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Tips for Promoting Your Commercial Real Estate Business on Social Media

Posted on July 22, 2019 by Mike Kushner in Blog, Commercial Real Estate No Comments

Businesses in every industry have turned to social media as a marketing tool to share information, grow their band and cultivate an audience. While in many cases, this has proven successful, there are plenty of businesses who miss the mark, and wind up disappointed when their social media strategy fails to deliver its intended results.

For commercial real estate professionals, social media can be a highly valuable tool, but only when used correctly – and consistently. Take a look as we discuss five important points for using social media to promote your commercial real estate business – or any business.

Brand yourself as a thought leader.

We all have to start somewhere. The same is true for building your online brand. Who are you going to be? Your content, and how you share it, will have a profound impact on the answer to this question. In business, I would think most of us want to be branded as a thought leader in our industry. In commercial real estate, you can achieve this by sharing expertise on technical topics, offer an analysis of data and trends, and partake in thought-provoking discussion. One of the most powerful platforms for this is Linkedin. Here, you can use your profile to reinforce your personal brand, you can share content through regular posting, and you can spark discussion in groups.

Make your content unique.

A staggering amount of content hits the internet each and every second. What’s going to make people stop and read yours? If you’re asking for someone to take time out of their day to read your words, it’s important to make them at least one, if not all four of these things: timely, importantly, relevant and interesting. For some added input, we asked John Webster, Owner of The John Webster Company and digital marketing expert.

“There is a lot of ‘noise’ on social media so your content needs to stand out,” explains John. “When sharing information about available properties do not simply inform about the property (everyone does that) take an additional minute to describe something special about the property, who would be a good fit for the property and why this specific property caught your eye.”

Be responsive and engaging.

If you want to create a true “audience” for your business’s content on social media, you need to remain present. This means you need to check in regularly on your posts to monitor comments, and respond. People appreciate and remember a personal response. This also increase the reach of your content. Sure, it make take 15 minutes out of your day to diligently login to your various social media accounts to monitor content, and engage with other people’s content, but make it a point to do this habitually, and it will pay off greatly as you cultivate an active audience.

Share the spotlight.

Once you build a valuable platform for sharing content, whether this is on your website, blog, Linkedin, Twitter, etc., you should consider sharing the spotlight every so often with other professionals who have an interesting perspective to share. Omni Realty often features guest Q&A blogs that expand our area of expertise while growing relationships with other respected professionals. When sharing the spotlight, this also opens up the door for others to do the same. My blogs are often published by TheBrokerList, and shared on their social media, which greatly amplifies their reach.

Build relationships with media.

Most people view the media as a tool, or approach outlets in a very self-serving manner. While, yes, at the end of the day promotion is an objective, you must also work to forge trust, respect, and even friendship with reporters and editors. Omni Realty has received a lot of earned media by approaching local media outlets in this manner. Through relationships with reporters, I’ve had 25+ articles featured in the Central Penn Business Journal, and none of it was paid placement.

Whether it’s a commercial real estate business, or any business that you’re trying to promote on social media, the most important thing to keep in mind is that your content creates your brand. What you share, how often, and how you engage with your audience, will leave a lasting impact and frame how people view both you and your business.

How have you found success when promoting your business on social media? Share a tip or personal story by leaving a comment below.

Power Landlords Part II: Who Owns the Most Industrial Space in Central PA?

Posted on July 8, 2019 by Mike Kushner in Blog, Industrial, Local Market No Comments

You might think that Central Pennsylvania is defined by its natural resources or agriculture, or maybe you don’t think we’re known for much of anything. The truth is that there is a lot this region brings to the economy with our industrial market being one of the country’s top core industrial markets.

If this surprises you, consider the following. This particular region is well positioned along the nationally-recognized I-81 transportation corridor with immediate connections to I-78, I-76, I-83 and I-80, as well as immediate access to major deep-water ports at New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia and Baltimore. With our ability to provide manufacturers and distributors access to nearly 70% of the total consumer markets in North America within one day’s drive, the region has benefitted from significant demand, especially most recently with the emergence of the e-commerce which promises customers even faster ship times.

Additionally, nearly 8 million square feet of new Class A regional and super regional distribution facilities are under construction. Even with this much new space entering the market, vacancy rates remain right around 5% which is well below the historical market standard of 7%. Combine all of this with a backlog of millions of square feet of new tenant requirements in the market, and you can see why Central PA’s industrial real estate market is ripe for opportunity among investors and landlords.

So, who owns the most industrial space in the market? The combined square footage of the top 5 landlords in Central PA is 32,820,237 square-feet of space. Moreover, the combined vacant square-footage for all of this space is just 2,448,898 square-feet or 7%. So, who are these power landlords and what buildings account for most of this space? Let’s take a deeper dive.

Prologis Inc.

It should come at no surprise that Prologis Inc. tops this list with its portfolio of 22 industrial buildings. Combined, this accounts for 11,242,938 square-feet of real estate. The largest building, which is Key Logistics Park located at 950 Centerville Road in Newville, is home to 1,170,000 square-feet of industrial space.

Global Logistics Properties, Ltd. (GIC Real Estate)

Next on the list is Global Logistics Properties, Ltd. with 19 buildings and 7,075,922 square-feet of real estate. The largest of these buildings is Lemoyne Industrial Park located at 221. S. 10^th Street in Lemoyne which is 885,802 square-feet of industrial space.

Clarion Partners

With 10 buildings totaling 5,676,191 square-feet, Clarion Partners ranks number three on our list of “Power Landlords” in Central PA. Their largest building, located at 1 True Temper Drive in Carlisle, is 1,226,525 square-feet in size.

First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc.

