by the Federal Reserve, the extent of bank tightening for multifamily construction loans is not as widespread as a year ago.”
“On a broader level for commercial building, lending standards for nonresidential building loans have eased slightly over the past two quarters,” Murray continued. “And, the rollback of some of the Dodd-Frank restraints on the banking sector may encourage mid-size banks to increase lending for commercial real estate. While the expansion for commercial building and multifamily construction starts has clearly decelerated, the near-term shift appears to be one towards a plateau as opposed to a decline. This is consistent with the recent pattern for commercial and multifamily construction starts by major metropolitan areas, which reveals a fairly equal balance between those markets still showing gains and those markets showing decreased activity.”
Related Stories
K-12 Schools | Mar 18, 2024
New study shows connections between K-12 school modernizations, improved test scores, graduation rates
Conducted by Drexel University in conjunction with Perkins Eastman, the research study reveals K-12 school modernizations significantly impact key educational indicators, including test scores, graduation rates, and enrollment over time.
MFPRO+ News | Mar 16, 2024
Multifamily rents stable heading into spring 2024
National asking multifamily rents posted their first increase in over seven months in February. The average U.S. asking rent rose $1 to $1,713 in February 2024, up 0.6% year-over-year.
Market Data | Mar 14, 2024
Download BD+C's March 2024 Market Intelligence Report
U.S. construction spending on buildings-related work rose 1.4% in January, but project teams continue to face headwinds related to inflation, interest rates, and supply chain issues, according to Building Design+Construction's March 2024 Market Intelligence Report (free PDF download).
Contractors | Mar 12, 2024
The average U.S. contractor has 8.1 months worth of construction work in the pipeline, as of February 2024
Associated Builders and Contractors reported that its Construction Backlog Indicator declined to 8.1 months in February, according to an ABC member survey conducted Feb. 20 to March 5. The reading is down 1.1 months from February 2023.
Market Data | Mar 6, 2024
Nonresidential construction spending slips 0.4% in January
National nonresidential construction spending decreased 0.4% in January, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data published today by the U.S. Census Bureau. On a seasonally adjusted annualized basis, nonresidential spending totaled $1.190 trillion.
Multifamily Housing | Mar 4, 2024
Single-family rentals continue to grow in BTR communities
Single-family rentals are continuing to grow in built-to-rent communities. Both rent and occupancy growth have been strong in recent months while remaining a financially viable option for renters.
MFPRO+ News | Mar 2, 2024
Job gains boost Yardi Matrix National Rent Forecast for 2024
Multifamily asking rents broke the five-month streak of sequential average declines in January, rising 0.07 percent, shows a new special report from Yardi Matrix.
K-12 Schools | Feb 29, 2024
Average age of U.S. school buildings is just under 50 years
The average age of a main instructional school building in the United States is 49 years, according to a survey by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). About 38% of schools were built before 1970. Roughly half of the schools surveyed have undergone a major building renovation or addition.
MFPRO+ Research | Feb 27, 2024
Most competitive rental markets of early 2024
The U.S. rental market in early 2024 is moderately competitive, with apartments taking an average of 41 days to find tenants, according to the latest RentCafe Market Competitivity Report.
Construction Costs | Feb 22, 2024
K-12 school construction costs for 2024
Data from Gordian breaks down the average cost per square foot for four different types of K-12 school buildings (elementary schools, junior high schools, high schools, and vocational schools) across 10 U.S. cities.