SIMON SELLS

Cushman & Wakefield's Simon Butler tells us his Boston multifamily investment sales team, which includes Biria St. John,Michael Byrne, John McLaughlin, and the pretty sweet view that we snapped above, has been busy throughout the downturn. But what a difference a recovery makes. In September '09, he sold the Avalon at Faxon Park in Quincy for $159k/unit, which amounted to a 6.8% cap rate. In January, he sold the Reserve at Marina Bay in Quincy for $256/unit, a 4.9% cap rate. Rents are rising, confidence is returning, and institutional buyers have come back to the market. He tells us that buyers are willing to accept lower yields, 4% to 5% now compared to 7% for Class-A suburban multifamily in '09.
As the newest member of the team, John's seeing a new trend in ?11. Land is selling again, as developers plan to build. They're zeroing in on urban locations near downtowns and the better bedroom suburbs. New buyers coming into the Boston market include: REITs like UDR from Denver, pension funds like CBRE Investors, and new private players like Dawn Homes of Albany and Acumen Real Estate from Miami. Pre-recession, buyers werelooking throughout the region. Today, buyers are more urban focused, and some like Equity Residential are shedding apartments in outlying locations such as Manchester, NH and buying in Boston.

Continue reading this story with a free account

Log in or register
Sign up for more articles like this
Subscribe to Bisnow's Boston Newsletters
Related Stories

Law Firms Drive Boston Office Rents To Record Highs

Rates, Rents And AI Risks: Peter Linneman's Warning For CRE

After Years Of Rising Vacancy, Kendall Square Starts To Gain Momentum From AI

Delaware Statutory Trust Fundraising Jumps 27% From 2025

How UK Investment Giant L&G Plans To Grow Its U.S. Multifamily Holdings

Cambridge Residential Tower Secures $522M Loan: The Boston Deal Sheet

CRE Finance Sentiment Index Falls To 3-Year Low As Economic Fears Mount

RN3 Enters Dutch Logistics Market With DHL Sale-Leaseback Deal

Healey Nominates New Opportunity Zones, Targeting Sites Of Major Projects

Greystar Secures 100K SF Tenant At Somerville Lab Building

IQHQ Lands $245M Loan From Cannabis REIT For Cambridge Lab Campus

KKR's Chris Lee On Finding Opportunities As CRE Begins A 'Regime Change'