The industrial market in Atlanta continues to surge, benefiting from its role as a national distribution hub, a growing Port of Savannah, and from the rapid growth in the metro itself.
Logistics space dominates the market, accounting for nearly 80% of all supply. That share is only expected to increase as major tenants continue to ink deals for modern warehouses near interstates in the suburbs, while smaller industrial buildings inside of the perimeter are prized for last-mile connectivity. In removing low-functioning supply in the city core, and adding build-to-suit facilities in the industrial nodes, overall vacancy has steadily fallen throughout the cycle, reaching a cyclical trough in late 2018.
These conditions have created an environment where industrial landlords can push rents, and cumulative rent gains in Atlanta have been in the top third of the nation since the beginning of 2015 (among major metros). Fundamentals are also attractive for investors, who have traded more than $2 billion in industrial assets each of the last five years. Pricing continues to appreciate, with the average over $60/SF in 2018, while cap rates have been in the low-7% range for over a year.