As we’re now well into Q4 2013, a brief look at average cap rates in Metro Vancouver shows (surprise!) no significant change from 2012. Underpinned by an environment of continually cheap debt, cap rates have been flat or remain in slight decline, and now 100 BPS below the rolling 10 year average of 6.2%.

Average Cap Rates 1993-2013

Of course, only in rare cases are Vancouver buyers truly finding yield; it is often more of a ‘safety’ play. With a healthy supply of potential (and anxious) private equity buyers that have amassed significant, undeployed cash reserves in reaction to depressed and uncertain market conditions in recent years, cap rates are being bid down now as much as ever. This, coupled with fiscal authorities in both Canada and the United States continuing to maintain interest rates at historically low levels have resulted in the continuation of historically low cap rates in Vancouver.

The first signs of a shift in this trend may already be occurring with a slight downward trend in transaction activity so far in 2013. A continuation of this trend in 2014 combined with a changing economic/interest rate environment and potentially volatile leasing markets (particularly in office) may finally exert upward pressure on cap rates.

…just don’t tell owners…

From Business in Vancouver – Avison Young has announced the listing of 815 West Hastings Street, a 106,943-square-foot office block built in 1976. The property last sold in December 2010 for $45.3 million, when a private buyer acquired it from Investors Group.

815 West Hastings

 According to RealNet Canada Inc., office properties valued in excess of $10 million enjoy an annual compound growth rate of 7.2%. Documentation Avison Young circulated last week suggests a “pricing guideline” for 815 West Hastings of $60 million, though a formal list price has not been set.

Read more: http://www.biv.com/article/20131015/BIV0320/310159888/us-debt-shenanigans-stand-to-boost-local-borrowing-costs

Shoppers Drug Mart successfully outbid any 3rd party investors and purchased a building they occupy at 1583 Marine Drive in West Vancouver. The property, which was acquired by the City of Vancouver through their involvement with Millennium Development in the Olympic Village deal, was offered for sale by tender earlier in June 2013.

The 8,100 SF single-tenant retail building sold for $8,600,000, or $1,050 per SF.

The Wenonah Building, a heritage apartment building at East 11th Ave and Main Street has sold for $6,500,000 or $342,000 per unit. The building, built in 1913, also contains some retail on the ground floor. The lot size is 8,480 SF.

A revised rezoning application has been presented for Westbank and Ivanhoe Cambridge’s plan to rezone and redevelop the 28-acre Oakridge Centre property. This is expected to be the last round of formal open houses for the rezoning before the proposal heads to the Urban Design Panel and then on to Public Hearing.

Proposed changes from 2012 version:

Oakridge Height Changes