At number four we have First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc. Their portfolio of 15 buildings accounts for 4,804,210 square-feet of industrial real estate. The largest building, 1,100,000 square-feet in size, is located at 5197 Commerce Drive in York.

Liberty Property Trust

Coming in at number five on the list is Liberty Property Trust with 7 buildings totaling 4,020,976 square-feet of industrial space in the Central PA region. Their largest building, which is the Carlisle Distribution Center located at 40 Logistics Drive in Carlisle, is 972,000 square-feet.

It can be hard to wrap your head around these numbers and the amount of industrial space that is located right here in Central PA. Often, these are huge buildings we drive by daily but fail to notice unless we pay attention. The products that are made in and shipped from these facilities impact the global economy and provide us with every item imaginable, from basic essentials to toys and tools to match a wide variety of hobbies. So the next time you drive by the Key Logistics Park in Newville or the Carlisle Distribution Center, you now have a little more intel into who the power landlords are behind these massive facilities.

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Legal Pitfalls That Could Impact Your Commercial Real Estate Deal

Posted on July 1, 2019 by Mike Kushner in Blog, Commercial Real Estate No Comments

Legal matters can arise just about anywhere and in any industry. Commercial real estate is no exception. In fact, commercial real estate transactions can be filled with legal pitfalls if you don’t take proper precautions or seek professional advice.

What legal challenges are common to commercial real estate? For the answers, we looked to an experienced real estate attorney who has helped many clients navigate through such challenges.

Hannah Dowd McPhelin is a partner with Pepper Hamilton LLP, resident in the Harrisburg and Philadelphia offices and vice chair of the firm’s Real Estate Practice Group. Attorney McPhelin concentrates her practice in real estate matters and other business transactions, including the acquisition, sale and financing of commercial real estate properties and leasing of office, retail, warehouse and industrial space, representing both landlords and tenants. She is an Accredited Professional and was named a member of The Counselors of Real Estate in 2017.

Omni Realty Group had the pleasure of interviewing Attorney McPhelin to further examine the legal pitfalls that could impact commercial real estate deals. Here’s what we learned.

Omni: Describe some of the most common legal challenges you’ve seen arise when working through a commercial real estate deal.

Hannah Dowd McPhelin: I’ve worked through a lot of different challenges on a variety of deals, but an enduring theme is that some level of trust between the parties is necessary to get a deal done efficiently. If there is no trust or trust erodes, it is extremely difficult to work through challenges and get to closing, and it makes the deal much more expensive for all parties.

Omni: What conflicts can arise between the LOI and the lease? How can this be avoided?

HDM: The issue I see most often is that, because LOIs are typically not binding, a party may not raise concerns at that stage and will believe those terms can be “re-negotiated” in the lease — this leads to mistrust and deal delays. It is better to raise material issues at the LOI stage so both parties do not waste time and resources when there is not a meeting of the minds. I also recommend that the LOI be a short and concise document containing only the most important terms. A long LOI slows down deals and makes it more likely that you will do a second round of negotiations on particular issues when you negotiate the lease.

Omni: How can an attorney help parties avoid legal pitfalls in commercial real estate transactions?

HDM: A good deal attorney should be creative and look to solve problems as they come up. Every deal has certain issues, but an attorney who only spots issues without offering useful and practical solutions to them is not helpful to the process and reduces the chance that the deal will get done. Frank and open discussions among the parties and their attorneys are the most useful tool in avoiding pitfalls and making sure that the deal is documented in such a way that each party understands its obligations and risks.

Omni: What are the benefits of using a commercial real estate broker?

HDM: Similar to a good attorney, a good broker can be very useful in moving a deal forward, particularly over any rough patches. A broker’s knowledge of the market and other options in the market is essential to understanding a party’s leverage, and a good broker has strong relationships in the relevant market that benefit his or her client.

Omni: For tenants/buyers, how will using an exclusive tenant representative help avoid conflict of interest in a CRE deal?

HDM: Exclusive tenant representatives are particularly helpful to companies that are not in the real estate industry but have real estate needs. The representative’s knowledge of the market, the tenant’s options, and the deal process helps set the tenant’s expectations and assists the tenant in making efficient decisions.

Omni: When entering a commercial real estate transaction, what is the best time in the process to engage outside professionals like attorneys and/or commercial real estate brokers?

HDM: As early as possible. A broker should be engaged when a tenant first considers a move in order to best understand the options in the market and to help the tenant make a considered decision. Ideally, an attorney is engaged in the LOI stage. As an attorney, I find it helpful if I can do a quick review of the LOI before it is signed, as I may see issues that will eventually become big problems in the lease if not addressed at the LOI stage. Often, what I am doing is asking a few follow-up questions to make sure the parties have considered how certain terms will play out in the lease.

Navigating commercial real estate transactions can come with many challenges. What’s most important to remember is that any successful deal must be built upon a foundation of trust. Additionally, seeking the input of an experienced commercial real estate broker, particularly one that is an exclusive tenant representative, will ensure your interests are represented. Finally, having the counsel of a real estate attorney on your side to review any documents and spot issues that could grow into bigger problems down the road can be invaluable to the success of your transaction.

To learn more about Attorney Hannah Dowd McPhelin or Pepper Hamilton LLP, please visit: www.pepperlaw.com.

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Census Data: National and Local Trends You Need to Watch

Posted on June 3, 2019 by Mike Kushner in Blog, Commercial Real Estate, CPBJ Articles, Local Market, Trends No Comments

Note: This article was published by the Central Penn Business Journal. Click here to read the original version.

Census data provides a fascinating look into population growth trends that stand to have a profound impact on our economy, both locally and nationally. More than just being “interesting” data to study, population growth and decline points us to important trends that will reshape supply and demand in various industries, one of the most prominent being real estate.

