NAI NBS an Oregon Most Admired Company for Sixth Consecutive Year

For the sixth consecutive year, NAI Norris, Beggs & Simpson was recognized as one of Oregon's Most Admired Companies, based on a survey of Oregon CEOs conducted by the Portland Business Journal. NAI NBS ranked third out of the top ten Most Admired Commercial Real Estate Companies. President J. Clayton Hering accepted the award at a luncheon held at the downtown Hilton yesterday. About 1,800 CEOs and top-level managers in Oregon and Southwest Washington were surveyed to determine the Most Admired Companies.

Hering Featured in Oregon Business

Norris, Beggs & Simpson Companies President J. Clayton Hering was profiled in the December issue of Oregon Business magazine. Click here to read the article. Clayton has been with NBS since 1972, and became president of the company in 1993. He is very active in civic organizations and the arts, serving on the board of the Oregon Symphony and on the Young Audiences Advisory Board, among others.

NAI NBS Property Managers Win Big at Oregon Chapter IREM Awards

NAI Norris, Beggs & Simpson had a great showing at the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM) Oregon-Columbia River Chapter Annual Awards Ceremony last week. NAI NBS was named the Accredited Management Organization (AMO) Firm of the Year. Kimberly Fuhrer, who works out of our Vancouver office and is IREM's Vice President, Member Services for 2011, was named Certified Property Manager (CPM) of the Year. Traci McCauley, IREM's Vice President of Education for 2011, was honored for Outstanding Member Participation of the Year. Debra McCracken, another Vancouver property manager and IREM's 2011 President, was recognized with the President’s Award.

A number of other NAI NBS property managers will also hold leadership roles in IREM in 2011:

Nutan Engels - Community Service Committee Chair
Monique Clouser - Income/Expense Committee Chair
Christina DuCoté - Legislative Committee Chair
Stephanie MacPherson - Newsletter Committee Chair

Congratulations to all! NAI NBS has a strong asset/property management division. Our current portfolio is about 7 million square feet, 345 residential units and 117 acres of land, around the Portland metropolitan area and Vancouver, Wash. NBS Multifamily Management, a division of Norris, Beggs & Simpson Cos., manages the residential portion.

Gresham's Burnside Commons Lands First New Tenant Since Change in Ownership

Gresham’s Burnside Commons has secured its first new tenant since FMK Properties – Burnside, LLC purchased the property in July.

Gresham Therapeutic Massage Center leased 3,899 sf, and the lease began Oct. 15. NAI Norris, Beggs & Simpson Senior Vice President Jack McConnell represented the landlord, and Bill Butler of Web Properties, Inc. served as a consultant on the lease.

Gresham Therapeutic Massage Center, a locally-owned business, found precisely what it was seeking in Burnside Commons: a larger space with good street exposure that had an improved interior and was ready to occupy. The business was previously located in a space on Burnside about half a mile from Burnside Commons.

Since health care is one area of the economy that is growing, brokers are seeing increased activity from health care tenants, McConnell said.

Burnside Commons is a 38,053 square foot, three-building retail property built in 2001 and 2006 at the intersection of Burnside and Eastman Parkway. Burnside Commons’ owners are still working on lease-up of the property, which has considerable vacancies.

Third Quarter Market Reports for PDX CRE: Signs of Improvement in Multifamily, Central City Office Markets

This week we released our Third Quarter 2010 quarterly reports for the Portland metro area. There's no doubt that we're still seeing the impact of the recession, but there was certainly some good news, too.

Office vacancy in Central City decreased to 12.13% with 282,442 sf absorbed, thanks to large leases at First & Main and the Meier & Frank Depot Building. Suburban vacancy remained stable at 24.06% with about 4,000 sf absorbed, the first positive absorption in the suburban office market since Third Quarter 2008.

Industrial vacancy was stable at 15.22%, with about 10,000 sf absorbed. A few large transactions occurred, including PFX Pet Supply leasing 70,000 sf at Columbia Corporate Park I in North/Northeast.

Retail vacancy decreased to 6.5%, and a few projects broke ground, including the 215,000 sf Progress Ridge Town Square between Tigard and Beaverton. Retail sales were up in August and September with the help of a strong back to school shopping season.

Multifamily was a bright spot during Third Quarter. Vacancy fell to 3.65%, the lowest it has been since Second Quarter 2008. The multifamily investment market also showed increased activity, especially for properties developed as condominiums and converted to apartments.

A PDF of all the reports can be found here.

NAI NBS Welcomes Ionescu to Office Brokerage Team

Alexandra Ionescu has joined NAI Norris, Beggs & Simpson as a Real Estate Broker specializing in office properties. She will initially focus on the Sunset Corridor area, specializing in tenant and landlord advisory and working with local and regional clients.

Prior to joining NAI NBS, Ionescu was an Assistant Relationship Manager in the Commercial Real Estate Division of U.S. Bank in Portland. There, she performed financial and operational analysis of cash flow and leverage, and assessed client relationship risk.

Ionescu holds a Bachelor of Arts in business administration, with a dual specialization in commercial real estate finance and financial management, from Portland State University. She is a licensed real estate broker in Oregon.

First Ever Dex One Solution Center Opens in Vancouver, Wash.

Dex One has leased 6,508 square feet of retail space at Columbia Tech Center, Building 601, for the company’s new Dex One Solution Center. NAI NBS' Tamara Fuller represented the lessee.

The new location serves as the first Dex One Solutions Center in the country. The center, which combines a local Dex One office with a unique storefront presence, is designed to help local businesses and consumers interact directly with Dex One’s marketing consultants. In addition to on-site consultation, the storefront features kiosks and interactive displays to help visitors learn about Dex One’s online, print, voice-enabled and mobile solutions.

“Columbia Tech Center provides not only a prime location, but also ample space and amenities that will help Dex One’s consultants better serve Vancouver’s local business owners and residents,” Fuller said.

Dex One unveiled the new facility to the public on Sept. 20 with a Grand Opening celebration featuring live music, activities, food and a special appearance by “The Dex Guy,” star of Dex One’s TV commercials.

NAI Global Partners With AuctionPoint

Earlier this summer, NAI Global announced that it has entered into an agreement with AuctionPoint to provide NAI agents with access to an online auction tool that empowers brokers to auction commercial properties online, under their name and brand. AuctionPoint realizes that the local broker is the key player in bringing together buyers and sellers, and is the first online auction platform built specifically for brokers.

