Brian Gordon Land Quotations

Given the cost of raw land, density is the key to viability. It is not out of line what you are seeing in other developments.

Stable demand and rising land values have placed upward pressure on pricing resulting in a 14.4 percent increase in average asking rates in only six months. With robust sales activity and mom-and-pop operators seeking expansion opportunities, we believe there is room for additional increases in newly constructed retail centers.

We continue to see above-average rental rate growth in the speculative sector, while rising land and construction costs will continue to drive rates north. While the supply-side is facing record development costs, the demand-side of the equation is supported by the third-fastest growing segment in the local economy, professional and business service office users.

We simply cannot expect land prices to escalate at 80 percent per year while rents for office, retail and apartments are increasing in the 8 to 16 percent per year range.

There's a lot of speculation and a lot of investment activity going on in the vacant land market here and that drives prices north. There's concern over the lack of developable land so they're willing to pay premiums. Residential developers are looking to acquire as much land as they can to feed their pipeline for future development.