Just last month, the US Census Bureau released new population estimates. These estimates account for and compare the resident population for counties between the dates of April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2018. The outcome? There are shifts in population taking place across the nation that may differ from what you might assume. Let’s take a look at some of the highlights from this data from a national and local level.

At a National Level

South and West Lead Population Growth

The census data confirmed that counties with the largest numeric growth are located in the south and the west regions. In fact, Texas claimed four out of the top 10 spots. Looking at population growth by metropolitan area, Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas, had the largest numeric growth with a gain of 131,767 people, or 1.8 percent taking place in 2018. Second was Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, Arizona which had an increase of 96,268 people, or 2.0 percent. The cause of growth in these areas is the result of migration, both domestic and international, as well as natural increase. In Dallas, it was natural increase which served as the largest source of population growth, whereas in Phoenix I was migration.

Fastest Growth Occurred Outside of Metropolitan Areas

Surprisingly, no new metro areas moved into the top 10 largest areas. Of the 390 metro areas within the US (including the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico), 102 of these areas, or 26.2 percent experienced population decline in 2018. The five fastest-decreasing metro areas (excluding PR) were Charleston, West Virginia (-1.6 percent); Pine Bluff, Arkansas. (-1.5 percent); Farmington, New Mexico (-1.5 percent); Danville, Illinois (-1.2 percent); and Watertown-Fort Drum, New York (-1.2 percent). The population decreases were primarily due to negative net domestic migration.

North Dakota Claims Fastest Growing County

Among counties with a population of 20,000 or more, Williams County, North Dakota claimed the top spot as the fastest-growing county by percentage. This county increased by 5.9 percent between 2017 and 2018 (from 33,395 to 35,350 people). The rapid growth Williams County experienced was due mainly to net domestic migration, 1,471 people, in 2018. The county also experienced growth between 2017 and 2018 by both natural increase of 427 people, and international migration of 52 people.

More Growth than Decline

Out of 3,142 counties, 1,739 (or 55.3 percent) gained population between 2017 and 2018. Twelve counties (0.4 percent) experienced no change in population, and the remaining 1,391 (or 44.3 percent) lost population. Between 2010 and 2018, a total of 1,481 (or 47.1 percent) counties gained population and 1,661 (or 52.9 percent) lost population. Though there has been more growth than decline overall, the numbers indicate that this can easily shift year over year.

At a Local Level

Dauphin County

Lancaster County

York County

Cumberland County

Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster and York Experience Consistent Growth

The most notable trend to take place between 2010 and 2018 in Central PA is that these counties all experienced consistent growth year-over-year. Moreover the growth occurred fairly evenly over the last 8 years. This provides consistency and enables the economy to respond to the growth over a reasonable amount of time.

Counties Also Maintain Same Order of Ranking in Population

Another trend worth noting is that the counties have maintained the same order of ranking based upon population for 8+ years. For example, in 2010 these counties in order of smallest population to largest population was Cumberland, Dauphin, York, Lancaster. This is the same ranking we see in 2018, and every year in between. No county surpassed another at any point.

Lancaster Remains Largest and Fastest Growing County

Lancaster County has a major lead in population over the others. At 984 square miles, it is also the largest of the 4 counties. Between 2010 and 2018 it also experienced the largest numeric growth at 24,112 people. Number two in numeric growth was actually the smallest of the four counties, Cumberland County, which grew by 16,017 people. York County grew by 13,301 people and Dauphin County grew by 8,997 people.

Overall, the latest US Census offers valuable and insightful information related to population growth between 2010 and 2018. Understanding the cause of either growth or decline provides framework for how these shifts may continue on their course, or change in the future.

A deeper dive into the census data reveals several demographic changes impacting commercial real estate development: household formations, aging baby boomers, growing millennials, women in the workforce, and migration toward the South.

Today’s demographic changes present challenges for commercial real estate developers, but they also offer lucrative opportunities to firms creatively adapting to new demands.

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Commercial Real Estate Appraisals in Central PA: Q&A with JSR Appraisal Group, Inc.

Posted on May 6, 2019 by Mike Kushner in Blog, Commercial Real Estate, Local Market No Comments

Appraising commercial real estate is a particularly unique process, and one that if not done carefully and correctly can have a profound impact on the value of a commercial property for many years to come. To dive deeper into the topic of commercial appraising, including the industry trends and challenges, Omni Realty Group enlisted the expertise of Judy Striewig and M. Shane Rorke, Certified General Appraisers and Co-Founders of JSR Appraisal Group, Inc.

JSR Appraisal Group, Inc. is a commercial appraisal firm located in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, which serves the South Central Pennsylvania market. Together, Judy and Shane opened the firm on January 1, 2015. With 25 years of appraisal experience, Shane has appraised most all types of commercial real estate. In recent years he has focused on land subdivision appraisal work and has tracked many Central Pennsylvania markets for in-depth absorption analysis. Judy’s 15 years of appraisal experience began in 2004 when she entered the industry as an apprentice in the residential appraisal arena. In 2008 she made the move to appraise commercial real estate.

With Judy and Shane’s wealth of knowledge, Omni asked them to weigh in on the most essential questions surrounding the commercial appraisal industry. Here are their answers.

Omni: What do you view as the strengths of your commercial appraisal firm?

JSR: We track most all commercial sales in several markets in South Central Pennsylvania. This data is entered and tracked in our commercial sale database that provides both a detailed and summary picture of sale transactions. This enables us to analyze market transactions and keep an eye on what is happening in the market.

Second, while we are not a large firm, we have four staff members that work together sharing data and ideas on property types, trends, and other real estate issues. We regularly talk to brokers, developers and business owners to gain a pulse on market nuances and business trends.