AuctionPoint’s technology gives brokers the ability to customize auctions to handle a multitude of selling scenarios, from the most basic to the most complex. They also have the ability to set a date-certain window of time for interested parties to bid on the property, online and through AuctionPoint.

On NAI Global's blog today, Senior Vice President Patricia Faulkner interviews AuctionPoint CEO Joe Tang about AuctionPoint and current market conditions.

Good News on Portland's Retail Development Front

It's been a slow couple of years for new development in Portland, so the fact that two new retail projects recently broke ground is great news.

In late July, Gramor Development broke ground on Progress Ridge, a $60 million, 325,000 sf retail development in Beaverton-Tigard. Big Al's Family Bowling and Entertainment Center at Progress Ridge just opened in August, and construction on the rest of the center should be finished by fall 2011. Tenants include New Seasons Market, Cinetopia, Rivermark Credit Union, and more.

And last week, Gramor broke ground on Lacamas Crossing in Vancouver, which includes a 154,000 sf Costco and 27,000 sf of additional retail space for 15 businesses. About half of the non-Costco space is preleased, and the center should employ about 500 people. Costco should open in November, and the rest of the space in First Quarter 2011.

This is good news for the market, and hopefully our Third Quarter reports, which will be released the first or second week of October, will hold some more positive indicators.

Local Investor Pays $1.8M for Burnside Commons

Owner Injecting New Life into Property, Space Attracting Tenant Interest During Lease-Up

FMK Properties – Burnside, LLC has purchased Gresham’s Burnside Commons, a 38,053 square foot, three-building retail property, for $1.8 million, and the property is already attracting new tenant interest.

Burnside Commons was built in 2001 and 2006, and offers spaces for lease of 1,200 square feet and larger, for a broad range of retail, office and service uses. The property is well-located in the heart of Gresham, at the intersection of Burnside and Eastman Parkway, with many large employers nearby, including Boeing, Boyds Coffee and ON Semiconductor.

NAI Norris, Beggs & Simpson Associate Vice President Jack Gallagher is handling leasing for the center, and is already working with three tenants interested in space at Burnside Commons. The buyer owns a number of investment properties around the area, has flexibility in establishing competitive lease terms, and is a hands-on owner who works closely with tenants.

Burnside Commons felt the impact of the recession, losing three tenants in the past four months, which led to 91 percent vacancy and foreclosure. But the new owners recognized Burnside Commons’ potential. The property has many positive features and will be a solid investment, according to NAI NBS Senior Vice President Jack McConnell, who represented the buyer.

Fuller Earns Certified Green Broker Designation

NAI Norris, Beggs & Simpson Vice President Tamara Fuller has earned the Certified Green Broker designation, a certification granted within the commercial real estate industry to commercial brokers and affiliated professionals who have completed the Certified Green Broker course.

Washington state-based Commercial Brokers Association (CBA), in partnership with the Cascadia Green Building Council, developed Certified Green Broker to enable commercial brokers to identify sustainability issues related to real estate practices. Green Brokers provide appropriate counsel on the benefits of buying, building, leasing and managing green properties. The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has approved Certified Green Broker through their Approved Education Provider Program.

The Certified Green Broker education program consists of ten three-hour online modules presented in an interactive format. The program offers 30 hours of real estate continuing education credit in Washington, Oregon and Idaho.

Fuller, an office broker in NAI NBS’ Vancouver office, joined NAI NBS in 2000 and has since had a hand in leasing more than a million sf of space, and selling about $18 million in total value of real estate. She was one of NAI NBS’ Top Ten Producers the past three years. Fuller is on the board of the Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce and is active in the Rotary Club of Greater Clark County and SW Washington Junior Achievement.

Multifamily Vacancy Down in Portland in Second Quarter

Overview

Multifamily vacancy decreased to 4.11% during Second Quarter. Downtown Portland units continued to be leased up at a healthy rate, as vacancy for both new and seasoned units fell around 2 percentage points. Last quarter, this report began tracking a number of recent central city deliveries, and two new properties, the Matisse in South Waterfront (272 units) and the Broadstone Enso in the Pearl (152 units), will be added to the report when they are stabilized in 2011. Rental rates increased by $10 overall, or a cent per square foot, and as expected, downtown units led these increases.

Market Trends

It’s a good sign that vacancy is down and rents are increasing, and landlords are offering fewer concessions (except for new downtown properties), which indicates a healthier market. If new units continue to be absorbed at the current rate and the economy shows signs of solid recovery, we should see stabilization in 2011. But owners and managers remain guarded in their optimism, questioning whether recovery will occur without significant job creation, which we haven’t yet seen.

Despite the uptick in occupancy and some other positive indicators, the multifamily investment market remains sluggish. According to CoStar’s sales comparables, just two transactions over $3 million occurred during Second Quarter, one being the $38.75 million sale of the 188-unit Tupelo Alley in North Portland, which was a solid institutional sale. Investors remain uncertain about the region’s economic outlook, and worry that the Portland Metro Area doesn’t have one particular economic driver or growth engine, which may lead to a flat recovery. Companies are hunkered down, waiting to see significant improvement before investing, and the volatility on Wall Street in May didn’t help. Potential owners are also deterred by the increased costs of utilities and fees associated with owning and developing.

The deals being done in Portland and around the Pacific Northwest are at lower cap rates; this doesn’t necessarily indicate recovery, but of finding the ideal buyer on the transaction. Few aggressive buyers are currently active, though, and there’s little leverage to do deals. Financing remains challenging, with a limited number of lenders. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are the two most active lenders, and a number of other sources, like Chase and some life insurance companies, are becoming more active in pursuing deals.

The full report can be found here.

Retail Vacancy Flat in Second Quarter, Some Large Leases Signed

Overview

Retail vacancy was unchanged at 8.0% during the Second Quarter, with negative 20,547 sf of absorption. Vacancy in Central City decreased nearly a percentage point to 10.9%. Vacancy in Southeast/East Clackamas increased more than a percentage point to 6.5%, with more than 20,000 sf of negative absorption each at Clackamas Town Center and Hilltop Mall. However, there was considerable leasing activity in big-box stores that are not tracked in our report. For instance, Salvation Army leased about 40,000 sf at the former Linens ‘n Things on SE 82nd, and Dick’s leased the nearly 50,000 sf former Joe’s Sports, Outdoors & More at Johnson Creek Crossing in Clackamas.

