Menu
Montecito
Pac Premier
Giving Guide
Loading...
You are here:  Home  >  Columns  >  Current Article

Commercial vacancies on rise, but still below U.S. average

By   /   Monday, August 3rd, 2009  /   Comments Off on Commercial vacancies on rise, but still below U.S. average

    Print       Email

In its latest quarter report, Hayes Commercial Group said the overall vacancy rate now exceeds 5 percent in South County. That number stacks up favorably when compared to national rates, but is up 25 percent since the beginning of the year.

The report showed that the number of lease transactions is up on an annualized basis, but that the total value of those leases was down 18 percent as a result of the market’s lower rates and shorter terms. Santa Barbara retail vacancy is up 47 percent year-over-year to 2.5 percent, and there is currently 33,000 square feet of space available in the 700 to 900 blocks of State Street.

Meanwhile, commercial property sales have hit a wall. Through June, commercial sales on the South Coast totaled only $20 million, compared to $97.2 million over the same period in 2008. There is hope, though! Three properties totaling $35 million are in escrow and set to close in the third quarter. Owner-users, rather than investors, have purchased eight of the nine commercial sales closed so far in 2009.

The full version of this column is only available to print subscribers. To view everything the Business Times offers, see this week’s print version or SUBSCRIBE to the print edition for $49.99 today.

    Print       Email