Omni: How will automated valuation models impact the commercial appraisal process?

JSR: The commercial appraisal process has not been as impacted by automated valuation models as the residential appraisal process for several reasons. First, the quantity of data is much smaller than residential sales. Second, commercial properties are often bought based on the income they produce. This information is typically not available through public sources and is often confidential. And third, a valuation model may be appropriate for certain types of commercial properties like office buildings or warehouse facilities, assuming rental rates are ‘at market’. However the commercial real estate market has such a varied type of product with many specialized buildings, there may not be sufficient amount of data for a valuation model to be effective.

While my thoughts on using a packaged valuation model for commercial (and even residential) real estate are leery, I do believe analysis of large data sets would be helpful to the profession. The use of regression testing to provide rules of thumb to assist in making adjustments and decisions on comparing properties would be helpful. For example, we often consider making an adjustment for properties of different sizes (based on the economies of scale principle). I see a true benefit in models that use regression analysis to provide guidelines for different pricing based on size of a property and other similar property characteristics.

Omni: What are some of the recent regulatory changes on valuation rules and do you foresee this impacting your profession?

JSR: There have been two recent regulatory changes on valuation rules, but we don’t see either of these as having a significant impact. In June of 2018, Pennsylvania passed into legislation a law that allows State Real Estate Brokers, Associate Brokers and salespeople to provide Broker Price Opinions (BPO). Brokers are limited to performing BPO’s for financial institutions in conjunction with properties owned by the institutions that meet certain criteria. They remain prohibited from providing valuation services for mortgage financing, eminent domain, tax appeals and valuation scenarios. Additionally, the FDIC is contemplating raising the appraisal threshold from $250,000 to $500,000 for commercial real estate transactions, and $250,000 to $400,000 for residential real estate transactions.

Omni: What are some of the biggest challenges you face as a commercial appraiser?

JSR: Appraisals are often viewed as a necessary step or hurdle to obtain financing. (Yes, we know this.) And because of this the borrower often picks the ‘cheapest’ bid provided. The borrower has no idea how much experience the appraiser has with the specific property type or what due diligence will be performed in developing an opinion of value.

A second challenge is that the only part of the appraisal report that gets any attention from the borrower is typically the final value. The support and analysis that went into developing the value opinion are often not considered or read by the borrower. And, if a buyer really takes the time to review the report, there is a lot of pertinent information about the property within the report, other than the value opinion. In today’s busy times, I am not sure this will change anytime soon. However I would like to see the borrower use the document as a source of information about the property as well as an objective viewpoint in value.

Omni: What most often causes a disconnect between an appraiser’s and an owner’s opinion of value?

JSR: Often, a buyer’s business is interwoven with a commercial building. Take a well performing restaurant with good management and a well-known reputation. Most commonly when we appraise the property we are appraising the real estate only and not the business value. Our value opinion must isolate the real estate, and exclude any value attributed to the business which includes the reputation and operation. This sometimes results in a real estate value opinion lower than the opinion of the owner of the thriving business. We must look at a property as if that management and reputation were taken away, what would the real estate sell for on the open market.

There have been times when we are asked why we need leases or historical income and expenses to appraise a building. “Isn’t the value, the value?” we are asked. As mentioned earlier, commercial real estate is often valued by the income it produces and long-term leases have significant impact on value. Would you pay the same price for a building that produces leased income of $100,000 annually for the next 20 years or an identical building that produces leased income of $50,000 annually for the next 20 years?. While this may sound obvious, it often is not taken into consideration when a value differs from what an owner has in mind.

Omni: Is there anything else you wish to add that could offer insight into Central PA’s commercial real estate market right now?

JSR: While we do not have any earth shattering observations, we can share some of the trends we see, of which some are obvious.

Retail that can be purchased on-line is struggling, while retail that requires ‘hands on’ shopping is prospering.
The retail restaurant business has grown at a rapid pace in the last few years. Younger generations eat out much more frequently than previous generations, and this sector of retail is strong.
Because of our central location and access to highway systems, the South Central Pennsylvania Industrial Market is our strongest real estate market.
The apartment market in the City of Harrisburg continues to grow with new apartments being quickly absorbed as they come on-line. Rental rates for nicely renovated apartments are $700 to $800 for studios, $800 to $1,000 for 1-bedroom units and $950 to $1,250 for 2-bedroom units. Based on the rental rates and occupancy rates, these properties are yielding high values. However there has been no recent sales of these newly renovated apartments to truly gauge how investors look at renovated apartments in the City as pure investments.
There has been significant price appreciation in the professional office market for good quality, stabilized assets. Cap rates are below 8.00% with some recent transactions in the low 7.00% range that have long-term, credit rated tenants in place. Cap rates for single-tenant medical office buildings are sub 7.00%.

When working with a commercial real estate appraiser, there are several important things to keep in mind. Look for one who is experienced and reputable in your local market and who can demonstrate on-going, extensive research of market sales and lease activity. You also want to work with someone who encourages open dialogue and discussion to ensure the scope of work and appraisal assignment meets your expectations and needs. Omni Realty Group thanks Judy and Shane of JSR Appraisal Group, Inc. for sharing their insight and expertise in this blog. You can learn more about JSR Appraisal Group, Inc. at www.jsrappraisal.com.

Judy Striewig

M. Shane Rorke

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What’s the difference between a listing agent and tenant rep agent?

Posted on April 8, 2019 by Mike Kushner in Blog, Tenant Representative/Buyer Agent No Comments

The use of the term real estate agent casts a broad umbrella under which people tend to lump all real estate professionals into the same category. The truth is that there is a big difference between the role of a listing agent and a tenant/buyer agent. While both might be referred to as simply a “real estate agent,” it’s important to understand when and how you would use each when it comes to buying or selling real estate.

