The numbers might not shake you out of a winter stupor, but the message behind the data in CBRE|Hubbell Commercial’s annual report on the Greater Des Moines commercial real estate market should wake you up.

Kyle Gamble, senior vice president and managing director of the brokerage arm of Hubbell Realty Co., said the numbers show a commercial real estate market in the third stage of a growth cycle. That stage is commitment, and as the numbers were interpreted by CBRE|HUbbell Commercial specialists in various property types prior to the survey’s release Thursday, it became clear that investors and developers, are plunging into the market.

Linda Gibbs and Tim Sharpe plumb the capital markets for CBRE|Hubbell Commercial, and they said investors from Canada and Mexico, Japan and China, Dubai and Greece are checking into a range of property types, primarily multifamily housing, but also office and retail, industrial properties, student and senior housing.

Gamble believes the surging multifamily market will return to historical norms for occupancy and rents.

Korey Birkenholtz, who specializes in office properties for CBRE|Hubbell Commercial, said the glut of empty office space that has characterized the downtown Des Moines office market is improving and will continue to improve, especially if companies can solve parking issues. 

Download Real Estate Market Survey >>> 

Download Apartment Survey >>>