2023 Q4 Office Houston Report Colliers
2023 Q4 Office Houston Report Colliers
23Q4
Houston
Accelerating success.
Office Key Takeaways
Houston
23Q4
• Office vacancy rate nudges down
• Sublease space continues decline
• Net absorption positive for Q4 and year
• Leasing volume decreases
22.5% FORECAST
753.3K SF FORECAST
721.5K SF FORECAST
$35.90/SF FORECAST
Houston Highlights
Houston’s office market posted positive net absorption of 753,312 SF during the fourth quarter, reversing the negative totals from the third
quarter and ending 2023 with a positive 301,014 SF. The overall average vacancy rate decreased marginally to 22.5% from 22.6% the previous
quarter. Leasing activity declined to 1.8m SF for fourth quarter to end the year with 9.8m SF, representing a 27.9% drop from 2022. The Katy
Freeway submarket accounted for 29% of that annual total while three other submarkets including The Woodlands, West Loop and CBD leased
more than 1m SF each. The under-construction pipeline remains limited at 721,503 SF, while four buildings totaling 515,694 SF were delivered
during the fourth quarter. Houston’s overall average gross rental rates nudged up to $30.11 from the previous quarter but declined from the
same period last year. Houston’s Class A average rental rate decreased marginally to $35.90 per square foot from $35.96 in Q3 2023.
crude 500,000
15.0%
Historic Comparison 0
10.0%
(500,000)
22Q4 23Q3 23Q4 5.0%
(1,000,000)
Total Inventory
236.9 237.6 236.9 (1,500,000) 0.0%
(in Millions of SF) Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
Net Absorption
(188.2) (844.0) 753.3 Net absorption reversed third quarter’s negative course to record
(in Thousands of SF)
positive absorption for both the fourth quarter and the year. New
supply has been limited but popular for those seeking quality
Overall Vacancy 22.2% 22.6% 22.5% space while overall leasing activity experienced a slowdown.
23Q4
Commentary
By Patsy Fretwell, Research Director
Houston’s office market demonstrated resilience by ending 2015 collectively report an 11.4% availability compared to the
the year with positive absorption in both the fourth quarter overall Houston availability average of 25.2%.
and the entire year, overcoming the negative net absorption
LyondellBasell Industries and Fluor Corporation topped the list
experienced in the third quarter. Notable contributors to this
for largest leases signed during the year, with LyondellBasell
positive trend included Bechtel Energy’s move and expansion
taking 318,504 square feet at 2800 Post Oak for a January
in two CityWestPlace properties, along with new properties
2025 move-in, and Fluor taking 308,186 square feet at 737 N.
coming online with preleasing.
Eldridge for a May 2024 occupation.
MetroNational’s fully leased newest building at 9753 Katy
Larger blocks of newer, quality space are becoming limited
Freeway has BW Energy occupying 67,815 square feet in fourth
in several submarkets and only two Class A office buildings
quarter and Callon Petroleum moving into 107,171 square feet
100.000+ square feet are currently underway. West Houston’s
later this year. Other notable absorption this quarter includes
Katy Freeway submarket led all leasing activity in 2023,
Intuitive Machines occupying its new 125,000-square-foot
accounting for 2.8 million square feet, or 29%. Three other
building in the NASA/Clear Lake submarket, and Fugro moving
submarkets reported more than 1 million square feet each of
into 75,000 square feet in the Katy Freeway submarket.
leases: the Central Business District finalized 1.6 million square
Despite tenant advantages due to ample availability and feet, the West Loop submarket reported slightly more than 1.1
current economic conditions, firms are navigating optimal million square feet and The Woodlands completed 1.1 million
office-space scenarios, addressing employee requests for square feet. The four submarkets represented 69% of the
hybrid work. Sublease space, which historically offers tenants annual total. The Katy Freeway submarket also leads in totals
favorable options, decreased by 23.4% to 5.6 million square for net absorption during the fourth quarter and for the year.
feet in 2023, with most space either returning as direct or
This leasing trend could jumpstart new construction in specific
being taken off the market. Available sublease blocks greater
submarkets. CityCentre Six, a proposed 308,000-square-foot
than 100,000 square feet dropped by 36.4% since last quarter.
building, announced its start date to April 2024 following a
Companies working out their required in-office schedules confidential signed lease of 258,363 square feet.