Listing Agent – A listing agent might also be referred to as a seller’s agent. This is the person who represents the seller or landlord in a deal. His or her job is to list and market the property to attract potential buyers, then negotiate an acceptable deal on behalf of the seller.

Tenant/Buyer Agent – On the other side of the deal you have the tenant/buyer agent. This is the person who represents the tenant or buyer looking to lease or purchase property. His or her job is to find and bring a tenant/buyer to properties which meet their criteria, then represent them in a deal to ensure terms and pricing is fair to the buyer.

How is a listing agent compensated?

Most commonly, a listing agent signs an exclusive right-to-sell/lease listing with the seller/landlord, meaning only the listing agent’s brokerage is entitled to an agreed upon commission upon the sale or lease of the property. The brokerage then typically shares the commission with the agent. Exclusive listings are bilateral agreements between a broker and a seller/landlord. It’s important to know that a listing actually belong to the broker or brokerage, not the listing agent unless he is also owner of the brokerage. However, it is important to make the distinction between a tenant/buyer agent and a subagent of the seller/landlord. If the tenant/buyer does not have a formal written agreement with the tenant/buyer agent then the agent who is showing the property and providing information to the tenant/buyer is considered a subagent of the listing agent and is not representing the interests of the tenant/buyer.

How is a tenant/buyer agent compensated?

Generally, the listing agent cooperates with the tenant/buyer agent and shares a portion of the earned commission in exchange for bringing a tenant/buyer to the table, if that tenant/buyer then submits an offer that the seller accepts. This is referred to as a “co-op” commission. It’s important to note that a tenant/buyer agent is at no cost to the tenant/buyer.

Do I really need to work with an agent?

Legally, no. You are not required to work with an agent and can opt to list your property as a For Sale By Owner (FSBO). But there are benefits to working with a listing agent. Foremost, it becomes their responsibility to market and sell your property in a timely fashion and for an agreeable price. They will schedule showings and handle all of this for you. Many sellers benefit from working with a listing agent because their property may sell faster and at a higher price point than if they decided to go it alone. Also, many people value having a professional to take these time-consuming tasks off their hands.

If you are on the other side of the deal as a tenant/buyer, again you do not legally need to work with a tenant/buyer agent in order to buy or lease a property. However, similarly to the points regarding working with a listing agent, a buyer may also experience benefits when working with a tenant/buyer agent. Foremost, you will have their knowledge and expertise to guide you through the buying/leasing process, and someone who will represent your best interests. A tenant/buyer agent can also make your property search less time consuming by showing you only properties that they know fit your criteria. Think of them as your tenant/buyer “concierge.”

Can the listing agent also be the selling agent?

Simply stated, no. A listing agent should not be the selling agent within the same deal. Why? Because there is a major conflict of interest in doing so. Think of it like having the same lawyer represent both the defense and the prosecution in a case. Neither side will receive fully unbiased, honest representation, and the counsel walks away with twice the compensation. In fact, states such as California have gone as far as making such “dual agency” practices illegal.

Too often, a tenant/buyer begins looking at property without hiring a selling agent (aka tenant/buyer agent) to exclusively represent them. Usually they do not realize that a selling agent is not at the cost of the tenant/buyer, since the tenant/buyer agent will normally co-broke a commission with the listing agent. A tenant/buyer agent is compensated by splitting the commission with the listing agent. So, the client gets representation at no cost. The commission arrangement between the owner and listing agent will be paid whether or not the tenant/buyer has representation.

Without representation, tenants or buyers often find themselves needing the expertise, advocacy and unbiased advice of a listing agent. This can result in a number of troubling issues and frustrations for the tenant/buyer. These include losing the upper hand in negotiations, being subject to unfair pricing and unsatisfactory terms and too late realizing that things could have gone far better if they had a professional dedicated solely to representing their best interests.

When it comes to understanding the differences between a listing agent and a selling agent (aka tenant/buyer agent), the most important take away is that whatever side of the deal you’re on, you want to be sure you have your own representation to advocate for your best interests and negotiate a favorable deal.

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How Omni Realty Uses Research, Skill and Experience to Benefit Our Commercial Real Estate Clients

Posted on June 4, 2018 by Mike Kushner in About Us, Blog, CCIM No Comments

When in search of a service or product, you’re likely to start with a Google search. These results will lead you to visiting some potential businesses’ websites and possibly their social media pages. You may feel like you’ve gathered enough information based on the quality of their online presence, reviews and word of mouth recommendations to choose the right business to fit your needs.

But how often do you consider a business’s mission statement in this decision making process? If you don’t, you should!

A business’s mission statement (or lack thereof) will tell you a lot about their focus, approach and how they treat their customers. A nice website, active social media and high ranking reviews only paint part of the picture of the quality of the company – and what they stand for.

For the benefit of our clients, whether they be past, present or future, we hope to give you deeper insight into our own mission so you can understand what we value and our commitment to serving you!

At Omni Realty, our mission is to secure the most effective space at the most favorable terms for our clients. We use research, skill and experience to offer unmatched, highly personalized service while carefully determining our clients’ needs and analyzing all possible solutions.

But our mission statement is more than just words on paper. The values it represents are closely woven into our daily client interactions as well as our long-term visioning. Here is how Omni Realty strives to live out our mission with everything we do.

Current and Consistent Research

We are strategic about maintaining access to the industry’s most comprehensive database of commercial real estate through our partnership with CoStar. Even though we specifically serve the Central Pennsylvania market, we have access to a combination of reliable tools, resources, and expert analysis on over 5 million commercial real estate properties in today’s market. This allows us to pull and compare market reports, keep a pulse on emerging trends and give our clients valuable advice even if it’s outside of our market.

