Name: Jake Blatter
Company: KFIR Capital
What are your predictions for commercial real estate in 2020?
Transactionally I believe the commercial real estate market will remain stagnant. The ink is barely dry on the new rent regulations and there is a follow-up bill (universal rent control) that will even further drive out investor capital away from New York. Retail continues to struggle. As with all disruptions, I believe this will lead to opportunities with regards to multi-family and we will see an uptick in transactions from last year. On the flip side, I don’t anticipate a disruption in the capital markets; and office, industrial and development in the five boroughs remains strong both on the supply and demand side.
New York tri-state multifamily investors are increasingly reallocating capital to less-regulated markets across the U.S. as rent control and legislative risk erode returns at home. With over 60% of New York City’s rental housing stock classified as rent-stabilized, the traditional value-add model — buying under-performing buildings,