HOUSTON- Delta Associates, the research affiliate of Transwestern, posted its Q2 2013 numbers for industrial commercial real estate. Despite the 926,000 square feet of net absorption reported (versus the 3 million square feet of absorption reported last year), the vacancy rate fell from 4.6% (Q2 2012) to 4.4% (Q2 2013) out of a total of 550.5 million square feet.

Delta Associates reports that the vacancy rate will likely continue to decline to 4.2% during the next year, given steady demand versus supply. Additionally:

• There is 4.1 million square feet of industrial space under construction in metro Houston at mid-year 2013, up from 2.9 million square feet at 1st quarter 2013.
• Industrial asking rents edged down 1.1% during the 1st half of 2013, but effective rents continue to rise in many submarkets.
• Total transaction value was $39.5 million, bringing recorded sales volume during the first half of 2013 to $134.5 million.