No matter how anyone tries to spin it, we are already in a recession. The U.S. GDP shrunk in Q2 by -0.9%, marking the second consecutive quarter it contracted. That isn’t just an “indication” of a potential recession- it’s the technical definition of one. Inflation remains out of control, rising another 8.3% in August 2022. The New York City commercial real estate market will not be immune to any of this.
While the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) hasn’t “officially” declared a recession yet and considers measures such as personal income and unemployment, let’s stop lying to ourselves. It’s here and will worsen as the Fed keeps raising rates.
After all, the Fed just hiked rates another 75 basis points for the third consecutive time.
The New York City commercial real estate market, especially concerning Manhattan office space, has had an uneven recovery since COVID. A recession could have numerous impacts, both on a macro level and micro level.
The first thing to consider is surging shelter costs and their impact. Then it’s crucial to see how history could repeat itself by finding parallels between 2022 and the previous two recessions in 2008 and 2020.
Surging Shelter Costs Affect Real Estate Well Beyond Residential
Particular stakeholders desperate for election wins in about seven weeks want to spin the current inflationary landscape as cooling. On the surface, they’re right. The 8.3% inflation rate in August 2022 eased for a second straight month and marked the lowest CPI reading in 4 months.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
But no, it’s not easing and remains out of control.
Forget that inflation came in higher than market forecasts of 8.1%. You have to look at core inflation. Core inflation, which excludes food and energy costs, rose 6.3% in August. This figure is considerably hotter than July’s 5.9% increase.
To see how this could affect New York City commercial real estate, understand the widespread consequences of surging shelter costs. Shelter costs are traditionally associated with residential real estate. However, accounting for roughly 40% of core inflation’s increase inevitably impacts commercial real estate. Notably, it affects both New York City office space tenants and landlords. That’s because shelter costs, according to Law Insider, include
- Mortgage payments
- Property insurance (if required)
- Homeowner association dues
- Rent
- Gas
- Electricity
- Heating fuel
- Water
- Sewer
- Garbage collection service
- Real property taxes
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Shelter costs are likely nowhere near cooling, either. For instance, n January, the Dallas Fed predicted shelter cost inflation to peak at around 7%.
We will see what happens when September’s CPI numbers come in on October 13. But in all likelihood, inflation will continue hovering around 8%. It will be interesting to see how shelter costs contribute.
Inflation- Benefits Borrowers, Harms Lenders
Another consideration regarding high inflation is that it benefits borrowers and harms lenders. As borrowers and lenders are the foundation of the real estate industry, the implications of persistently high inflation could be consequential.
We may have already reached peak inflation. However, costs related to leasing or managing office space in NYC show no sign of cooling. The Fed has shown no interest in stopping its hike rampage, and rates are poised to continue rising well into 2023. Yet mortgage rates, while as high as they’ve been since the financial crisis, remain below the annual inflation rate. As of September 23, 2022, commercial mortgage rates stood at 5.57%. This mortgage vs. inflation imbalance could cause people to rush in and get a mortgage before rates further increase.
History Poised to Repeat Itself?
We’re on the brink of a nasty recession and likely already in one. To see how a 2022-2023 recession could impact New York City commercial real estate, you must look for resemblances in the 2008 and 2020 recessions.
While both recessions were different in their cause and effects, they had a similar impact on businesses going under, unemployment, and Manhattan commercial real estate occupancy rates and prices.
The 2008 Financial Crisis
NYC was not as impacted by the housing bubble and subsequent financial crisis in 2008. Yet while trouble began with housing bubbles popping in markets like Miami and Las Vegas, the situation soon spread to New York City’s financial and commercial real estate sector.
In other words, the financial sector triggered the entire market’s descent. Many of New York City’s largest banks were stuck with more debt than they could handle thanks to subprime mortgages and didn’t survive. Names like Bear Stearns and Lehman Brothers may ring a bell.
The city’s private sector also lost about 100,000 jobs, and New York City commercial real estate plunged. Prices for commercial real estate, mainly commercial office space, went down across the board. Midtown’s Class A office vacancy rate rose above 12% and nearly doubled from the previous year. Construction also halted as mortgage rates rose to 6.03%.
