Oil & Gas, Chemical Companies Continue to Drive Demand in Houston Office

Houston Office

Eleven months into 2023, the overall vacancy rate in the Houston office market was 25.1%, up 50 basis points from 24.6%, year-over-year. Year-to-date, net absorption—move-ins minus move-outs—is at -180,441 sq. ft. improving from the previous year-to-date figure of -581,768 sq. ft. Oil & gas and chemical companies continue to drive office demand in Houston. Exxon Mobil occupied a 255,930-sq.-ft. office facility at 22777 Springwoods Village Parkway in August 2023, and Quantix filled 145,261 sq. ft. of office space near the intersection of Market Street and East Freeway in March 2023. Year-to-date, deliveries are at 1.4 million sq. ft., up 71% from the prior year-to-date number of 829,981 sq. ft. The average asking rent currently stands at $30.39 per sq. ft.—a record high for the metro’s office sector—up slightly from $30.02 per sq. ft. the prior year.

Houston Industrial

The overall vacancy rate in the Houston industrial market as of November 2023 was 6.6%, up 140 basis points from 5.2% year-over-year. Year-to-date, net absorption is at 18.2 million sq. ft.—down 38% from the prior year-to-date tally of 29.6 million sq. ft. Year-to-date, deliveries reached 30.7 million sq. ft., passing the previous record-high of 29.1 million sq. ft. noted in Q4 2020. The Southeast submarket led year-to-date deliveries at 8.2 million sq. ft. (27%), followed by the Northwest submarket at 6.9 million sq. ft (23%). Notable deliveries within the past year include a 1.0 million-sq.-ft. warehouse at 3200 South FM 565 Road in June 2023, and a 908,853-sq.-ft. distribution center at 19201 Hamish Road in July 2023. The average monthly rate stands at $0.78 per sq. ft., up 8% from $0.72 per sq. ft.

Houston Retail

As of November 2023, the overall vacancy rate in Houston’s retail market remained flat from the prior year at 5.0%. Retail availability (5.8%) has continued at sub-6% availability levels for 7 consecutive quarters—emphasizing the consistent demand for retail space in Houston. Year-to-date, net absorption is at 3.5 million sq. ft., and year-to-date deliveries are at 3.6 million sq. ft.—a difference of 146,863 sq. ft.—indicative of balanced market fundamentals. Retail construction is at 3.3 million sq. ft. in November 2023—trending close to the three-year average of 4.0 million sq. ft. The average asking rent increased 4% year-over-year, currently standing at $20.22 per sq. ft.

Houston Multifamily

Alex Babcock
Senior Research Analyst
[email protected]
tel 713 275 9618