Vancouver vacancy rose by half a percentage point to 11.0%, with 46,688 sf of negative absorption. At Columbia Square – Vancouver, 20,000 sf became available. This is a portion of the former Joe’s Sports, Outdoor & More space, which is partially occupied by Chuck’s Produce (expected to open in August).

Noteworthy News

Closely watched indicators of the health of the retail market were mixed during the Second Quarter. Retail sales grew by a seasonally adjusted rate of 0.6% in April, but fell by 1.2% in May. The Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index also dropped by almost 10 points to 52.9 in June. Economists didn’t expect such a significant decrease, as the index had been rising since February.

Portland continues to attract large tenants of all kinds. In recent months, Ultimate Electronics, which was acquired by Hollywood Video founder and former CEO Mark Wattles, leased the 40,000 sf former Levitz Furniture building in Beaverton. Two new clothing stores are also in the works: H&M confirmed its Pioneer Place store will open this fall, and Saks Fifth Avenue Off Fifth will open at Bridgeport Village September 2. Nordstrom Rack also leased 48,344 sf at Cascade Plaza Shopping Center.

Signs of life were present in the Portland retail investment market during the Second Quarter. Retail Opportunity Investments, Corp., purchased Vancouver Market Center in Vancouver for $11.19 million, and is under contract to purchase a portfolio of four other centers in the Portland Metro Area from Gramor Development for about $90 million.

Though retail development has slowed, with our report tracking just under 30,000 sf of space under construction in the metro area, some activity and future planning is occurring. Big Al’s, the popular bowling center in Clark County, has a second 66,000 sf location under construction at Progress Ridge in Beaverton. It is expected to open in August, and developers hope the site will also be the future home of New Seasons and Cinetopia.

The full report can be found here.

Portland Industrial Vacancy Increases Slightly in Second Quarter

Overview

Industrial vacancy rose less than a percentage point to 15.24% during Second Quarter, with negative 354,330 sf absorbed. Southeast saw a significant increase in vacancy, to 14.35%, as United Stationers Supply Co. vacated 40,608 sf at Commerce Park – McLoughlin and relocated to 195,510 sf at Rivergate Corporate Center III in the North/Northeast submarket. Vancouver vacancy also increased about four percentage points to 15.44%, and Columbia Business Center had more than 450,000 sf available. Significant leases of the quarter included Consolidated Molding & Millworks leasing 48,000 sf and Stanton Furniture leasing 92,960 sf at 115th Commerce Park in Southwest I-5.

Flex vacancy increased slightly to 18.23%, with negative 23,633 sf absorbed, down considerably from First Quarter’s negative 166,559 sf of absorption. Vacancy in the North/Northeast submarket fell about 5% to 12.09%, and Columbia Gorge Corporate Center saw considerable activity, with Multnomah County leasing 18,150 sf and Pac/West leasing 11,950 sf.

Market Trends

Greenlight Greater Portland, a privately funded economic development group, released a report in June suggesting that manufacturing will be a major factor in Portland’s economic recovery. It predicted that the manufacturing sector could grow by 14% in the next five years.

Renewable energy companies, particularly solar power companies, continue to be active players in the Portland industrial market. Solexant Corp. is expected to receive a $25 million state loan to build a factory in the metro area to develop ultra-thin-film solar cells. The plant would initially employ 100, and could rise to the same capacity as SolarWorld in Hillsboro, which will employ 1,000 by this fall when its expansion is completed. ReVolt Technology, a battery maker, also won a $5 million U.S. government grant that will help it build a Portland plant to develop a battery for plug-in vehicles.

In other major transactions, Farwest Steel will acquire more than 20 acres from the Port of Vancouver for about $5 million. The company will build a $20 to $30 million steel processing and distribution facility that will create 125 new jobs and employ about 200 overall.

The full report is available here.

Portland Office Vacancy Rose During Second Quarter

Central City office vacancy increased to 12.73% during the Second Quarter, with negative 242,145 sf absorbed. About 40,000 sf of this negative absorption was from multiple tenants leaving the historic Stevens Building. The Church of Scientology of Portland purchased it in 2008 and planned to inhabit the whole building, but it was found to be unsuitable for the organization and is for sale. This quarter the Church of Scientology bought downtown’s historic Sherlock Building for $6.4 million to serve as its new home. In a highly-anticipated decision, the Portland Development Commission opted to remain at its current location in Old Town (but in 10,000 fewer sf), rather than move to the stalled Park Avenue West, its other primary option. It is uncertain when construction will restart at Park Avenue West, as the project lacks financing. Active tenants downtown include alternative energy groups, who seek environmentally friendly buildings. Many tenants are also seeking moderatelypriced Class A buildings with quality buildouts.

Suburban office vacancy rose about two percentage points to 23.92%, with negative absorption of 179,725 sf. This is the 7th consecutive quarter of negative absorption for the suburbs. Kruse Way saw the most significant increase in vacancy, from just under 23% last quarter to 29.36% during Second Quarter. Kruse Woods V had nearly 100,000 sf of negative absorption, as Northwest Evaluation Association vacated about 108,000 sf to move to the former Port of Portland building in Central City. However, Black & Veatch filled some of the space at Kruse Woods V, leasing about 25,000 sf. Vacancy in I-5 South rose significantly to 28.10%, but some large leases occurred, including State Farm’s lease of nearly 24,000 sf at Fanno Creek Building B. Brokers are seeing a flight to quality in the suburban submarkets, with healthy activity in nicer buildings.

Vancouver vacancy rose slightly to 18.55%, with negative 11,634 sf absorbed. The most significant deal was the $18.5 million sale of The Columbian Building to the City of Vancouver for its new city hall. The 118,000 sf building, previously listed at $41.5 million, was turned over to Bank of America early this year after the Columbian Publishing Co. filed for bankruptcy.

The full report is available here.

