Since its strong demand rebound in 2010, the Washington, D.C. office market has struggled. In the first half of 2012, federal government and private sector downsizing returned 2.7 million square feet (msf) to the market, which, along with completions exceeding 1 msf, pushed the vacancy rate to 14.7 per cent— lowering our two-year rent forecast to average annual declines of 0.4 per cent. 

This downshift in fundamentals notwithstanding, D.C. remains a top target among institutional office investors -- 2012’s first half saw investments exceeding US$2 billion (though this represents a 40 per cent decline from the same period last year).

Meanwhile, plans to cut the federal budget deficit could impact the local economy and commercial properties in the near term.  How D.C. has responded to such challenges in the past can indicate how severe cuts might affect today’s market. Clinton-era budget cuts saw D.C.’s federal jobs fall by 4 per cent and 3.3 per cent in 1994 and 1995, respectively. Meanwhile, federal jobs nationwide dropped by 1.6 per cent and 2.4 per cent. Washington’s office-using employment rose by 1.9 per cent and 5.5 per cent in those years, however, as its economy continued to grow. National office-using job growth was stronger (3.2per cent and 3.6 per cent), but D.C. demonstrated its ability to weather the deep cuts. Its office demand recovery at the time also underperformed, with net absorption rates of 1.2 per cent and 1.8 per cent versus the Sum of Markets’ 2.3 per cent and 1.9 per cent, but in the subsequent five years occupancy gains kept pace, with absorption averaging 3.3 per cent annually.