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23Q3
Houston
Accelerating success.
Office Key Takeaways
Houston
23Q3
• Office vacancy rate increases 50 basis points
• Sublease space rises after recent decline
• Net absorption negative for first time in 2023
• Leasing volume drops
22.3% FORECAST
-1.0M SF FORECAST
1.6M SF FORECAST
$35.96/SF FORECAST
Houston Highlights
Houston’s office market posted negative net absorption of 1.0 million square feet during the third quarter, reversing the positive totals
from the first half of the year. This dropped net absorption to a negative 485,701 square feet year-to-date. The overall average vacancy rate
increased to 22.3% from 21.8% at both midyear and year-over-year. Leasing activity plunged 54.7% from second quarter, with only 1.7 million
square feet counted during the third quarter. Year-to-date activity totals 8.4 million square feet, with the Katy Freeway submarket accounting
for 29% of that total. Three other submarkets, The Woodlands, West Loop and CBD, each accounted for 10% to 12% of the total; the four
submarkets collectively represented 62% of the overall total. The under-construction pipeline remains limited at 1.6 million square feet as
proposed projects remain on hold, while five buildings totaling 329,170 square feet were delivered during the third quarter. Houston’s overall
average gross rental rates nudged up to $30.06 from the previous quarter’s $29.87 but declined from the same period last year. Houston’s
Class A average rental rate increased to $35.96 per square foot from $35.46 in Q2 2023.
crude 500,000
15.0%
Historic Comparison 0
10.0%
(500,000)
Net Absorption
(484.2) 225.1 (1,005.4)
(in Thousands of SF)
Net absorption reversed a positive course during third quarter
Overall Vacancy 21.8% 21.8% 22.3% to offset the gains made in the first half of the year for negative
absorption year-to-date. New supply has been limited but popular
for those seeking quality space while overall leasing activity
Under
experienced a slowdown.
Construction 1,996.5 1,905.7 1,576.5
(in Thousands of SF)
The overall vacancy rate increased and will likely continue rising
Overall Asking within the next year as tenants occupy their new downsized
$30.25 $29.87 $30.06 offices and leave larger former spaces vacant.
Lease Rates (FSG)
Recent Transactions
*Colliers Transaction
23Q3
Commentary
By Ray Lopez, Vice President, Office
In the third quarter of 2023, the Houston office market especially within the Central Business District. One example is
continued to grapple with various challenges amid positive the latest lease announcement by NRG Energy, which is taking
emerging signs. Consolidations have affected the sublease 245,000 square feet in Houston Center but will be leaving
market throughout the last year, although there were behind more than 478,000 square feet at 910 Louisiana.
improving signs prior to the third quarter when the total
increased to 6.7 million square feet. National Oilwell Varco Companies searching for office space should consider that
added about 337,000 square feet of sublease space from high-demand properties may not offer the same incentives as
several buildings in the firm’s Parkwood campus as they struggling ones. The flight-to-quality trend is a constant factor
consolidated into Millennium Tower. in Houston, as newer office properties continue to perform
well while older buildings struggle to attract tenants despite
Sublease options do offer tenants a valuable alternative to potential cost savings. Properties built after 2015 collectively
direct spaces and oftentimes prevent direct-space landlords report an 11.1% availability compared to properties built
from aggressively raising rents. But there is concern that before 2015, which report availability of 27.1%, much closer to
tenants consolidating their offices will be adding more space the overall Houston availability average of 25.6%.
to the market, which already boasts one of the highest vacancy
rates in the country. Landlords are motivated to strike deals, but their ability to
provide tenant incentives such as improvement packages and
Put into perspective, sublease availability is down from 7.2 rent abatements can be constrained by underlying building
million square feet a year ago and is not close to reaching loans or financial limitations, especially considering today’s
the record 10 million-square-foot levels seen in 2016. But challenging economic conditions. Soaring taxes and insurance
there are currently 11 sublease blocks greater than 100,000 costs are also boosting operating expenses dramatically, and
square feet available. There has been limited leasing activity tenants should be aware of a landlord’s possible limitations
in both this year and in 2022, when Enbridge signed its when negotiating lease terms.
257,800-squarefoot deal at 915 N. Eldridge.
While the Houston office market is evolving in response to
Reductions, flight-to-quality and economic challenges changing work patterns and economic conditions, companies
and landlords must remain flexible and adaptive to navigate
The current workplace remains a hybrid of remote work and the market conditions successfully.
in-office presence. The return-to-office trend has stabilized at
60% for Houston, which is the highest percentage of all cities The Houston office market’s bright spot has been its job
cited in the Kastle Index. growth, with a record 176,000 jobs added in 2022. As
companies continue to adapt to changing office footprints and
Another trend in Houston is the continued reduction of return-to-office criteria, we anticipate future softening and
tenants’ footprints as they determine their space needs, then a gradual and steady improvement in the office market.
