ABI News | Tucson MSA 2Q Review: Construction Shortage to Intensify Investor Demand

2Q 2017, ABInsight, Arizona, Quarterly Report write-up, Tucson Metro, Tucson MSA, Tucson multifamily review

Tucson MSA: Construction Shortage to Intensify Investor Demand



By: Thomas M. Brophy, Director of Research

The analysis that follows is meant to provide a very top level view of apartment market demand and makes no assertions as to quality/type of build, simply focuses on the actual units that are/will be needed/delivered. In order to streamline the analysis process the following assumptions were made:

Pima County Apartment Inventory Analysis-Forecast 2011-2020

Unit Demand = (((Population1 - Population2) / Average HH Size) * Renter HH %) * Occupancy Rate

(1) Population Data is based on Census and Arizona Department of Administration's Low Series Pima County Current Population & Projections (2015 to 2050) and is based only on Population Growth of the 20 to 74 year old demographic segment
(2) Average Household (HH) Size is based off Census estimates and internal ABI projections as follows: 2010/11=2.36, 2012=2.40, 2013=2.43, 2014=2.42, 2015=2.42, 2016=2.45 (est), 2017-2020=2.45 (est)
(3) Renter Household (HH) Percentage is based off Census estimates with internal ABI projections as follows: 2011=36.0%, 2012=36.4%, 2013=37.3%, 2014=38.2%, 2015=38.8%, 2016=39.2% (est), 2017=39.6% (est), 2018=40.0% (est), 2019=40.4% (est) and 2020=40.8% (est).
(4) Units Deliveries for 2017/18 are based on projects currently Under Construction as of 2Q 2017 (332 units, 50+ unit properties) with delivery expected by end of 2018. For 2019/20, projects currently Under Construction with deliveries set through 2020 + assuming that 100% of all Planned units as of 2Q 2017 (826) will be completed by 2020 as well.
(5) Occupancy Rate is based off actuals (source Yardi) and internal ABI projections as follows: 2011=90.5%, 2012=91.3%, 2013=91.3%, 2014=91.9%, 2015=93.1%, 2016=94.5%, 2017=95% (est), 2018=95% (est), 2019=95.5% (est), 2020=96% (est)

From 2011 to 2016, demand exceeded supply by approximately 300 units. Based upon current delivery schedules (50+ unit properties) and the lower bound population growth estimates provided by the Arizona Department of Administration, apartment unit demand will continue to outpace supply well into 2020, rising to a 1,700 unit deficit for the entire time period.

Tucson Market Metrics: By the Numbers
The MSA's total sales volume (10+ unit properties) increased 167%, year-over-year, to $168.95M across 44 transactions representing 2,263 total units sold. California-based investors continue to be the dominant buyer of multifamily properties in the area accounting for 34% of total units transacted or 772 units, Arizona-based investors came in 2nd with 540 units purchased and, rounding out the top five: (#3) Florida-investors with 455 units purchase, (#4) Massachusetts-based investors with 274 units and (#5) Nevada-based investors with 141 units.

Sales of 100+ unit properties witnessed a sales volume increase of 117% y-o-y to $95.9M. Average price-per-unit amount increased 25% to $81,122. 10 to 99 unit properties saw its volume increase an astounding 283% to $72.9M with a surge of 101% in average price-per-unit amounts to $67,578. Price-per-unit increases in the smaller property size category dovetails the sales trend which began in earnest in late 2016 through 1Q 2017, as mid-century built, extensively repositioned properties in the Central Tucson/University submarket having been coming back online for sale. In fact, pre-1980's built product represented 74% of all transactions in the 2Q.

The Tucson MSA did not have any new inventory come online in 2Q. In fact, Tucson will not see any new construction until the end of 2018, aside from smaller affordable housing developments. Despite a minor (0.2%) Occupancy Rate contraction to 94.4%, Tucson's Occupancy Rate is projected to increase to 95% by year end. Average rent continued is rise increasing 3.8% y-o-y to $794.

Outlook
I firmly stick behind my 2017 Market Forecast, despite Fed chatter and three 25-50bps increases behind us, it is unlikely the Fed will continue with its gradual interest rate increase for the balance of 2017 despite many economists predicting otherwise. Basis for this sentiment is rooted in two primary areas, namely weak inflationary pressures, as stated by Yellen, and continued sub-3% GDP growth post-recession. This isn't to say that we are without headwinds; in fact, given government stasis in key legislative areas, specifically healthcare and tax reform, has resulted in loss of the ‘Trump bounce' yet people remain largely optimistic. Additionally, despite the projected end to gradual interest rate increases, the Fed has made statements it wants to move towards ‘balance sheet reduction' or QT, quantitative tightening, which certainly has the potential to sap liquidity from the market. Internationally there is still significant instability in both EM (Emerging) and DM (Developed) markets, particularly across Europe and Asia. It's helpful to remember some 50%+ of the world's developed markets continue to operate at zero or below interest rates which has led to capital flight. Despite stocks hitting all-time highs, based in large part on investors factoring in massive deregulation, markets the world over have been prone to ever increasing volatility fits.

With many of the larger western MSA's reaching, and exceeding, previous peak price per unit amounts has caused investors, on the hunt for higher yield/CAP rates, to look to qualified secondary and tertiary markets. Tucson with little in the development pipeline, is fast becoming the ‘go-to' secondary market for multifamily investors. Given Tucson's now 5-year low for projected new unit deliveries and with economic and job prospects at, or nearing, 7 year highs lays the foundation for a market not witnessed by Tucson investors in at least a generation, if ever. The confluence of these two conditions will continue to shape the Tucson multifamily market well into the latter half of 2018 as new units will be brought online. Until that time both, and barring any Black Swan events, Occupancy Rates and Rents should continue to reach all-time highs and make Tucson one of the more active secondary markets in the county.

To be followed with a more expansive ABInsight post on the topic, I want to leave you with a few thoughts, questions I have posited to various economists, business executives and investors: has the Federal Reserve's, along with the other central banks, massive balance sheet run-up (QE) and zero-to-negative interest rate policy created a banker's worst nightmare, i.e. deflation? By way of example, in our current cycle massive amounts of money have been piled into the development of artificial intelligence, production automation (think automated car production, 3D printed homes, robot burger flippers etc) and other technological disruptions, the effects of which are only beginning to feel and/or understand. As a result, and my final question, are we on the precipice of a massive reduction in the cost-of-goods? If yes, cui bono?

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