DFW Office Market Hit Rough Waters In Second Quarter

Demand for Dallas-Fort Worth office space plummeted in the second quarter of 2020 as the coronavirus pandemic delayed move-ins, and sublease listings rose.

CBRE reported these findings in its Q2 office report, which also said net absorption in Dallas-Fort Worth was negative 639K SF in Q2, an indicator that vacancies rose.

The area's falling absorption level was driven in part by companies delaying planned move-ins to later dates. Some of the decline is driven by a more long-term possible hit to office demand. Economic conditions worsened as unemployment nationwide reached more than 15%, causing the entire economy to contract by as much as 30% on an annual basis in the second quarter, CBRE said.

The DFW area alone lost 226,800 non-farm jobs for the 12-month period ending May 2020, a 6% drop from a year ago, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported.

It's the second quarter in a row of negative net absorption, CBRE said. The second-quarter drop in absorption is attributed in part to two large sublease vacancies that made up roughly 45% of total net absorption during the period. Most of the negative direct net absorption came from Class-B offices.

The market's vacancy rate increased to 21.8% while the average asking price came in at $26.28.

The disruption in office will last for years to come, a new research report from JLL predicts. JLL analysts expect demand for flexible leases and office space will expand as companies continue to adjust to more remote and stay-at-home workforces.

JLL predicts 30% of all office space used will be flexible space of some type 10 years from now.

"While there are short, medium and long term implications of COVID-19 on the sector, the future of real estate is a spectrum of flexible spaces," JLL wrote in its report.

Continue reading this story with a free account

Log in or register
Sign up for more articles like this
Subscribe to Bisnow's Dallas-Fort Worth Newsletters
Related Stories

1,300 Projects Potentially Paused Due To Suspension Of Quality Inspectors

Republican Midterm Convention Could Fill More Than 5,000 Hotel Rooms In Dallas

Walker & Dunlop On Why The Housing Market Is More Balanced Than It Appears

Y'all Street Powers Trophy Office Momentum In Uptown Dallas

California Duo's Ponzi-Like Investment Scheme Unravels With Bankruptcy, SEC Charges

Prominent Philly Caterer Sues Town Officials Over Vineyard Plans In Bucks County

Houston Firm Hires Former Floor & Decor Exec As President Of New Offering

Deutsche Finance Alleges BVK Is Responsible For CRE Portfolio Losing $1B In New Lawsuit

'This Is A Big Change For Me': Leslie Cohen Launching New Company After Leaving Davis Cos.

Selerix Insurance Services To Nearly Double Its HQ Size With Plano Lease: The DFW Deal Sheet

4 Asset Classes Post $4.6B In New Distress

Feds Raid North Texas-Based Contractor As Part Of HUD Investigation