23Q3
Top Performing Office Buildings
Net Absorption
Year Built/ Net Absorption Available
Building Submarket RBA Renovated (SF) % Leased (SF)
Energy Center Katy Freeway 306,721 2008 137,734 92.3% 35,944
CityWestPlace Bldg 2 Katy Freeway 443,551 1993 86,957 100.0% 43,598
Phoenix Tower at
Greenway Plaza 630,594 1984 71,903 82.9% 122,478
Greenway Plaza
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
CBD 1,656,529 1981 37,445 84.4% 299,543
Tower
Three Memorial City Plaza Katy Freeway 327,982 1998 33,541 98.2% 16,331
Wells Fargo Plaza CBD 1,721,242 1982 30,620 74.0% 519,879
Sugar Creek Tower II E Fort Bend/Sugar Land 206,732 2009 27,517 70.9% 79,572
2023 2024
9753 Katy Fwy TMC Collaborative Bldg Axiom HQ
Katy Freeway Old Spanish Trl 13200 Space
December 2023 South Main/Medical Center Center Blvd
188,553 SF December 2023 NASA/Clear Lake
MetroNational 250,000 SF December 2023
Corporation Texas Medical Center 400,000 SF
23Q3
Market Statistics
Total Direct Sublease Total Previous Net Net Avg Direct
Submarket/ Inventory Availability Availability Availability Vacancy Vacancy Absorption Absorption Under Deliveries Asking Rate
Class SF Rate Rate Rate Rate Rate Current YTD Construction YTD (FSG)
CBD
A 35,760,129 25.9% 3.3% 29.0% 24.5% 24.0% (155,003) (90,031) 386,323 0 $46.25
B 7,164,895 37.3% 2.1% 39.4% 34.8% 33.0% (124,404) (41,786) 0 0 $31.82
C 593,730 6.6% 0.0% 6.6% 14.2% 14.2% 0 (784) 0 0 $0.00
TOTAL 43,518,754 27.7% 3.1% 30.7% 26.0% 24.3% (279,407) (132,601) 386,323 0 $43.12
Suburban
A 103,557,478 24.3% 4.1% 28.0% 23.8% 24.6% (403,744) 20,961 945,331 101,000 $31.22
B 79,292,895 20.4% 1.5% 21.8% 20.6% 20.2% (411,955) (450,214) 244,843 504,018 $21.12
TOTAL 193,829,251 21.8% 2.8% 24.4% 21.5% 22.1% (726,035) (353,100) 1,190,174 585,018 $26.90
Houston Total
A 139,317,607 24.8% 3.9% 28.4% 23.9% 24.1% (558,747) (69,070) 1,331,654 101,000 $35.66
B 86,457,790 21.8% 1.5% 23.3% 21.7% 20.9% (536,359) (492,000) 244,843 504,018 $25.02
TOTAL 237,348,005 22.9% 2.8% 25.6% 22.3% 22.1% (1,005,442) (485,701) 1,576,497 585,018 $30.06
Submarkets by Class
Total Direct Sublease Total Previous Net Net Avg Direct
Submarket/ Inventory Availability Availability Availability Vacancy Vacancy Absorption Absorption Under Deliveries Asking Rate
Class SF Rate Rate Rate Rate Rate Current YTD Construction YTD (FSG)
TOTAL 6,082,014 13.7% 1.0% 14.6% 13.6% 12.3% 622 (18,720) 0 0 $32.70
Baytown
TOTAL 143,551 19.6% 0.0% 19.6% 19.6% 27.0% 10,513 4,290 0 0 $24.54
Bellaire
TOTAL 3,078,270 19.1% 5.2% 24.3% 21.9% 21.2% 2,260 (90,070) 0 0 $24.28
23Q3
Submarkets by Class (continued)
FM 1960
TOTAL 9,302,226 27.4% 5.4% 32.9% 20.8% 18.5% (80,333) (167,711) 0 0 $18.87
Greenway Plaza
TOTAL 10,713,055 24.5% 1.7% 26.2% 23.0% 22.4% 70,343 80,425 0 0 $34.34
Gulf Freeway/Pasadena
A 387,893 34.3% 0.0% 34.3% 34.3% 25.8% 41,876 24,520 0 101,000 $26.53
B 3,120,349 14.0% 1.3% 15.3% 18.0% 15.1% (38,524) (43,153) 100,000 60,000 $22.96
TOTAL 4,557,626 14.8% 0.9% 15.7% 15.8% 11.6% 3,702 (8,077) 100,000 161,000 $23.08
I-10 East
TOTAL 607,287 17.5% 0.0% 17.5% 17.7% 16.4% 3,457 18,265 0 0 $22.67
Katy Freeway
A 23,394,148 19.7% 4.3% 22.6% 20.5% 18.7% (408,878) (186,877) 355,694 0 $30.73
TOTAL 34,786,010 21.1% 3.1% 23.2% 19.9% 18.1% (502,127) (189,334) 355,694 0 $26.71
B 998,398 2.9% 0.0% 2.9% 2.0% 1.4% 16,730 26,369 0 23,170 $24.72
