The demand for industrial space from tenants in the third quarter showed a continuous decline, with the Orange County Industrial Market experiencing a negative net absorption of 848,736 square feet. This negative absorption is the most significant since the first quarter of 2019. Furthermore, it marks the third consecutive quarter of contraction, resulting in a total negative absorption of 1.8 million square feet for the year. Countywide, the vacancy rate increased by 40 basis points, reaching 3%, the highest it has been in the past 10 quarters.
Despite these challenging trends, the average rent for industrial spaces has seen an 11% year-over-year increase. However, Lee & Associates' agents have observed a growing trend of landlords offering concessions on new lease agreements and lease renewals. This shift in landlord behavior suggests that they are becoming more attuned to the weakening demand in the market.
While it may appear that leasing activity is on the decline, the industrial real estate market remains active. There is a notable presence of prospective buyer-users who remain undeterred by the rising interest rates. This indicates that even with the challenges posed by increased vacancies and negative net absorption, there is still considerable interest and activity in the market from those looking to purchase and utilize industrial spaces, especially in Orange County.
