Oct 23, 2024
Glenstar Logistics and Columnar Investments have sold Tri-County 75, a 72-acre industrial park in Fort Myers, Florida. The park consists of four buildings totaling 818,000 square feet and is 95% leased to multiple Fortune 500 tenants, including American Bottling Co., Ferguson Enterprises, and Costco Wholesale. The development was completed in late 2023 and quickly leased due to its easy access to I-75 and Southwest Florida International Airport. While industrial demand remains positive in the Fort Myers area, recent completions have outpaced absorption, though vacancy rates are still below the national average.
Oct 21, 2024
About $749 million of its general office loans are for properties in the New York City market, representing about 14% of its total office loan book. The New York loans are about evenly split between offices located downtown and in the suburbs. The bank’s second-largest market for general office loans is Washington, D.C., where all properties are in the suburbs. Citizens holds $467 million of general office loans in the Washington market.
Oct 17, 2024
Hurricane Milton made landfall on October 9 near Sarasota, causing heavy rainfall and flooding across Tampa Bay, particularly in Pinellas and Hillsborough Counties. This followed the devastation from Hurricane Helene, which brought significant storm surges less than two weeks earlier. The multifamily housing sector appears to be the most affected, with numerous properties experiencing flood damage, particularly on first floors. Construction delays are expected, and short-term spikes in leasing may occur as displaced residents seek temporary housing. However, these gains could be temporary, similar to trends observed after Hurricane Ian in 2022.
Sep 27, 2024
Invitation Homes, the largest U.S. single-family rental landlord, settled a $48 million case with the FTC over allegations of deceptive practices, including hidden fees, unfair eviction policies, and improperly withholding security deposits. The settlement, aimed at refunding harmed renters, requires the company to improve transparency in lease pricing and security deposit handling. The FTC alleged Invitation Homes overcharged renters with undisclosed fees and engaged in unfair eviction practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the settlement, Invitation Homes maintains it committed no wrongdoing and continues to focus on improving customer experiences. This case highlights growing scrutiny of corporate landlords amid rising housing costs.
Sep 25, 2024
Miami is experiencing a surge in supertall skyscraper development, with seven towers over 984 feet high under construction, marking a historic first for the city. The Waldorf Astoria Hotel and Residences Miami, at 1,049 feet, is the furthest along, driven by an influx of wealth and companies into South Florida. Despite environmental and geographic challenges, such as limestone terrain, high water tables, and FAA height restrictions, developers are eager to capitalize on the booming real estate market. The concentration of supertall projects within a small area could transform Miami’s skyline, rivaling New York and Chicago in height. However, the complexities of building on unstable ground and preparing for storms make these projects particularly costly and difficult.
Sep 12, 2024
Invitation Homes, the largest single-family home landlord in the U.S., reported over $200 million in investment activity in the third quarter of 2024. The company entered agreements to acquire 580 homes in Tampa, Denver, and the Carolinas, most of which were already completed. The acquisitions underscore the company’s strong relationships with homebuilders, as it continues to grow its build-to-rent portfolio, with plans to invest $1 billion in home purchases in 2024. Additionally, Invitation Homes secured a new $3.5 billion credit facility to refinance previous debt at a lower interest rate. Despite potential slowdowns in build-to-rent construction, Invitation Homes sees ongoing demand in its markets, driven by a lack of housing supply.
