PORTLAND — A new poll shows Mainers are feeling better about the economy.
The poll released today by Market Decisions of Portland says Maine consumers turned optimistic about the economy in January, with consumer sentiment rising 12 percent from the previous quarter.
This below video link addresses insider views on the Maine Real Estate Market for 2012. Speakers include Matthew Cardente of Cardente Real Estate.
http://www.mainebiz.biz/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120130/MULTIMEDIA/120139994
In Monument Square, one of Portland’s premier office buildings, with high-profile tenants including People’s United Bank, has leasing opportunities available at aggressive rates. The entire top floor, consisting of 6,500 square feet and offering spectacular views of the city as well as water views of Portland Harbor and Back Cove, is available. In addition, there are attractive office suites, also with views, available on the third, sixth and seventh floors. These office suites range from 2,300 to 3,940 square feet. Please note that parking incentives are being offered for five-year lease terms.
Karen Rich from Cardente Real Estate was this year's Retail Forecaster for the MEREDA Conference. This publication discusses the current state of the retail market in Maine as well as provides predictions for the upcoming year.
By Tux Turkel tturkel@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer
PORTLAND - Maine's real estate industry is slowly recovering from the recession and showing some bright spots, but will continue to face challenges in 2012, speakers told Maine's largest gathering of real estate professionals Thursday.
"I believe the worst is over," said Karen Rich, a commercial broker at Cardente Real Estate in Portland.
Rich presented her outlook for southern Maine's retail sector during the Maine Real Estate & Development Association's annual forecast conference. The sold-out event drew a record crowd of 650 to the Holiday Inn by the Bay.
Nationally, the economic recovery is making gradual progress, but home prices and real incomes continue to decline. That hurts affordability, said Charles Colgan, an economic forecaster from the University of Southern Maine, and will keep the market from improving significantly before 2013.
In an economy driven by consumer spending, the retail sector is an important indicator, and Rich said she sees encouraging trends in Greater Portland. The area's retail vacancy rate, which peaked at nearly 11 percent in 2009, is falling. The rate last year was just above 6 percent, Rich said.
Windham has emerged as the region's healthiest retail area, with a 3.7 percent vacancy rate.
Some big holes remain, such as the former Shaw's Supermarket space in Falmouth and the former Filene's department store at the Maine Mall. But new franchises have filled some empty spaces, including Books-a-Million, which replaced Borders at the Maine Mall, and Urban Outfitters, which occupies a once-empty building on Middle Street in Portland's Old Port.
Several restaurants, including Five Guys and Elevation Burger, have opened. "Mainers love their restaurants," Rich said.
Looking ahead, Rich said, more big-box stores could close, as the Lowe's Home Improvement store in Biddeford did last year. But she also expects more expansion by banks and credit unions, Starbucks and thrift stores.
Greater Portland's office market also is recovering. Buyers and tenants can still find favorable deals, but the overall vacancy rate has basically stopped climbing. It hung last year at just under 13 percent, said James Harnden of Malone Commercial Brokers. The office market absorbed 90,000 square feet of net space last year, the first positive number since 2008.
Conditions will remain essentially flat this year, Harnden indicated. But the mood is more optimistic and a handful of projects are being proposed, including those at Thompson's Point and on West Commercial Street in Portland.
On the housing front, the multi-family market is a mixed bag, said John Graham of Sullivan Multi-Family Realty. Short sales and bank-owned properties continue to make up a substantial portion of the market. Condominium conversion is flat.