Additionally, we have access to the most technologically advanced industry tools including:

Esri ArcGIS and Business Analyst – demographics and mapping
DataVu – business list data
Riskmeter Flood Maps – assess flood hazards and generate reports
RealNex MarketEdge – financial analysis

High-Level Skill

Mike Kushner is a graduate of University of Pennsylvania (Penn) with his degree in economics. This education is combined with Mike’s CCIM Designation, making him a uniquely qualified commercial real estate broker, developer and investor. CCIM stands for Certified Commercial Investment Member and requires advanced coursework in financial and market analysis. The CCIM designation demonstrates extensive experience in the commercial real estate industry. Furthermore, CCIM designees are recognized as leading experts in commercial investment real estate.

As part of Omni Realty’s mission, developing this high-level of skill is essential to offering our clients unmatched expertise backed by confidence. Just a few of our uncommon, but highly valuable skill areas include:

Property Management
Raw Land Development
Historic Rehab Property Development
Chairman of Local Zoning Hearing Board
Expert Witness Testimony

Diverse Experience

Skill can only be grown when it is applied. Over the last 25 years of being a licensed real estate broker, Omni Realty has grown a diverse portfolio of experience. We have served over 500 clients, brokered 1,250 commercial real estate deals and have helped businesses of all sizes and industries find the most effective space at the most favorable terms. Our diverse experience also includes extensive property management, both residential and commercial.

We love sharing our experience and applying it toward delivering favorable outcomes for our clients. Experience gives us negotiation power on behalf of our clients, a leg-up on emerging market trends and a vast network of contacts that we call upon to help our clients overcome any number of challenges, both inside and outside the scope of commercial real estate.

Unique Value Proposition

We understand that other businesses may tout that they are “different” and it can be confusing to cut through the clutter and determine which commercial real estate business truly offers a unique model. First, when we say we work with businesses of all sizes, we truly mean it. From a one-person startup looking for co-working space, to a Fortune 1,000 organization looking to develop a growing campus, we are excited to work at both ends of the spectrum because we are excited to see our locally-based businesses thrive.

Second, our skill and expertise comes at no cost to our clients. As an exclusive tenant representative/buyers agent, Omni Realty is compensated by the landlord or seller, not by our client. This also means we come to the table to represent only you and your interests. There is no conflict of interest like there might be if a single agent represented both the tenant and landlord in a commercial real estate transaction. Finally, our service is highly personalized and highly hands-on. You work with only the principals in our firm; and we are responsive and proactive in our communications.

With a better understanding of our mission, and the various pieces involved in bringing our mission to life, we hope you can see why Omni Realty is in a unique position to serve our commercial real estate tenants and buyers. And remember, a business’s mission should not be taken lightly. When looking to work with a commercial real estate broker in Central Pennsylvania, be sure to assess their mission and compare it to your own. The most successful partnerships come from businesses and clients who work together over a shared mission!

Have a comment or question? Join in the conversation by leaving a comment below.

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10 Facts Any Commercial Real Estate Investor Should Know about Central PA’s Industrial Market

Posted on April 30, 2018 by Mike Kushner in Blog, Commercial Real Estate, Industrial, Local Market No Comments

10 Facts Any Commercial Real Estate Investor Should Know about Central PA’s Industrial Market

Central PA’s industrial real estate market is unique for a variety of different reasons. Taking into consideration its geographic, demographic and economic factors, we’ve compiled a list of what we feel are the most important facts worth knowing about our local industrial market.

If you are a commercial real estate investor, or simply someone who wants to know more about Central Pennsylvania’s commercial real estate market, you are sure to find this list of top 10 facts both valuable and interesting. Let’s take a look!

Harrisburg-York-Lebanon CSA is 3rd most populous in PA and 43rd most populous in U.S.

The Harrisburg-York-Lebanon Combined Statistical Area (CSA) is made up of six counties and includes four metropolitan areas in Central Pennsylvania. In 2010, the CSA’s population was 1,233,708 people, making it the 3^rd most populous CSA in PA and the 43rd most populous CSA in the U.S. The Harrisburg-York-Lebanon CSA includes the following Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs): Harrisburg-Carlisle, Lebanon, Gettysburg and York-Hanover.

Harrisburg area puts up strong competition against Lehigh Valley.

Though Lehigh Valley is commonly recognized as Pennsylvania’s leader in warehousing and distribution, Harrisburg delivered only 600,000 SF less than Allentown in 2017, while also generating roughly the same rent growth. Additionally, companies such as Whirlpool, Amazon, Ace Hardware, FedEx, Kohler, and Lindt Chocolates have set up large-scale warehouse and distribution centers in Harrisburg – and those tenants account for just a portion of more than 16 million SF of net absorption.

Harrisburg-Carlisle and Lancaster Ranked Among Leaders in National Job Growth

Of the 25 metro areas with the fastest job growth, as of August 2017, both Harrisburg-Carlisle and Lancaster placed on this competitive list. Lancaster ranked number 24 for its steady growth as it diversifies its economy and renovates its downtown and industrial areas. In six months Lancaster added 3,100 new jobs, bringing its total employment to 252,400 and 2017 growth rate to 1.23%. Harrisburg-Carlisle ranked number 8 on the list with 6,200 new jobs added in the first two quarters of 2017, bringing total employment to 346,100 and 2017 growth rate to 1.82%. Noted was the area’s diverse group of healthcare, technology and biotechnology businesses.

Prime location for warehousing and distribution.

Central Pennsylvania is a premiere market for industrial space for several compelling reasons. For businesses who need easy and affordability storing and shipping of products, the areas offers a great roadway system, an abundant work force, relatively inexpensive and available raw land, and the ability to reach 70 to 80 percent of the U.S. population in 24 hours. Additionally, our government regulations on warehousing and distribution are comparatively easy and straightforward compared to other nearby states or regions.

