Spec suites are gaining traction in South Florida’s commercial real estate market.

Fort Lauderdale, in particular, is emerging as a key player in this trend, offering 52 spec suites across 16 properties, totaling more than 61,000 square feet, according to a recent report from Avison Young. This represents a notable increase in activity, with 17 transactions completed so far this year, compared to just 12 in 2023.

The Downtown Fort Lauderdale submarket is leading the way, providing 26 suites spanning over 61,000 square feet. In comparison, Southwest Broward offers 13 suites with a combined 38,000 square feet of space. Smaller spec suite offerings can also be found in areas like Pompano Beach and Hollywood, each providing just over 10,000 square feet.

At present, Fort Lauderdale’s office market includes 29 vacant, built-out spaces, with 23 more still under construction or in the planning stages.

“As more companies look to establish offices in South Florida, spec suites offer a quick and convenient solution, reducing the time and effort required for planning and construction,” said Greg Martin, Managing Director of Avison Young’s Fort Lauderdale office. “Moreover, the increasing demand from tenants seeking to adjust their office space for better productivity is further driving the need for ‘move-in ready’ spaces. The time, cost, and energy savings benefit both landlords and tenants.”

Most importantly, the office sector is recovering from the pandemic’s effects. South Florida is leading the nation in office space recovery, with nearly 90% of employees back to in-office work, according to the Fort Lauderdale Downtown Development Authority.

“Although remote work remains a part of the equation, Downtown Fort Lauderdale has largely remained unaffected by the decline in office worker foot traffic,” the authority noted.

Many industry experts, including those at Goldman Sachs, believe the office market has already hit its lowest point.

Source: GlobeSt.