The vacancy rate stabilized, dipping 10 basis points to 22.5%. Challenges continue while landlords manage substantial hikes
Houston and two other Texas cities, Austin and Dallas/Fort in insurance and taxes while tenants seek more free rent and
Worth, consistently top the return-to-office rate among all increased concessions. Local economists anticipate a slower
cities cited in the Kastle Index. growth rate in 2024 due to tighter lending standards and
reduced job growth, impacting the Houston office market with
The flight-to-quality trend persisted as Class A properties
a gradual softening and eventual improvement as companies
accounted for 67.7% of 2023’s total 9.8 million square feet of
adapt to changing office dynamics and return-to-office criteria.
leasing activity. This year’s total fell from the previous year’s
13.6 million square feet of leasing activity. Properties built after
23Q4
Top Performing Office Buildings
Net Absorption
8,000,000
2024 2025
23Q4
Market Statistics
Total Direct Sublease Total Previous Net Net Avg Direct
Submarket/ Inventory Availability Availability Availability Vacancy Vacancy Absorption Absorption Under Deliveries Asking Rate
Class SF Rate Rate Rate Rate Rate Current YTD Construction YTD (FSG)
CBD
A 35,875,479 25.4% 3.5% 28.8% 24.0% 24.4% 108,899 92,511 386,323 0 $46.20
B 7,045,459 39.0% 0.9% 39.9% 35.2% 35.3% 4,256 (50,707) 0 0 $32.28
C 593,730 6.6% 0.0% 6.6% 14.2% 14.2% 0 (784) 0 0 $0.00
TOTAL 43,514,668 27.3% 3.1% 30.3% 25.7% 26.0% 113,155 41,020 386,323 0 $43.08
Suburban
A 103,592,024 24.7% 13.2% 27.8% 23.9% 24.1% 692,607 686,553 189,637 456,694 $31.10
B 78,657,668 20.2% 5.8% 21.1% 21.0% 22.0% (9,233) (410,894) 145,543 689,018 $21.14
TOTAL 193,385,200 22.0% 10.1% 24.0% 21.8% 22.6% 638,439 270,618 335,180 1,145,712 $26.70
Houston Total
A 139,467,503 24.9% 13.4% 28.0% 23.9% 24.3% 801,506 779,064 575,960 456,694 $35.90
B 85,703,127 21.8% 5.3% 22.7% 22.1% 22.0% (4,977) (461,601) 145,543 689,018 $25.04
TOTAL 236,899,868 23.0% 10.4% 25.2% 22.5% 22.6% 753,312 301,014 721,503 1,145,712 $30.11
Submarkets by Class
Total Direct Sublease Total Previous Net Net Avg Direct
Submarket/ Inventory Availability Availability Availability Vacancy Vacancy Absorption Absorption Under Deliveries Asking Rate
Class SF Rate Rate Rate Rate Rate Current YTD Construction YTD (FSG)
TOTAL 6,051,661 14.1% 2.3% 16.4% 14.7% 14.9% 14,027 (86,058) 0 0 $31.57
Baytown
TOTAL 173,408 25.0% 0.0% 25.0% 25.0% 16.3% (15,123) 320 0 0 $24.54
Bellaire
TOTAL 3,083,220 19.0% 4.3% 23.2% 22.3% 21.8% (14,554) (102,069) 0 0 $24.13
23Q4
Submarkets by Class (continued)
FM 1960
TOTAL 9,283,837 32.5% 0.5% 33.0% 20.9% 20.1% (75,400) (215,257) 0 0 $18.68
Greenway Plaza
TOTAL 10,764,345 24.9% 1.3% 26.2% 22.6% 22.6% 5,318 98,832 0 0 $34.65
Gulf Freeway/Pasadena
B 3,330,502 11.8% 1.2% 13.0% 18.0% 16.8% (40,488) (82,519) 100,000 60,000 $23.37
TOTAL 4,767,779 11.2% 0.9% 12.0% 16.9% 15.9% (44,243) (91,350) 100,000 161,000 $23.48
I-10 East
TOTAL 607,287 17.4% 0.0% 17.4% 17.4% 17.7% 1,800 20,065 0 0 $19.51
Katy Freeway
A 23,373,872 19.0% 3.7% 21.8% 20.8% 20.8% 280,748 179,129 0 355,694 $31.18
B 9,764,798 24.3% 2.1% 24.9% 19.8% 20.9% 111,699 306,478 0 150,000 $22.01
TOTAL 34,243,830 20.0% 3.1% 22.1% 19.9% 20.3% 415,248 498,730 0 505,694 $28.51
B 1,022,461 2.7% 0.0% 2.7% 2.8% 2.0% (8,800) 17,569 0 23,170 $21.42
TOTAL 2,774,120 8.2% 5.9% 14.2% 11.1% 11.4% 8,635 64,422 0 23,170 $27.83
Kingwood/Humble
TOTAL 1,425,961 7.9% 0.0% 7.9% 7.7% 8.0% (2,618) 7,244 0 0 $21.11
NASA/Clear Lake
B 2,823,734 8.0% 1.6% 9.6% 8.8% 8.8% 114,839 197,710 0 231,000 $19.83