Unger Earns Certified Leasing Specialist (CLS) Designation

NAI Norris, Beggs & Simpson Real Estate Broker J.J. Unger has earned the Certified Leasing Specialist (CLS) designation through the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC). He is the first NAI NBS broker to achieve the designation, which is a symbol of leadership and accomplishment and recognizes in-depth insight into every aspect of the shopping center industry.

Founded in 1994, the CLS program was designed to elevate professional standards, enhance individual performance and designate those who demonstrate knowledge essential to the practices of shopping center leasing. CLS designees must have at least four years of experience in shopping center leasing and pass a written exam; they must also maintain the designation through continuing education.

Unger joined NAI NBS in 2006 and has brokered a number of significant retail transactions in the Portland metro area, including John’s Incredible Pizza’s recent 46,212 sf lease at Washington Green Shopping Center.

Unger holds a BS in business administration from Colorado State University and is chair of the Portland chapter of ICSC’s Next Generation group for young professionals. He has completed Leasing I and Leasing II Institutes through ICSC’s John T. Riordan School for Professional Development to master the fundamentals of merchandising, economics and leasing strategies to effectively impact the income and retail productivity of a center and create value for the property.

Three Large Transactions in Portland Metro Area Announced This Week

Some good news on the Portland metro area investment front this week, just as sunny summer weather finally hit.

Retail Opportunity Investments Corp, a New York real estate investor, is buying five Portland metro area shopping centers for about $90 million. It closed on Vancouver Market Center for $11.19 million, and is under contract for Cascade Summit Shopping Center, Heritage Market Center, Happy Valley Town Center, and Oregon City Point.

Phillips Edison & Co. also purchased Johnson Creek Shopping Center, a 106,709 sf center in Clackamas, for an undisclosed price.

And Behringer Harvard Holdings purchased the 188-unit Tupelo Alley Apartments on N. Mississippi in Portland for $38.75 million in the largest multifamily transaction so far this year.

NAI NBS Brokers Two Tigard Office Leases Totaling 40K SF

NAI Norris, Beggs & Simpson brokers represented the landlords in two recent Tigard office leases totaling more than 40,000 sf.

State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance leased 23,712 sf at the Fanno Creek Building B on Upper Boones Ferry Road. NAI NBS' Chris Johnson, John Medak and MaryKay West represented the landlord.

State Farm will relocate its administration and a small claims department from a nearby building in January. It leased the first and second floors, and was especially attracted to Fanno Creek because it was able to accommodate special needs, including a roll-up door on the ground floor.

Fanno Creek delivered in 2008 and has been vacant until this lease, which takes the building to 50 percent occupancy.

“Getting a quality tenant such as State Farm to relocate to this project, in this business environment, is sure to promote strong momentum for the remainder of the lease-up,” Johnson said.

CNA Insurance leased 17,443 sf at Pacific Parkway Center on SW 68th Parkway. NAI NBS' Jennifer Medak, John Medak and Andrew Rosengarten represented the landlord, PacTrust.

CNA’s lease was complex, as the brokers had to restructure four other leases within the building to accomodate CNA’s size needs. CNA also leases from PacTrust in Dallas, and the company was attracted to Pacific Parkway Center because of the building’s quality, aggressive rental structure, and attentive ownership and management.

The NAI NBS team has taken Pacific Parkway Center from about 58 percent leased a year ago to 82 percent leased today.

Investors Pays $1.7M for Box & One in SE Portland

An investor has purchased the Box & One, two mixed-use buildings at SE 28th and Ankeny, for $1.7 million. NAI Norris, Beggs & Simpson's Robert Black represented the seller.

The transaction had a 7.2 percent cap rate and was a market-rate deal, Black said.

The 7,318 sf project has ground-floor retail and five loft-style apartments above. It is home to Crema Bakery & Cafe, on the corner of SE 28th and Ankeny, whose space features roll-up garage doors. The other ground-floor retail tenant is Coalition Brewing, which is expected to open this year.

The retail and residential spaces have been fully occupied since the buildings were constructed in 2002, and the apartments garner market-leading rental rates, Black said. Just a block off of Burnside in a neighborhood with lots of pedestrians, the project’s location promotes bicycle and bus use, and the buildings are energy efficient and sustainable.

The buyer was familiar with the Box & One because he had often visited Crema on trips to Portland, Black said, and the building’s strong occupancy, unique design and excellent location were appealing.

“Mixed-use, neighborhood-scale projects are popular investments today, especially in Portland,” Black said. “The Box & One has such strong fundamentals that it was a great opportunity for the buyer.”

Certified Green Broker Program Featured in the DJC

Portland is known as one of the greenest cities in the country, and tenants and owners around the area are increasingly aware of the environmental benefits and savings that can come with green building. So how do they find commercial real estate brokers who are well versed and educated in all aspects of green leasing and sales?

Yesterday an article in the Daily Journal of Commerce examined the Certified Green Broker program, developed by the Commercial Brokers Association of Seattle and the Cascadia Green Building Council that was launched in 2008. Certified Green Brokers complete a 30-hour online course and must pass a comprehensive exam. Course topics include the business case for greening commercial buildings, energy use, green materials, and indoor environmental quality.

Two of NAI NBS' brokers, MaryKay West, an investment specialist, and Charlie Floberg, who specializes in office leasing and sales, recently achieved the Certified Green Broker designation.

While certifications like LEED can be useful for commercial real estate brokers, "it’s difficult to find continuing education offerings that are relevant to commercial practitioners," West said. The Certified Green Broker program is attractive because it is created specifically for brokers and the unique issues they face, like drawing up a green lease.

“Many office tenants, especially large office users, are interested in at least some types of green features,” Floberg said. “It’s important for brokers to know the benefits of green building and effectively communicate them to clients.”

DuCote Joins NAI NBS as Senior Property Manager

Christina DuCoté, an experienced property manager who has managed a diverse portfolio of Class A commercial office buildings in the San Diego area, has joined NAI Norris, Beggs & Simpson as a Senior Property Manager.

Christina has more than 12 years of experience as a property manager. She was previously a Senior Property Manager with The Muller Company in San Diego, where she managed more than a million square feet at one time. She won The Office Building of the Year Award (TOBY) in 2008. Issued by the Buildings Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) of San Diego, the award recognizes quality in office buildings and rewards excellence in office building management.

