Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Hot prospects in store for real estate in 2015

If forecasts are considered, 2015 bodes well for most areas of real estate.

Riding on the strength of an economy steadily recuperating from a disastrous fall in 2008, commercial construction across the U.S. will continue its moderate but certain growth as vacancy rates drop substantially. 
According to Forbes.com's Bill Conerly, spending on warehouse, office spaces, and other non-residential properties has shot up 10 percent and office construction increased 17 percent.  Consequently, office vacancy decreased by 16 percent.  Likewise, hotels have enjoyed higher occupancy rates than the previous year.  The forecast is indeed rosy, insofar as demand and revenues are concerned.  

Image Source: ais1.com
Glad tidings also await residential realtors.  The economic recovery trickles down to the housing market.  Not only big housing markets like Dallas and Los Angeles are benefiting from the upswing, but also mid-sized cities and upcoming markets like Des Moines, Minneapolis, and Phoenix, and even formerly worst-hit markets like Atlanta. 

The better news is that the strength displayed by these cities is not merely built on a house of cards:  most of these cities have gained enough traction to witness further growth in the next five years.  Realtor.com presents a list of hot housing markets to dominate the industry in the coming year. 

Image Source: incomepropertyusa.com
Meanwhile, on the global real estate front, many parts of Europe are beginning to pick up the pace as they gradually recover from political and economic uncertainty in the last few years. 

UK-based real estate consultancy firm Knight Frank notes a growing demand in luxury properties in that side of the world.  Forbes has now touted previously troubled cities like Dublin, Rome, and Madrid as rising stars in top-tier real estate.  Meanwhile, newly developed neighborhoods in mega-cities like London, Geneva, and Paris are also on the rise. 

Besides managing his renewable energy business, Carl Rheuban is a property consultant with decades of experience in real estate. Subscribe to this blog and be informed about the trends shaping the real estate industry.