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Office Investment in Tampa

Tampa's office market split in two after COVID. Trophy Class A space in Water Street and premium Westshore towers trade at 6.0-6.5% caps. Everything else? You're looking at 7.5-8.5% if it trades at all. The numbers don't lie - sublease space still sits 40% above historical norms. But here's the thing: flight to quality is real. Companies want new, efficient space with amenities. They'll pay up for it. The question isn't whether Tampa office works. It's which Tampa office works.

Market Context

Cap Rate Range

6.0-8.5% depending on class and location. Water Street commanding 6.0-6.5%, premium Westshore 6.5-7.0%, everything else 7.5-8.5%

Current Vacancy

18.2% direct vacancy plus 6.8% sublease availability. Class A running 12-15%, Class B/C pushing 25%+

Rent Trend

Class A rents up 8% year-over-year to $32-38 NNN. Class B flat at $22-26. Class C down 5% to $18-22

Absorption

Positive 285k SF in 2025 after three years of negative absorption. All gains in Class A trophy assets

Price Per Unit Trend

Water Street trades at $650-750/SF. Westshore Class A $450-550/SF. Suburban Class B $275-350/SF if it moves

Transaction Volume

$380M in 2025, up 15% from prior year but still 35% below pre-COVID. Institutional money chasing top 10% of assets

Submarket Analysis

Water Street/Channel District

6.0-6.5% cap

Vacancy

8.5%

Avg Rent (1BR)

$36-42 NNN

Supply constrained, tech/finance tenants paying up

OM Tip

Show proximity to Amalie Arena, dining, residential. Parking ratios matter here

Westshore/Airport

6.5-7.5% cap

Vacancy

14.2%

Avg Rent (1BR)

$28-35 NNN

Mixed bag - trophy assets outperforming, commodity space struggling

OM Tip

Airport access and hotel proximity drive corporate demand. Highlight recent tenant improvements

Tampa CBD/Downtown

7.0-8.0% cap

Vacancy

22.1%

Avg Rent (1BR)

$24-30 NNN

Government tenants provide stability but limited growth

OM Tip

Emphasize walkability to courthouse, government offices. Historic character can be selling point

Rocky Point

7.5-8.5% cap

Vacancy

19.8%

Avg Rent (1BR)

$22-28 NNN

Competing with newer Westshore inventory, challenged by remote work

OM Tip

Bay views and restaurant access help differentiate. Show recent capital improvements

Brandon/East Tampa

8.0-8.5% cap

Vacancy

26.3%

Avg Rent (1BR)

$18-24 NNN

Value play but limited institutional interest

OM Tip

Local business focus, lower operating costs. Highlight any medical or professional tenants

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What Your OM Needs to Address

Return-to-office metrics

Badge swipe data, actual vs. leased space utilization

Data to Include

Weekly occupancy trends, peak day utilization, tenant expansion/contraction requests over past 18 months

Sublease competition analysis

Every tenant is a potential competitor via sublease

Data to Include

Sublease inventory within 2-mile radius, pricing gap between direct and sublease space, average sublease term length

Tenant improvement obligations

TI costs averaging $55-75/SF for Class A renewals

Data to Include

Detailed TI schedule by lease expiration, market TI rates by tenant type, actual TI spend on recent deals

Parking ratio and availability

4.0+ spaces per 1000 SF becoming table stakes

Data to Include

Parking ratio calculation, monthly parking revenue, any shared parking agreements or validation programs

Building efficiency metrics

Efficiency ratios matter more in flight-to-quality market

Data to Include

Floor plate efficiency percentages, core-to-window distances, column spacing, HVAC zones per floor

ESG and wellness certifications

WELL, LEED, Energy Star increasingly important for institutional tenants

Data to Include

Current certifications, energy usage per SF, indoor air quality metrics, tenant wellness amenities

Investment Outlook

Short Term

Two-speed market continues through 2026. Trophy assets see continued rent growth and occupancy gains. Everything else faces refinancing pressure with higher rates. Distressed opportunities emerging in Class B suburban.

Medium Term

Flight to quality peaks by 2027-2028. Some Class B assets find footing with right pricing and improvements. Remote work patterns stabilize but don't reverse. Tampa's growth story supports office demand in premium locations.

Long Term

Office footprint shrinks but quality requirements increase. Water Street becomes Southeast's premier 18-hour submarket. Conversion opportunities multiply in older CBD stock. Medical office outperforms given aging demographics.

Buyer Profile

Opportunistic buyers targeting distressed Class B for conversion or heavy value-add. Core buyers paying up for Water Street trophy assets. Local buyers still active in single-tenant deals with credit tenants.

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