Four of the 10 Select Top Industrial Leases in Q4 2017 took place in the Harrisburg market.

According to CoStar’s Q4 report for 2017, Harrisburg east and west markets represented the majority of top industrial leases signed that year. Prologis Carlisle (1,029,600 SF), Goodman Logistics Center Carlisle (1,007,868 SF), Prologis Harrisburg (623,143 SF) and Carlisle Distribution Center (575,000 SF) were all leased to different businesses who were looking to grow their industrial real estate space in Central Pennsylvania. This activity indicates economic growth and interest in Central PA’s industrial real estate market, both from businesses and real estate investors.

Lancaster market has the highest quoted rental rate for industrial space in Central PA at $4.69 per SF.

Even though Lancaster’s quoted rental rate for industrial space decreased by $0.45 per SF than where it was at the end of Q4 2016, it still comes in higher than Central PA’s other surrounding submarkets. At $4.69 per SF, Lancaster is $1.41 per SF higher than Lebanon, $0.03 per SF higher than Harrisburg/Carlisle, $0.08 per SF higher than Gettysburg and $0.67 per SF higher than York/Hanover based on Q4 2017.

Lancaster also has the lowest vacancy rate for industrial space in Central PA at just 2.0%.

Lancaster ended Q4 2017 with the lowest vacancy rate of all surrounding submarkets. Compared to Lancaster’s vacancy rate of 2.0%, Lebanon came in at 15.8%, Harrisburg/Carlisle at 6.8% and York/Hanover at 4.9% based on Q4 2017. Though Gettysburg did end 2017 with a vacancy rate of 0.4%, it’s important to note this submarket has just 78 buildings with a combined 4,372,179 SF of existing inventory which places it at a much different level than the other submarkets, comparatively.

Within the MSA, Harrisburg/Carlisle has the largest SF of industrial space under construction at 1,813,468 SF.

Two significantly large industrial projects will soon result in the addition of 1,813,468 SF to the Harrisburg/Carlisle submarket. Comparatively, Lebanon has three buildings under construction with a combined 1,310,195 SF of space, Lancaster has two buildings under construction with a combined 76,486 SF of space, York/Hanover has two buildings under construction with a combined 895,000 SF of space and Gettysburg has no new industrial space under construction. For Central PA as a whole, that equals 4,095,149 SF of new industrial space that will soon be delivered to the market.

Harrisburg/Carlisle’s ended 2017 with a positive net absorption of 2,700,108 SF.

According to CoStar’s Q4 2017 industrial market report, Harrisburg/Carlisle ended the year with the highest, positive net absorption we’ve seen since prior to 2014. At 2,700,180 SF, this is significantly higher than any other quarter that year, especially Q2 where the net absorption dropped to negative 499,576 SF. Additionally is Q4 2017, one new building was delivered to the market, adding 1,100,000 SF of space. Even with this influx of inventory, the net absorption rose by 2,083,756 SF. The new building that was delivered is Whirlpool’s new distribution facility located at 100 Fry Drive, Mechanicsburg.

Influx of State and Federal dollars will continue to improve transportation in and around Central PA.

The Trump administration has recently been touting a $1.5 trillion, 10-year public-private plan to improve roads, bridges, ports and other infrastructures across the nation. Central Pennsylvania has plans to utilize some of this federal funding to bolster its priority projects which include fixing structurally deficient bridges and widening interstates. Improvement to our roadways and infrastructure will improve public safety, create construction jobs and make Central PA an even more attractive location for warehousing and distribution.

After reading through these top 10 facts any commercial real estate investor should know about Central PA’s industrial market, you are likely to have some comments or questions of your own.

Start a discussion by leaving a comment below!

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Central Pennsylvania Office Real Estate Report for Q2 2017

Posted on August 14, 2017 by Mike Kushner in Blog, Commercial Real Estate, Local Market, Trends No Comments

Decrease in vacancy and recent record high for rental rates indicate a healthy demand for Central Pennsylvania Office Space.

Central Pennsylvania’s office real estate market should have very few concerns or complaints based upon its performance in Q2 2017. Three new office spaces were delivered this quarter, all of which are 100% preleased. As a result, net absorption continued to rise into the black by more than 50,000 square feet. Vacancy declined as did vacant square footage. Most noteworthy, the quoted rental rate jumped by $0.10 per square foot, making this quarter the highest quoted rental rate the market has seen since prior to Q3 2013!

In addition to these highlights, there is a lot more we can take away from the local office real estate market’s performance this last quarter. Here are the major actions that have taken place in Central Pennsylvania according to CoStar’s Q2 Office Statistics.

SELECT YEAR-TO-DATE DELIVERIES

Three new office spaces entered the market in Q2 2017 and they all made it to CoStar’s Select Top Year-to-Date Deliveries. The largest of the three is at 100 Millport Road in Lancaster. The 93,000 square-feet of B Class office space is 100% prelease. Next on the list for Central PA’s Q2 deliveries is the Goodville Mutual Expansion located in Lancaster. Goodville Mutual Casualty Company added on an additional 20,000 square-feet of Class B office space that is 100% prelease. Last but not least is the 13,000 square-foot Class B office space located at 40 Old Willow Mill Road in Mechanicsburg that is 100% preleased to Penn State Medical Group.

SELECT TOP LEASES

Of the Select Top Leases featured in the Q2 CoStar Office Market Report, just one lease from the Central Pennsylvania submarket made the list, but it did so at number 5. A large healthcare company, Centene leased the office space at 300 Corporate Center Drive, Harrisburg from Cushman & Wakefeld. The total space of the lease is 68,846 square-feet.