Christina holds a bachelor of arts in economics from San Diego State University. She is a Real Property Administrator (RPA) and Certified Property Manager (CPM), both prestigious property management designations.

CAR Food/Funds Drive for Oregon Food Bank

Last week, the Commercial Association of Realtors (CAR) of Oregon/SW Washington sponsored its second annual brokerage house food and fund drive competition benefiting the Oregon Food Bank. Together, the brokerage houses donated the equivalent of 14,543 pounds of food! CAR members also volunteered at the Oregon Food Bank on Friday, sorting and packing enough food for 376 meals.

And the winner of the competition was (drumroll please . . . ): NAI Norris, Beggs & Simpson! The money and food we donated equaled 124 boxes of food. We also had an internal competition to encourage donations, and our property managers especially stepped up and gave generously.

Though the competition was fun, the real goal of this project is to give as much as possible to the Oregon Food Bank, which is the hub of a network of 935 hunger-relief agencies throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington.

The Oregon Food Bank is a busy organization in good times, but the recession has been especially tough on Oregonians. From 2008-2009, distribution of emergency food boxes increased more than 14 percent from the previous year, to a historic high of 897,000.

The number of people per month who ate meals from an emergency food box jumped from an average of 200,000 per month in 2007-08 to 240,000 per month in 2008-09.

Please consider supporting the food bank in your area!

Is Commercial Real Estate the Next Storm?

Has the commercial real estate market reached bottom? Or do we have yet to see the worst? This is the question Denis O'Neill, an NAI NBS broker who specializes in the sale of retail properties and land, addresses in a column in today's Daily Journal of Commerce.

Here's an excerpt:

Just when it appears we finally have some good economic news, many investors wonder if another financial storm is brewing. The residential market, if not at the bottom, appears close to it. Though the number of residential foreclosures and loans 90 days past due are still rising in 2010, and unemployment is holding steady, few experts see significant additional drops in residential values on the horizon.

So is commercial real estate the next shoe to drop?

Of the $3.4 trillion in commercial debt outstanding, a congressional oversight panel in February estimated that $1.4 trillion will reach maturity between now and 2014; up to 50 percent is held by local banks. Residential defaults led the way, particularly development loans. With plummeting values and no income stream, these loans were the first to be turned back to lenders. Banks’ problem loans are near-term and dwarf the $380 billion of commercial mortgage-backed securities debt that matures from 2015 to 2017. Furthermore, the vast majority of bank exposure to these securities is held by large banks. The big banks have demonstrated the ability to both raise equity and generate profits.

Click here for the full article.

New Report Says CRE Industry is Leveling Off

A recent survey of senior real estate executives suggests that the commercial real estate market is leveling off, but uncertainty remains about how the recovery will play out.

The Real Estate Roundtable’s quarterly “Sentiment Survey” for Second Quarter 2010 was released this week, and provided some hope that commercial real estate has reached bottom. It also said more capital is available, but is limited by markets and property types.

Our friends at NAI Global posted this summary:

Of the 100+ senior real estate executives participating in the Q2 survey, 82% characterized market conditions today as better than a year ago (up from 73% in Q1), although only 17% said conditions are “much better.” The “Current Conditions” index hit a low point of 17 in Q4 2008 (during the near-collapse of U.S. financial markets); rose to 56 in the final months of 2009; and now stands at 74.

“Clearly, the sense of gloom that prevailed a year ago has eased, property values no longer seem to be in a freefall, and market participants are feeling more confident,” said Roundtable President and CEO Jeffrey DeBoer. “But, while sentiment is up, that’s not to say things are ‘good.’ Refinancing remains difficult for many and defaults are still rising, which means more pain ahead.”

In a sign that values may be leveling off, only 28% of those polled perceived asset prices today as lower than they were a year ago, compared with 57% in the previous quarter. Correspondingly, 46% said valuations today are better than a year ago, compared with only 22% in Q1. Looking ahead, 56% expect valuations to be “somewhat higher” a year from now and 35% expect them to remain “about the same,” compared to 42% and 35%, respectively, in the previous survey.

In another important metric, the Q2 survey shows “signs of life” in the debt and capital markets, although numerous respondents qualified their statements by saying improved availability is limited to certain parts of the market or types of properties (e.g., with positive cash flows). Of the 65% who said debt capital is more available today than one year ago, 27% characterized availability as “much better.” By contrast, only 19% of Q1 survey participants felt conditions were “much better” than a year earlier.

On the equity side, 76% said availability is better than one year ago (with 26% characterizing it as “much better”). However, the number of respondents predicting conditions will be better “one year from today” declined from 75% in Q1 to 66% in Q2, with a corresponding increase in the number who expect equity availability to remain “about the same.”

What do you think? Is your market seeing signs of life?

Overall Portland Multifamily Vacancy Down in First Quarter; NAI NBS Adds New Properties to Report

Multifamily vacancy decreased more than half a percentage point to 4.82%. Downtown, however, saw a significant increase in vacancy. This increase resulted in the addition of new product; we added ten properties totaling more than 2,100 units to the report this quarter.

Our report tracks buildings of 100 units and above in the metro area; we consider smaller buildings in some submarkets if they lack many 100+ unit properties. This quarter we added the majority of downtown units that have come to market in the past 24 months, excluding three properties that are under construction or have very recently delivered: the Broadstone Enso, the Matisse, and Indigo 12 West.

With the additions to the report, downtown vacancy rose 5 percentage points to 10.15% and vacancy in new units came in at over 15%. The new units have impacted existing and historic downtown apartments by pushing down effective rents on existing units and creating a more competitive environment. Concessions like free rent and parking are thus being offered on new and seasoned units, and marketing has become considerably more aggressive. If the economy continues to recover, the downtown market could begin to stabilize by the end of 2010.

Market Trends
Apartment managers and investors report seeing a significant uptick in tenant traffic in the latter part of the quarter. This is a good sign but doesn’t necessarily indicate a recovery, which is contingent on two to three quarters of increased tenant traffic, a reduction in vacancy and increasing rental rates. The suburban markets have seen good absorption of new product, since there has definitely not been an oversupply, and submarkets like the Sunset Corridor, East County and the close-in eastside are truly tightening up.

