Stabilization and Recovery in Commercial Markets

"Back from the Brink… But What Next?" a new report issued by CB Richard Ellis sees some stabilization and recovery for the much of the worlds' commercial real estate markets at the mid-point 2009, with one notable exception: The U.S. The report notes the obvious indicators of weak market conditions but also identifies some positive developments, including initial signs of regional recovery. Highlights include an uptick in investment sales volume in Asia where the market has adjusted quickly and pricing may have hit bottom in some cities; stabilization of property markets in the Pacific region after 18 months of turmoil; and activity in the EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) investment market inching up to €13 billion, from €11.6 billion in Q1 2009, with some expectation for further improvement in Q4 '09. Unfortunately, the CBRE report sites no signs of recovery for the U.S., where vacancy rates in the office, industrial and retail property markets continued to rise in Q2 2009. Read more details in the CBRE press release or download full report.