ABSORPTION

Net absorption is back on the rise, after taking a hit last quarter. In Q2 it was just 35,817 square-feet; now it is 88,814 square-feet. Though there is a long way to go to reach the recent record high of 421,430 square-feet that we saw in the beginning of 2015, we are at least headed back in the right direction. Considering three new buildings entered the market this month with a combined 126,000 square-feet of space, it’s a good indicator of market demand that net absorption rose.

OVERALL VACANCY & RENTAL RATES (ALL CLASSES)

This quarter, the market experienced a decrease in vacancy from 6.0% last quarter to 5.7% currently. This correlates with the decrease in vacant square-footage, down from last quarter’s 3,273,675 square-feet to 3,080,214 square-feet currently. Most noteworthy, the quoted rental rate has risen significantly, $0.10 per square foot in just one quarter. It now stands at $17.67 per square foot which is higher than it’s been since prior to Q3 2013. With only one building under construction, new space will not be entering the market anytime soon, forcing businesses to continue to use up existing inventory.

CLASS A TRENDS

Specifically looking at class A office space, vacancy is at 8.2% and the quoted rental rate is $20.80 per square-foot. The year-to-date net absorption is 20,217 square-feet, with 60,000 square-feet in year-to-date deliveries and 40,000 square-feet currently under construction.

CLASS B TRENDS

Specifically looking at class B office space, vacancy is at 5.5% and the quoted rental rate is $17.36 per square-foot. The year-to-date net absorption is 235,677 square-feet, with 126,000 square-feet in year-to-date deliveries. No new buildings are currently under construction.

CLASS C TRENDS

Specifically looking at class C office space, vacancy is at 4.7% and the quoted rental rate is $15.79 per square-foot. The year-to-date net absorption is negative 131,263 square-feet. This is a major drop compared to the other classes and the overall net absorption for the Central PA submarket as a whole. There are zero year-to-date deliveries and zero projects under construction for class C space.

What trend from the second quarter did you find most interesting or impactful to Central Pennsylvania’s office market? Share your opinion by leaving a comment!

Learn more from past market reports:

Central Pennsylvania Industrial Real Estate Report for Q2 2017

Central Pennsylvania Industrial Real Estate Report for Q1 2017

Central PA’s Office Real Estate Market Hangs on to Low Vacancy, Slows Down on Net Absorption

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The Success of Urgent Care Clinics Mostly Depends on Real Estate

Posted on August 1, 2017 by Mike Kushner in Blog, Healthcare, Local Market No Comments

When it comes to healthcare, there is no shortage of demand for convenient and cost-effective providers. As a result, the American Healthcare System has shifted its focus toward creating outpatient urgent care clinics as a low-cost alternative to hospital emergency rooms.

The Urgent Care Centers industry now represents one of the fastest growing segments of the American Healthcare System. There are 340 walk-in clinics and 209 urgent care centers located in Pennsylvania alone. Depending upon where you live, it may feel like there is an urgent care clinic on just about every street corner, but the strategy behind choosing the right real estate space for an outpatient clinic is well researched and carefully considered.

Real Estate Strategy for Urgent Care Locations

Urgent care clinics are commonly located in retail settings that offer high visibility and foot traffic. Shopping centers and free-standing buildings that are located near big box stores, restaurants and food/drug retailers are among the most attractive spots. It’s vital to the success of the clinic that its location be easy to find, have free and convenient parking, and appear clean and attractive.

Aside from the physical aspects of the real estate space, urgent care clinics must also consider the demographics of the market they will serve. A highly viable market will demonstrate substantial health needs that are not currently being met by hospitals’ emergency rooms, due to limited access and long wait times. Next, the market should also have a favorable payer mix of patients who are either covered by insurance or have the ability to pay out-of-pocket.

In addition to these industry-specific considerations, traditional real estate data should also be taken into consideration. The number of residential homes, income levels and location of competitors will also have an impact on determining the best location for an urgent care clinic. As a business that relies hugely on walk-in traffic, the look and location of a clinic is as important as the care it provides.

PinnacleHealth Enters Urgent Care Industry

In Central Pennsylvania we have seen the success of a growing urgent care group that was founded in Silver Spring Township in 2010. AllBetterCare Urgent Care Center opened its first location on the Carlisle Pike and now has two more locations in South Middleton Township (Cumberland County) and Susquehanna Township (Dauphin County). The company says it has seen almost 100,000 new patients since its founding, which makes sense as to why PinnacleHealth announced its affiliation with AllBetterCare that will be completed this fall. The two healthcare businesses share the same desire to reduce unnecessary emergency room visits and decrease emergency room wait times for patients.

Pinnacle’s move into a new sector of the healthcare system aligns with its overall growth strategy to diversify its healthcare services and enter new markets across Pennsylvania. The company recently acquired four mid-state hospitals including Carlisle Regional Medical Center (Cumberland County), not far from two AllBetterCare locations. Pinnacle has also committed to construction of a new campus in York County which will replace the existing Memorial Hospital and continues to work on an affiliation with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

Diversifying Pinnacle’s healthcare services and facilities also means diversifying its real estate portfolio. Affiliating itself with AllBetterCare will serve to help Pinnacle reduce the burden on its hospitals, alleviating the need to expand emergency rooms or construct new facilities that would come at a much larger cost, and risk, than simply making outpatient urgent care clinics more readily available. The partnership between AllBetterCare and Pinnacle is a step in the right direction, not just for the businesses’ bottom-line, but for access to quality healthcare for hundreds of thousands of patients across Pennsylvania.

Have you used an outpatient urgent care clinic? What about the facility and its location made you choose it over another option? Share your insight and experience by leaving a comment!

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