CHICAGO—The Chicago area industrial market is in the midst of perhaps the most sustained boom in its history. Buoyed by the post-recession economy, as well as the extra boost in demand caused by e-commerce, the region has experienced years of positive absorption without any setbacks.
Not surprisingly, investors of all kinds have decided to park their capital in and around the city, buying up not just the sparkling new distribution facilities, but also well-located older product that still attracts high-credit tenants. However, a few trends have emerged that may cause some investors to shy away, and perhaps head to secondary or tertiary markets in search of higher yields.
“People are becoming a little nervous,” Michael Marconi, principal and managing broker for Transwestern, tells GlobeSt.com. Rent growth, for example, after several years of robust gains, seems to have plateaued sometime in mid-2015. According to a just-published report by the firm, overall average rental rates remained at $5.54 in the third quarter. That is the highest amount ever, but it's unlikely to grow much in the near future, especially with so much new product hitting the market.
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Brian J. Rogal
Brian J. Rogal is a Chicago-based freelance writer with years of experience as an investigative reporter and editor, most notably at The Chicago Reporter, where he concentrated on housing issues. He also has written extensively on alternative energy and the payments card industry for national trade publications.
