Boston-area resident Michael Snedeker earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts before he embarked on his distinguished career in the real estate industry. As the executive vice president of commercial construction firm Elite Building Corp., Michael Snedeker pays close attention to trends in the commercial real estate industry.
Like the rest of the American economy, the commercial real estate industry has enjoyed an extended period of robust growth. Here are three trends that may shape that growth in the near future:
- Technology integration. Every industry has been profoundly impacted by the exponential growth in technology over the past few years, and commercial real estate stands to benefit as well. For example, industry analysts expect that more commercial real estate developers will integrate the “Internet of Things” into both new construction and legacy buildings as companies and other tenants shift more of their daily business to the cloud.
- A slowdown in office construction. While the first half of 2018 saw a marked increase in new office construction, some analysts foresee that trend slowing in 2019. In addition to increased numbers of remote workers who require less office space, new construction may be reduced due to zoning issues and rising construction costs.
- Visual marketing. Though some people might associate visual marketing and professional photography with the consumer goods sector or the residential real estate market, recent studies indicate that commercial real estate buyers are increasingly relying on visuals when they search for office and retail properties. In 2019, analysts expect more commercial real estate developers to raise their photography budgets as part of their marketing strategies.