TOTAL 5,286,649 12.9% 2.0% 14.9% 11.6% 10.9% 74,824 177,014 0 231,000 $25.17
North Belt/Greenspoint
TOTAL 12,127,849 38.9% 1.3% 40.2% 41.8% 42.3% 64,855 177,332 0 0 $17.81
23Q4
Submarkets by Class (continued)
TOTAL 959,470 4.6% 0.0% 4.6% 4.6% 4.3% (3,382) (11,573) 0 0 $22.19
Northwest and Northwest Outlier
A 1,955,916 27.9% 3.4% 31.3% 28.3% 28.2% (2,713) 61,733 0 0 $24.17
B 6,468,239 14.0% 0.5% 14.5% 13.0% 12.5% (35,409) 81,798 0 121,848 $18.34
Richmond/Fountainview
TOTAL 1,080,058 14.1% 0.0% 14.1% 13.6% 13.2% (4,126) (16,324) 0 0 $17.15
San Felipe/Voss
TOTAL 6,131,135 26.2% 0.9% 27.1% 26.7% 26.7% 2,032 (144,854) 0 0 $28.44
South
B 325,964 3.7% 0.0% 3.7% 7.4% 6.0% (4,364) 3,600 0 0 $25.66
C 135,387 8.0% 0.0% 8.0% 8.0% 8.0% 0 0 0 0 $0.00
TOTAL 461,351 4.9% 0.0% 4.9% 7.6% 6.6% (4,364) 3,600 0 0 $25.66
TOTAL 1,232,152 13.6% 0.6% 14.2% 12.7% 9.8% (35,565) (45,017) 0 0 $20.11
Southeast
B 1,766,646 1.3% 0.0% 1.3% 0.6% 0.4% (2,500) 13,224 0 0 $17.73
C 431,920 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 1.1% 4,900 0 0 0 $0.00
TOTAL 2,198,566 1.1% 0.0% 1.1% 0.5% 0.6% 2,400 13,224 0 0 $17.73
Southwest
A 1,348,129 24.6% 3.1% 27.7% 24.4% 24.4% 737 (12,802) 157,437 0 $18.95
TOTAL 8,478,221 17.4% 0.5% 17.9% 20.0% 18.2% (156,693) (527,257) 157,437 0 $19.40
TOTAL 1,434,562 8.4% 0.0% 8.4% 3.0% 3.0% 0 (21,243) 56,000 0 $23.75
The Woodlands
TOTAL 17,744,760 12.0% 3.1% 15.1% 14.7% 14.8% 54,740 199,119 21,743 83,000 $30.06
23Q4
Submarkets by Class (continued)
West Belt
TOTAL 6,178,078 31.1% 5.4% 36.5% 28.0% 27.2% (47,920) (35,178) 0 0 $18.49
West Loop/Galleria
TOTAL 23,731,225 29.7% 2.4% 32.0% 29.2% 29.1% (26,004) (195,315) 0 0 $34.68
Westchase
B 7,055,028 27.8% 2.3% 30.2% 28.2% 28.9% 51,399 (12,125) 0 20,000 $19.80
TOTAL 16,852,578 27.3% 3.6% 30.9% 27.1% 29.3% 377,242 242,501 0 20,000 $28.00
Submarket Map
Northeast
Outlier
1. CBD
2. Northwest
3. Allen Parkway
(Midtown)
4. Greenway Plaza Northwest
Kingwood/Humble
Outlier
5. West Loop/ Galleria
6. San Felipe/ Voss
7. Richmond/
Fountainview
8. Southwest/ Hillcroft
9. Westchase
Northeast
10. Southwest
Outlier
11. Bellaire
12. South Main/
Medical Center
13. Katy Freeway
Gulf Freeway/
14. FM 1960 Pasadena
15. West Belt
16. North Belt
6 continents
+1 713 830 2125
[email protected]
Danny Rice
President
United States: 156 Houston
Canada: 45 +1 713 830 2134
Latin America: 20 [email protected]
Asia Pacific: 99
William Uhalt
EMEA: 112 Research Manager
Houston
+1 713 830 2137
[email protected]
$4.5B
in revenue
19,000 +
been made to ensure its accuracy, we cannot guarantee it. No
responsibility is assumed for any inaccuracies. Readers are
encouraged to consult their professional advisors prior to acting
on any of the material contained in this report.
professionals and staff
About Colliers
Colliers is a leading diversified professional services and investment management
company. With operations in 66 countries, our 19,000 enterprising professionals 1233 West Loop South, Suite 900
work collaboratively to provide expert real estate and investment advice to Houston, TX 77027
clients. For more than 28 years, our experienced leadership with significant inside
ownership has delivered compound annual investment returns of approximately +1 713 222 2111
20% for shareholders. With annual revenues of $4.5 billion and $98 billion of assets colliers.com
under management, Colliers maximizes the potential of property and real assets to
accelerate the success of our clients, our investors and our people. Learn more at
corporate.colliers.com, X @Colliers or LinkedIn.