The multifamily market is heavily dependent on the state of the local and national economy, and especially on the fragile job market. Considerable improvement in the job market should be reflected in quarter-over-quarter improvement in occupancy and rental rates. The bright spots locally are that companies like FedEx, Boeing, and Genentech continue to invest in the area. And despite challenges, Portland continues to grow. U-Haul pegged Portland’s growth rate at 10.16% (No. 3 in the country) for 2009, meaning the number of families renting U-Hauls to move to Portland was 10.16% higher than the number of families renting trucks to leave.

Portland Retail Market Vacancy Increases During First Quarter, But Some Positive Signs

The Portland area’s overall retail vacancy rose about half a percentage point to 8.0%, with negative 293,920 sf of absorption. Central City saw the greatest increase of 1.5% for a total vacancy of 11.7%, the highest of any submarket. Nearly 15,000 sf is currently available at One Main Place, and Pioneer Place has about 50,000 sf available. Vacancy also rose nearly a percentage point in the Southeast/East Clackamas and Eastside submarkets. Vancouver vacancy stayed steady at 10.5%, though 59,573 sf was absorbed at Columbia Square. The 93,000 sf Bowyer Marketplace WinCo store, at the corner of NE 119th Street and 117th Avenue, delivered this quarter.

Construction remains slow, with 24,499 sf under construction throughout the Metro area. 17,000 sf of this is a freestanding building at 13233 SE McLoughlin in the Southeast/East Clackamas submarket.

Noteworthy News
The national retail market is showing signs of a slow recovery. Consumer spending rose for the fifth straight month in February, by 0.3%, according to the Commerce Department. And the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) expects retailers to close fewer stores in 2010 than in 2009. But many retailers continue to face challenges, and Saks Fifth Avenue announced that it would close its two downtown Portland stores. It is rumored that Swedish retailer H&M will take over the 23,000 sf men’s store, and Saks will vacate the 60,000 sf main store by the end of July. Area officials are working to find a quality tenant for this space. In one bit of good news, Saks may open an Off Fifth store, which offers discounted designer clothing and accessories, at Bridgeport Village.

Though restaurants have been challenged during the recession, Portland’s restaurant scene has remained solid. Affordable, casual restaurants have generally fared better during the recession than their higher-priced counterparts, so many are focusing on this market. For instance, Foster Burger opened late last year in Southeast, and Little Big Burger is expected to open in Northwest this spring. Some of Portland’s popular food carts are even opening storefronts – Korean taco truck Koi Fusion, has opened a restaurant on NW Lovejoy. Some higher-end restaurants are also in the works – Lucier is expected to reopen in South Waterfront, and a group from San Francisco plans on opening a restaurant in the former Bay 13 space in the Pearl.

Specialty grocery stores have continued to do relatively well. The Whole Foods Market on NE 43rd and NE Sandy in Hollywood opened in January, and work has begun on the New Seasons Market on SE 40th and Hawthorne, which has long been delayed but is expected to open this fall.

Featured Deal: John’s Incredible Pizza Lease
John’s Incredible Pizza, a family entertainment restaurant with ten locations in California, is opening its 11th location in Portland. John’s leased 46,212 sf at the former Circuit City at Washington Green Shopping Center, 9180 SW Hall Boulevard, Tigard. John’s features a pizza, salad, soup, pasta and dessert buffet, as well as themed dining rooms and carnival-style rides and video and ticket-dispensing games. It’s expected to open in First Quarter 2011. NAI NBS Real Estate Broker J.J. Unger and NAI Capital Senior Vice President Irwin Hyman of Encino, California, represented the tenant.

Three NAI NBS Brokers Earn CCIM Designation

NAI NBS' Neville Bassett (Portland), Doug Bartocci (Vancouver), and Garret Harper (Vancouver) have obtained the Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) designation.

A CCIM is an invaluable resource to the commercial real estate owner, investor, and user, and is among an elite group of more than 9,000 professionals across North America and in 30 countries abroad. Only 6 percent of the estimated 150,000 commercial real estate practitioners nationwide hold the CCIM designation, an indication of one of the most coveted and respected designations in the industry.

To attain the CCIM designation, each broker completed four core courses, an ethics course and three elective credits, prepared a portfolio and passed a comprehensive exam.

PDX Industrial Market Looking Up in First Quarter

Industrial vacancy decreased slightly to 14.56%, with 118,458 sf absorbed. Vacancy in North/Northeast remained stable at 17.58%. Some large leases were signed in this submarket, including Owens Corning leasing 123,120 sf at Bybee Lake Logistics Center – Phase II. Ferrotec USA and Archive Systems also signed leases at Birtcher Center @ Townsend Way totaling 81,850 sf. Vacancy in Vancouver decreased about 1.5 percentage points, as 82,800 sf was leased up at Hart Industrial Center, bringing that property to 100% occupancy, and 40,267 sf was leased at Westside Business Center.

Flex vacancy rose nearly two percentage points to 18.01%, with 166,559 sf of newly available space coming back on the market. Much of this space can be accounted for by Intel, which vacated more than 100,000 sf at the Amberglen Business Center in moving back to its headquarters, pushing Southwest Sunset’s vacancy up more than two percentage points to 19.71%. Some positive absorption did occur, though. BiAmp Systems leased 50,963 sf at Nimbus Corporate Center in the Southwest 217 submarket, whose vacancy stayed fairly flat at 17.76%.

Market Trends
The industrial market showed continued signs of a slow but steady recovery during First Quarter. Vacancy in the Portland metro area, though still high, appears to have stopped rising, and construction and new deliveries have been so limited of late that the market isn’t burdened by oversupply. National economic indicators were looking up. Factory orders rose 1.7% in January, the largest increase in four months, with heightened demand for commercial aircraft, and industrial production rose 0.1% in February.

Manufacturers continue to invest in the Portland metro area. LaCrosse Footwear is moving production of Danner boots to a new 59,000 sf factory about a mile from its Northeast Portland headquarters, a facility twice the size of its current plant, which it is replacing. Production is expected to begin there in Third Quarter 2010. Boeing is also investing up to $120 million in upgrading its operation in Gresham, which will add 152 jobs in the next three years. It will build a new 60,000 sf facility on its 87-acre campus where it will treat metals used in making commercial aircraft.

NAI NBS Earns CoStar Power Broker Awards for Performance in 2009

NAI Norris, Beggs & Simpson made a strong showing in the 2009 CoStar Power Broker Awards.

