Lethbridge investment activity to regain momentum mid-year after a ‘holding pattern’ in early 2023: Avison Young report

Lethbridge, Alberta – Avison Young’s latest “Lethbridge Investment Market” report anticipates a ‘holding pattern’ in early 2023 for local investors, brought on by global economic uncertainty – with demand for commercial real estate (CRE) sale and lease activity and transactions slowly resuming by the end of the year.

“The local market has cooled in response to increased inflation and interest rates,” said Doug Mereska, Managing Director in the Avison Young Lethbridge office. “Despite predictions of a slower market in the first half of 2023, we are optimistic about the future and anticipate a recovery by year-end.”

In Lethbridge, construction and building costs are driving the inflation of CRE prices. With global uncertainty continuing to create volatile market conditions, the inflated cost of construction materials is causing developers to encounter unforeseen increases to expenses. According to local experts, drywall and wood prices have come down since summer 2022, but steel and many other commercial costs have not. As a result, in 2023 more buildings may be built with wood that would typically have been built with steel.

Increased costs inflate the sale or lease value of new commercial units.  However, commercial rental rates in Lethbridge are still lower on average than other communities of similar size and demographics in Western Canada, attracting national tenants to new builds in the area.

“Avison Young is optimistic for Lethbridge as we move into 2023 with several new developments proposed and set to commence,” said Jeremy Roden, Executive Vice President in the Avison Young Lethbridge office. “We will see a complete redevelopment of Warehouse Square which is a retail and office development, as well as future residential and commercial phases at Crossings and Frontier Business Park which is an industrial development – to name a few.”

The high demand for commercial space has pushed local vacancy rates extremely low with 3.8% vacancy in industrial space and 3.0% vacancy in retail space. In keeping with national trends, high-quality properties in accessible, attractive, amenity-rich locations will thrive.

Lethbridge is insulated from much of the economic downturn due to the diversified local economy with its focus on agri-food production and the regional benefits of oil and gas. The new Lethbridge & District Exhibition Agri-Food Hub and Trade Centre, that is scheduled to be completed later this year, will serve as an economic driver of growth for Alberta’s food sector.