Remember- as of September 23, 2022, commercial mortgage rates ticked even closer to this figure at 5.57%.
We might not be approaching a financial meltdown as bad as the financial crisis. However, there are concerning parallels. To put it in perspective, the worst of the financial crisis also witnessed
- New York City commercial real estate transactions plunge 61%.
- Sales for all of 2008 not even exceeding the volume of Q1 2007 sales.
- Banks refusing to lend.
- SL Green, the biggest Manhattan office space landlord, losing 65% of its market value.
- A standoff between sellers and buyers
Unemployment and the New York City commercial real estate market are stronger than in 2008. Bank regulations are also tighter, and they are less reckless with lending. But the market could considerably slow if things keep up the way they are.
The 2020 COVID Pandemic
The Covid-19 pandemic caused real estate sectors like office and retail to grind to a halt.
Articles like “New York City is dead forever” were picked up by the New York Post because New York City was a ghost town. Not even the financial crisis caused the city to be this empty. Midtown Manhattan looked deserted, while prime office real estate like the Time Life building sat 90% vacant. Employees, if they weren’t part of New York’s record-high 16.50% unemployment rate, all worked from home.
Commercial landlords adjusted their business models. The situation resulted in many office closures, relocations, and downsizing. Many office buildings sat vacant, and landlords became desperate to fill them. Some properties converted to luxury condos. Some life sciences companies even repurposed empty office spaces into lab spaces.
Many prime occupiers of Manhattan retail space, like Brooks Brothers, JCPenney, Neiman Marcus, or J.Crew, filed for bankruptcy.
While it’s unlikely, we’ll ever go through a sudden economic shock like COVID-19 again, never say never. History could repeat itself with a slowdown or evolution in the Manhattan office space market. Many office tenants in NYC could continue to shift priorities based on the economic climate and their business needs.
An Odd Market Better Positioned Than 2008
2020’s freeze in New York City commercial real estate, followed by 0% interest rates and a frenzied flight to quality, has eerie similarities to the 2007 boom period preceding the financial crisis. Manhattan office leasing, after all, nearly doubled in July 2022.
But 2022 is an odd market. On the one hand, rising rates sideline potential buyers and deals. On the other hand, many lenders rush to get a mortgage before rates further increase.
Furthermore, there is a drastic difference between demand and activity for Modern Class A offices and older Class B and C offices. While Class B and C office space in NYC continues to struggle, Modern Class A is flourishing. According to CBRE, by 2021, the Class A Manhattan office market exceeded pre-pandemic figures. $100/square foot deals increased 114% year-over-year and stood 18% above the five-year historical average.
Source: https://www.brookfield.com/insights/office-update-flight-quality-underway
Ariel Property Advisors’ research also reveals that demand for New York City office buildings remains robust. It rose in H1 2022 with $4.7 billion trading, up 11% from H2 2021 and 353% from H1 2021.
Source: https://arielpa.com/report/report-APA-Manhattan-mid2022-Sales-Report
Where Does Commercial Real Estate in New York Go From Here?
While imbalanced, New York City’s economy and real estate market is in better shape than before the last two recessions. The labor market remains strong and continues to evolve. Maintaining hybrid work models could keep Class A office demand stable. Startups or small businesses will always want cheap office space in NYC, especially during an economic downturn.
Furthermore, commercial tenants can benefit from high inflation. Although commercial lease terms are shrinking, they are still longer than residential leases. Some Manhattan office leases are as long as ten years, with many including a fixed annual increase between 2% and 3%.
When inflation is higher, rental costs can decrease as a proportion of a business’s total revenue.
Once inflation cools and the recession worsens, office space rental prices will fall, vacancy rates will rise, and unemployment will increase. Yet, it will undoubtedly create a buyers market and potential deals for business tenants. Perhaps it will also cause many tenants to look at downsizing, just as they did during the pandemic.
The best thing you can do to prepare for this recession is to explore the market to understand your commercial real estate options. Make sure you know what questions to ask before leasing NYC office space.
An NYC commercial broker that’s been through recessions can help you navigate treacherous waters. Fortunately, the seas in 2022 might not be as choppy as they were in 2008 and 2020.