For the fifth consecutive year, NAI NBS was named a top leasing and sales firm in the Portland metropolitan market.

CoStar said in an article about the awards:

"Given the extreme economic conditions in 2009, last year was one that many in the commercial real estate would just as soon like to forget. Every commercial real estate broker who managed to secure a lease or arrange a building sale during the year probably deserves an award.

The ones who excelled under those conditions and achieved the highest transaction volume in commercial property sales and leases last year in their respective markets are especially deserving of industry-wide recognition. Which is why CoStar is especially pleased to present the 2009 CoStar Power Broker Awards, singling out those who persevered and earned the right to be called one of the 'best of the best' in commercial real estate brokerage."

A number of NAI NBS brokers earned individual awards:

• Top Office Leasing Brokers: Jennifer Medak and John Medak
• Top Retail Leasing Brokers: Gina Barendrick and J.J. Unger
• Top Industrial Leasing Brokers: Michael Merino and Scott MacLean
• Top Sales Brokers: Chris Johnson, MaryKay West and Robert Black

Visit the Power Broker website for the entire list.

First Quarter 2010: Portland's Central City Office Vacancy Stable, Suburban Still Rising

Central City office vacancy remained stable this quarter at 11.99% (see vacancy comparison chart at right), with 54,312 sf absorbed. Some significant sales and leases occurred, especially in the Central Business District. The General Services Administration (GSA) signed four leases totaling more than 250,000 sf at First & Main, which delivered this quarter, and Alpha Broadcasting leased more than 25,000 sf at Pacwest Center. In one of the largest sales in recent months, KBS REIT II purchased One Main Place for $57 million, or about $180 per sf. American Pacific International Capital Inc. also purchased the office portion of the KOIN Center, reportedly for between $53 million and $60 million. Vacancy in Northwest fell more than a percentage point to 15.69%, as two tenants leased space at Machine Works, including the GSA in 19,431 sf.

Suburban office vacancy rose about a percentage point to 21.93%, with negative 142,240 sf absorbed. The Barbur Boulevard, Beaverton-Hillsdale/Sylvan and North/Northeast submarkets all saw vacancy rise at least two percentage points. Though vacancy in the Kruse Way submarket stayed relatively stable, this area saw some movement, including M & T Bank relocating from Kruse Woods I to about 20,000 sf in 4949 Meadows. A few submarkets had positive absorption, such as I-5 South, where vacancy decreased slightly and Pinnacle Mortgage Bankers leased 16,000 sf at Durham Office Center. Though a number of suburban buildings are totally empty, one will soon be fully occupied. The Oregon Institute of Technology is planning to purchase the 131,000 sf former headquarters of InFocus in Wilsonville, and consolidate its four Portland-area locations there. InFocus moved out of the building last fall to a smaller office in Tigard.

Vancouver vacancy fell nearly half a percentage point to 18.10%, with 42,644 sf absorbed. Vacancy in Class C space fell five percentage points to 14.57%, as 29,000 sf was leased up at the Former Red Lion Headquarters. Class A and B space also saw some significant absorption; Doug Williams and Associates and Richard James and Associates both signed leases at the Thurston 500 Building, totaling 12,583 sf.

Featured Deal: General Services Administration Leases

The General Services Administration (GSA) leased nearly 260,000 sf at First & Main at the west end of the Hawthorne Bridge. The GSA leases were the first for the building and took the office areas to 76% leased. The tenants were displaced by the redevelopment of the Edith Green-Wendell Wyatt Building and plan on taking occupancy in May. NAI NBS Vice President Jeff Borlaug, Executive Vice President Chris Johnson and Vice President MaryKay West represented First & Main’s owner, Shorenstein Realty Services.

John's Incredible Pizza Coming to Portland

John’s Incredible Pizza, a family entertainment restaurant with ten locations in California, has leased space in the Portland metro area to open its first restaurant in the Pacific Northwest.

John’s leased 46,212 sf at the former Circuit City at Washington Green Shopping Center, 9180 SW Hall Boulevard, Tigard, Oregon. NAI Norris, Beggs & Simpson Real Estate Broker J.J. Unger and NAI Capital Senior Vice President Irwin Hyman represented the tenant. Hyman, out of NAI Capital’s Encino office, represents John’s in California, and through the NAI Global network teamed up with Unger when the company wanted to expand into the Pacfic Northwest.

A multitude of big box spaces have become available in the last two years with the closures of chains like Circuit City, Linens ‘n Things and Joe’s Sports, Outdoors & More.

“Landlords can find interested tenants, but in this market it’s been a challenge putting together a deal that works for both parties, and most importantly, finding a tenant that’s a fit for the merchandising plan of the shopping center,” Unger said. “It is a great win for Portland to gain such a unique new tenant from out of the area.”

The restaurant is expected to open in the First Quarter of 2011 and will create about 110 full- and part-time jobs.

John’s chose Portland to expand because it saw the opportunity to fill a niche that’s traditionally been underserved for entertainment, Unger said. The restaurant also believes it will be a good fit because of the weather – rain or shine, it will give families an indoor entertainment option and be a venue with the capacity to cater to large corporate functions. Though the Portland location is John’s Incredible Pizza’s first foray out of California, it has plans for more.

“We are pleased to bring our family-focused restaurant and entertainment facility to Portland,” said John’s Incredible Pizza Owner and Founder John Parlet. “We have been eager to expand our concept outside of California and found the perfect site in Portland and are excited to become an integral part of the community.”

John’s Incredible Pizza offers an affordably-priced all-you-can-eat buffet. It serves pizza, including classic varieties and signature ones like spicy peanut butter, macaroni and cheese, and cheeseburger pizzas. It also has a full salad bar, soup, pasta, and dessert buffet. It has a number of themed dining rooms, and an array of rides and games, including carnival-style rides and video and ticket-dispensing games. John’s hosts birthday parties, business events, lock-ins and more.

NBS Celebrates 78th Anniversary Today

Today marks Norris, Beggs & Simpson's 78th anniversary. Here's a brief look at NBS' history.

NBS was founded in 1932 in Portland, Oregon, by A.D. Norris and George Beggs, and later joined by David B. Simpson. The company had a small office in the Wilcox Building, which still stands today at the corner of SW 6th Avenue and Washington Street in downtown Portland.

