June 2025 | Mary Doetterl, Research Manager, Lee & Associates – Houston Houston has long been defined by its energy industry and global shipping routes. But now, a quieter evolution is positioning the city as a rising logistics technology hub and industrial developers are racing to keep up. With e-commerce growth, reshoring trends, and increasingly tech-savvy tenants, Houston’s warehouses are becoming more than just storage, they’re becoming smart logistics centers. New developments across the…
Border Boom Could Bust: How Tariffs Risk ‘Damaging A Real Good Thing’
April 13, 2025 | HOUSTON, TEXAS | Maddy McCarty and Billy Wadsack Lee & Associates’ Enrique Volkmer calls himself “the happiest guy in town” after returning to his hometown of Laredo in 2016 to broker real estate deals for third-party logistics companies and other industrial tenants. In just the first two months of this year, Volkmer racked up 11 new lease signings. Those deals have become exponentially bigger and more plentiful since the United States-Mexico-Canada…
Laredo, Texas: The World’s Largest Port, A Supply Chain Powerhouse
April 29, 2025 | HOUSTON, TEXAS | By Enrique Volkmer, Lee & Associates Laredo, Texas, has emerged as one of the largest ports in the world by volume and crossings, driven by its robust infrastructure and strategic location. According to 2023 data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the Port of Laredo was responsible for handling an aggregate amount of product valued at about $320 billion, the most in the country by that metric….
CONCRETE, CRANES & CAPITAL: HOUSTON’S INDUSTRIAL SCENE IN 2025
May 2025 | Mary Doetterl, Research Manager, Lee & Associates – Houston Houston’s industrial market remains a powerhouse in 2025, with a 5.6% vacancy rate that showcases the strength of demand despite economic shifts. While new deliveries continue, there’s a marked shift in tenant behavior. Companies are prioritizing efficiency over sheer square footage, with a strong preference for Class A spaces equipped with the latest features — like higher clear heights, ample trailer parking, and…
Houston’s Growing Role in E-Commerce and Logistics: How the Industrial Market is Booming
April 1, 2025 | Mary Doetterl, Research Manager, Lee & Associates – Houston Over the past decade, the rise of e-commerce has transformed how we shop, work, and move goods—and Houston is emerging as a major player in this global shift. Positioned as a logistics powerhouse, Houston’s industrial real estate market is booming, fueled by the rapid growth of online retail, increased demand for last-mile delivery, and strategic access to key transportation networks. Houston’s location…
A Piece Of The Pie: CRE Ownership Structure Is A Win For Houston Brokers And Clients
February 10, 2025 | HOUSTON, TEXAS | Elizabeth Reyn, Studio B Writer 10 years ago, commercial real estate brokerage Lee & Associates expanded its national presence by opening the doors to its 55th office, in Houston, Texas, with four CRE professionals and an assistant at the helm. Among the CRE professionals was Managing Principal Chris Lewis, who runs Houston’s office division. Lewis said that while Lee & Associates had a strong presence in…
The Growing Need for EV Charging Infrastructure in Industrial Real Estate
December 4, 2024 (Houston) – As the electric vehicle (EV) market continues to grow, industrial real estate is facing a new set of demands—one that is reshaping tenant needs and expectations. With EV adoption on the rise, particularly for logistics fleets and delivery companies, the availability of EV charging infrastructure is becoming a critical consideration for businesses seeking industrial spaces. This shift is creating both challenges and opportunities for developers, property owners, and tenants in…
EXPLORING THE GROWING APPEAL TO SUBURBAN OFFICE SPACE: ARE MORE BUSINESSES MAKING THE MOVE?
November 8, 2024 (Houston) – The Houston office market has witnessed a notable shift as businesses increasingly look beyond the city’s urban core to suburban submarkets like The Woodlands and Cypress. This shift has been driven by evolving business needs, lifestyle preferences, and strategic growth considerations that are transforming how companies approach their leasing decisions. As suburban submarkets, offering premier office space has emerged as attractive alternatives to downtown spaces for various reasons. These areas…
Rising Treasury Rates Amid Fed Cuts and Their Impact on Commercial Real Estate Lending
October 17, 2024 (HOUSTON) – Recent trends have shown a surprising rise in U.S. Treasury yields, even as the Federal Reserve has paused or cut interest rates. The benchmark 10-year Treasury yield recently climbed to its highest levels in over a decade, driven by various factors such as inflation concerns, high government debt issuance, and expectations of sustained economic growth. This shift has important implications for commercial real estate (CRE) lending, which relies heavily on…