Values for apartment buildings in Surrey have grown steadily over the past 10 years, a trend expected to continue with new supply of rental units generally limited to new condo projects. More affordable rental units tend to be limited to older rental stock.

This market is predominantly characterized by low-rise buildings and complexes over 20-years of age. The average sales value over the past five years in this market is just over $100,000 per unit.

With a limited stock of apartment buildings per capita relative to other municipalities such as Vancouver and New Westminster, investment activity in this market has been relatively confined to less than a dozen transactions each year. Cap rates have fallen steadily as well, to average just over 6.0% currently.

The prospects for this market are generally positive, with new supply limited to areas of residential development such as Surrey City Centre. According to CMHC, vacancy rates for apartments are approximately 3.7%; this is higher than the Metro Vancouver average, but still in healthy territory. Average rents range from $610 for bachelors, up to $982 for 3-bedroom units. CMHC estimates that there are over 29,000 condos in the Fraser Valley, of which approximately 21% are rented at rates averaging 10-20% higher than purpose built rental.

A two-storey retail building on the south side of West Broadway has sold for $2,320,000,  representing $498 per sq ft. The asking price was $2,350,000. The building is adjacent Joey’s Broadway.

The building is 4,658 sq ft in size and is leased to a tanning salon on the upper floor on a month to month basis. The bottom floor is available for lease and asking $35.00 per sq ft net.

Commercial real estate market remains stable, new inventory expands.

Metro Vancouver’s commercial real estate market remains stable, according to the latest CBRE Ltd. reports.

The company’s second-quarter industrial report for the region noted that the overall availability rate of industrial property remained unchanged from the first quarter’s 7.3 per cent. The regional vacancy rate rose 30 basis points to 4.7 per cent but has risen from a two-year low reported in the first three months of the year.

The West End’s Central Presbyterian Church, located at 1155 Thurlow Street is in the initial stages of planning a redevelopment of their over 17,000 sq ft property. The Church’s initial concept plan shows a 207 ft mixed use 21-storey tower, including 14 floors of market residential units, 4 floors of non-market seniors housing and 3 floors to accommodate a new church and community space. The site is zoned RM-5B.

Source: Central Presbyterian Church

Surrey named one of top five real estate investment cities in Canada.