With the country mired in depression, few areas of the economy were left unscathed. Though the real estate industry suffered, Norris, Beggs & Simpson quickly became profitable by specializing in property management and acquiring many prominent families of the Pacific Northwest as clients.

New England Mutual Life Insurance Company of Boston played a key role in the early growth of Norris, Beggs & Simpson, by enlisting the company to manage a series of foreclosed properties in Portland and appointing the company as its mortgage loan correspondent in the area. Commercial and industrial brokerage services were also added to expand the company’s reach, and an emphasis was placed on involvement with major financial institutions.

NBS expanded into a full-service operation, and opened its Vancouver office in 1985 and Bellevue (now Seattle) office in 1988.

Today, NBS is the parent company of four different branches, including NAI NBS, which joined the NAI Global network in 1982. NBS has continued to grow and adapt to the changing times. Early this year, for instance, it joined with Susan Stratton, a local apartment executive, to found NBS Multifamily Management, a new apartment management company.

NAI Global Named Global Broker of the Year by PERE Magazine

NAI Global, one of the largest commercial real estate service providers worldwide, has been named Global Broker of the Year by Private Equity Real Estate (PERE) magazine in the PERE Awards 2009.

"Each year, the readers of PERE magazine and PERENews.com nominate and choose the firms, individuals and deals they believe stood out from the crowd the previous year," said Zoe Hughes, Senior Editor, Real Estate. "2009 was a year in which the private real estate investing world experienced a tremendous amount of turmoil, so to be selected in this year’s awards is a tremendous accolade from our readers and a vote of confidence in what lies ahead for NAI Global."

"This award is a testament to the quality and commitment of NAI Global and its professionals around the world in serving the private equity and financial sectors," said Jeffrey M. Finn, NAI Global President & CEO. "Looking ahead, we will continue to innovate and add value with focused service offerings like our Special Asset Solutions group or the Commercial Property PowerSale™ program, to deliver exceptional results for clients around the globe."

NAI NBS Takes Home Three CAR Awards

NAI Norris, Beggs & Simpson had a strong showing at the 2010 Commercial Association of Realtors (CAR) Awards Dinner last night at the Governor Hotel. The theme of the evening was “Building a Healthier Future,” and NAI NBS' Jeff Borlaug, the 2010 CAR President, emceed. NAI NBS' winners were:

-President Clayton Hering was named Co-Humanitarian of the Year. He is active in a number of charitable organizations, including the Oregon Symphony and Business for Culture and the Arts.
-Executive Vice President Chris Johnson was named Investment Broker of the Year.
-Associate Vice President Garret Harper (also NAI NBS' Top Producer of 2009) was named Industrial Broker of the Year.

We also had several runners up: Pam Lindloff for Retail Broker of the Year, Gina Barendrick for Rookie of the Year, and Jennifer Medak and John Medak for Office Broker of the Year. An insert in today's Portland Business Journal featured all of the winners and runners up.

CAR offers education, provides government advocacy and creates opportunities for commercial real estate professionals to connect and grow their business.

NBS Companies and Stratton Launch NBS Multifamily Management

Norris, Beggs & Simpson Companies and Susan Bowlsby Stratton, a successful apartment management executive, have joined forces to found NBS Multifamily Management, a company dedicated to managing apartment communities of 100 units or more around the West Coast.

Why start a new venture in this economic climate? NBS Companies President J. Clayton Hering said he expects that as the job market grows, the demand for housing will increase, with a short supply of single-family and multifamily housing due to the significant reduction in construction over the last several years. With single-family lenders requiring greater equity and better credit, fewer people will be able to buy houses and will thus reenter the apartment market.

“With increased market activity the necessity for professional, value-added multifamily management will rise, and NBS Multifamily Management will provide a quality of service to enable multifamily owners to be competitive,” Hering said.

NBS Multifamily Management expects to hire more than 100 people in the area to run and maintain the apartment communities it will manage.

Stratton, who has more than 20 years of multifamily management experience up and down the West Coast, will serve as President of the new company. Stratton spent 13 years at Harsch Investment Properties, most recently as Senior Vice President of Operations, where she was responsible for the company’s multifamily division and managed up to 5,500 units. A native Oregonian, she will receive her Executive MBA from Pepperdine University in March.

“I am so pleased to be joining NBS,” Stratton said. “My years of experience combined with NBS’ very successful property management track record will allow us to shine in the multifamily management industry.”

Cassandra Haavisto will serve as NBS Multifamily Management’s Regional Manager for the Puget Sound area. Haavisto’s industry experience spans 20 years; she has managed more than 13,000 units during her career and worked for major companies like Harsch Investment Properties and Trammell Crow.

NAI Global Launches Special Asset Solutions Group to Focus on Distressed CRE Portfolios

NAI Global has formed a Special Asset Solutions™ group to assist clients with financially distressed real estate assets and REO.

The new group concentrates NAI Global’s resources across multiple disciplines and markets to provide banks, financial institutions, special servicers and other holders of REO assets with the full spectrum of services an asset is likely to require throughout the ownership cycle. The group’s offerings include loan sales and restructurings, asset and property management, receivership, due diligence, valuation, leasing and disposition.

“With a large number of assets coming under their supervision over the next 12-24 months, lenders are having to adapt to a new role as de facto property owners,” notes NAI Global President & CEO Jeffrey M. Finn. “This realignment of our established service lines enables understaffed REO departments to focus on their core competencies while proactively dealing with their nonperforming loans and REO.”

NAI’s Special Asset Solutions™ team, led by Executive Vice President Rhyne Brown, works with the client to assess the physical asset, preserve and enhance the asset’s current value, mitigate risk and put a strategy in place to dispose of the property or loan. The team is supported by the local expertise of 5,000 professionals in over 325 NAI offices worldwide.

“While there are a variety of issues that must be addressed along the way, the ultimate goal for many of our clients is a successful disposition,” Brown says. NAI employs a variety of disposition methods, from traditional marketing to loan sale programs and accelerated marketing programs like the Commercial Property PowerSale™, NAI Global’s online property auction platform. NAI’s disposition expertise runs across all property types and ensures broad exposure to commercial real estate investors across the U.S. and worldwide.