Return to Virginia Business - September 2004

Commercial Real Estate Quarterly

Market Overview

Virginia Business
September 2004

Focus: Hampton Roads
The office market showed gradual improvement through the first half of 2004. Overall, vacancy rates are down slightly, but Peninsula properties showed dramatic improvement with the mid-year rate dropping from 16.7 percent to 12.7 percent. Net absorption (the change in the amount of occupied space over a period of time) remained moderate for the first half of 2004. Again, the Peninsula led the way in absorption with the largest lease transaction in the market: Northrop Grumman’s 101,000-square-foot lease at Hampton’s NetCenter. Overall, average rental rates were up for the region.

Highlights:
• Size of multi-tenant office market: nearly 22 million square feet
• Class A and B vacancy: 12.3 percent
• Under construction: 257,000 square feet

Return to Virginia Business - September 2004