TOTAL 2,750,059 8.6% 8.6% 17.2% 6.8% 6.3% 12,924 55,787 0 23,170 $28.34
Kingwood/Humble
TOTAL 1,425,244 8.1% 0.0% 8.1% 7.7% 7.6% (1,245) 8,653 0 0 $21.26
NASA/Clear Lake
A 1,974,761 16.7% 1.5% 18.2% 14.6% 15.1% 9,379 15,748 400,000 0 $27.32
B 2,791,126 7.2% 1.6% 8.8% 7.8% 7.8% 112,875 207,412 27,000 231,000 $23.98
TOTAL 5,229,311 12.7% 1.6% 14.3% 10.8% 10.3% 113,835 224,770 427,000 231,000 $26.50
North Belt/Greenspoint
TOTAL 12,234,752 36.9% 1.5% 38.4% 40.8% 40.0% 18,849 120,024 0 0 $17.86
23Q3
Submarkets by Class (continued)
TOTAL 950,518 4.3% 0.0% 4.3% 4.3% 0.4% 275 (8,191) 0 0 $22.19
Northwest and Northwest Outlier
A 1,955,916 27.0% 4.7% 31.8% 27.1% 26.3% (15,483) 60,430 0 0 $24.01
B 6,587,063 14.8% 0.6% 15.4% 12.6% 13.2% 38,052 131,235 0 121,848 $18.40
Richmond/Fountainview
TOTAL 1,080,058 13.6% 0.0% 13.6% 13.4% 10.0% (18,902) (13,964) 0 0 $16.98
San Felipe/Voss
TOTAL 5,258,752 30.5% 0.0% 31.7% 30.3% 29.9% (19,684) (108,699) 0 0 $30.29
South
B 325,964 9.7% 2.5% 12.2% 6.0% 8.6% 8,262 7,964 0 0 $25.66
C 135,387 8.0% 0.0% 8.0% 8.0% 8.0% 0 0 0 0 $20.00
TOTAL 461,351 9.2% 1.7% 10.9% 6.6% 7.6% 8,262 7,964 0 0 $24.48
TOTAL 1,232,152 12.7% 0.6% 13.3% 9.7% 7.2% (2,744) (9,266) 37,300 0 $20.29
Southeast
B 1,801,646 0.6% 0.0% 0.6% 0.5% 1.3% 15,413 14,335 0 0 $17.73
C 322,220 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0 0 0 0 $0.00
TOTAL 2,123,866 0.5% 0.0% 0.5% 0.4% 1.2% 15,413 14,335 0 0 $17.73
Southwest
A 1,334,274 22.3% 2.8% 25.0% 24.7% 24.8% 1,518 (13,539) 157,437 0 $18.96
TOTAL 8,604,139 15.1% 4.4% 19.5% 18.1% 13.3% (352,897) (381,792) 157,437 0 $19.50
B 652,479 6.7% 0.0% 6.7% 3.3% 1.0% (15,010) (21,243) 23,800 0 $23.75
TOTAL 1,434,562 8.4% 0.0% 8.4% 3.0% 1.9% (15,010) (21,243) 56,000 0 $23.75
The Woodlands
TOTAL 17,734,944 12.4% 3.1% 15.4% 14.4% 14.0% (62,753) 224,623 56,743 48,000 $30.18
23Q3
Submarkets by Class (continued)
West Belt
TOTAL 6,163,835 27.9% 5.2% 32.7% 25.9% 17.8% 22,399 95,342 0 0 $26.75
West Loop/Galleria
TOTAL 23,588,441 29.7% 2.5% 32.2% 29.0% 28.8% 26,150 (178,827) 0 0 $33.93
Westchase
B 7,060,544 28.5% 3.1% 31.5% 29.0% 28.9% 4,094 (66,650) 0 20,000 $19.83
TOTAL 17,869,805 26.7% 4.0% 30.7% 27.1% 25.9% 1,840 (213,278) 0 20,000 $26.82
Submarket Map
Northeast
Outlier
1. CBD
2. Northwest
3. Allen Parkway
(Midtown)
4. Greenway Plaza Northwest
Kingwood/Humble
Outlier
5. West Loop/ Galleria
6. San Felipe/ Voss
7. Richmond/
Fountainview
8. Southwest/ Hillcroft
9. Westchase
Northeast
10. Southwest
Outlier
11. Bellaire
12. South Main/
Medical Center
13. Katy Freeway
Gulf Freeway/
14. FM 1960 Pasadena
15. West Belt
16. North Belt
6 continents
+1 713 830 2125
patsy.fretwell@colliers.com
Danny Rice
President
United States: 156 Houston
Canada: 45 +1 713 830 2134
Latin America: 20 danny.rice@colliers.com
Asia Pacific: 99
William Uhalt
EMEA: 112 Research Manager
Houston
+1 713 830 2137
william.uhalt@colliers.com
Contributor:
Ray Lopez
Vice President
$4.5B Houston
+1 713 830 2116
in revenue
ray.lopez@colliers.com
18,000 +
been made to ensure its accuracy, we cannot guarantee it. No
responsibility is assumed for any inaccuracies. Readers are
encouraged to consult their professional advisors prior to acting
on any of the material contained in this report.
professionals and staff
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