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... Canada Offices About Professi... ...Area OverviewLethbridge is the centre of a trading area that serves 275,000... ...ta, British Columbia and Montana. The city is located in the southern portion of Alberta and is a one-hour drive from... ..., Lethbridge is a two-hour drive from Calgary and a five-hour drive from Ed... ...g, Lethbridge now has a diverse range of key industries. While agri-foods continues to thrive and remains one of the key industries, new and emerging sectors such as alternative energy and equipment-manufacturing are gaining strength. Among its multitude of attributes, Lethbridge boasts two nationally recognized post-secondary institutions, the largest research centre in Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's national network of research centres, and a young, well-educated and ethnically-diverse population.With a growing population and consistent new business growth, Lethbridge boasts a stable economy. Over the past 10 years, the city’s comparatively low commercial real estate rental rates and housing prices have also provided lifestyle and business cost advantages. Service and trade industries generate over half of all the occupations in Lethbridge. Other occupations are diversified across the industries of manufacturing, public sector services, construction, transportation, finance/insurance/real estate, and primary industry. Lethbridge demonstrates lower unemployment rates than the provincial or national averages and consistently ranks among Canadian cities that have the lowest cost of doing business.MarketsOfficeThe office market comprises primarily the downtown core, while business parks have emerged on the city’s outskirts in recent years. Health care and government services organizations are the largest users. RetailLethbridge’s retail market has attracted several large Canadian and American retailers in recent years, including Wal-Mart. South Lethbridge is home to the majority of the city’s big-box developments while North Lethbridge has displayed recent growth. Of the city’s three sectors, West Lethbridge is experiencing the highest population growth resulting in renewed interest from new and existing local operators. With strong ongoing development activity, the outlook for West Lethbridge appears bright. IndustrialThe Lethbridge industrial real estate sector provides some excellent investment and development opportunities. With continuing low interest rates, more and more industrial clients are looking to own their own buildings, often in a strata-ownership structure to reduce land costs. In recent years, demand for small-bay space (2,000 square feet) has been quite strong.Avison Young LethbridgeAvison Young opened its Lethbridge office in 2009. It was launched by a team of highly-skilled professionals who had established themselves as very successful associates in both sales and leasing of commercial real estate in Lethbridge and the surrounding area. Lethbridge area brokers provide exceptional service and innovative solutions for their clients through the use of social media and other technologies. The associates work closely with other Avison Young professionals, particularly in Calgary and Edmonton, to facilitate national...

... U.S. Offices About Profession... ...as, plays a vital role in the economy of the Southeastern United States and the country as a whole. The city’s mid-continent location makes its reachable within four hours by air travel from major North American markets, including Toronto, New York, Los Angeles and Mexico City. As the fourth-largest metropolitan ... ...tains the third-highest concentration of Fortune 500 companies in the U.S. ... ...Founded in 1841 and incorporated as a city in 1856, Dallas serves as an int... ...trial airport that ranks as the first of its kind anywhere on the globe; ma... ...; and major highway links to the rest of the continent. Accordingly, the Da... ...cial real estate market embodies many of the region’s excellent features and strengths. The office, retail and industrial sectors rank among the largest in the U.S., attracting billions of dollars worth of international investment from BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) and other regions of the world.Markets OfficeThe Dallas-Fort Worth market comprises more than 226 million square feet of office space. Office product ranges from large multi-tenant buildings in central business districts to suburban office parks. The largest office occupiers include banking, energy, aerospace, and telecommunications firms. Several Fortune 500 companies maintain their corporate headquarters in the region, taking up large blocks of space in downtown locales while also boosting demand in outlying areas. RetailThe Dallas-Fort Worth retail development sector is one of the most vibrant in the United States. The region contains almost numerous shopping centers or malls that each have more than one million square feet of space. Most major national and international brands have developed a presence here as ongoing development, high-quality product in the most-populous areas, and availability of land in surrounding suburbs helps balance supply and demand.IndustrialSeveral factors benefit the Dallas-Fort Worth industrial market – transportation infrastructure being an obvious example. Dallas benefits from having the world’s first industrial airport, which transports cargo only, and another airport that ranks as the third-largest in the U.S., two large intermodal yards and major rail and highway links. Because of the region’s proximity to other major North American markets, long-haul and short-haul trucking, warehousing and logistics firms are extremely active, along with energy-services companies. Many of these companies are expected to expand in coming years. The Great Southwest and Alliance Texas industrial parks alone account for more than 110 million square feet of industrial space. InvestmentThe Dallas-Fort Worth investment real estate market is enhanced by several state and local incentive programs that include tax abatements, long-term tax exemptions and free trade zones. Institutional investors – including pension funds, private-equity funds, REITs and public companies – are attracted to the Dallas region because of its large market size, high income and employment levels, numerous trophy-class properties, and wide range of investment-grade assets.Avison Young in DallasAvison Young launched its Dallas office in July 2011, reaching another milestone in the company’s strategic U.S. expansion program. Together with the firm’s Houston office, the Dallas location gives Avison Young a strong Texas presence and a foothold in the U.S. Southeast. Dallas-area brokers work closely with colleagues in Houston, Calgary and Edmonton on energy-related projects while also partnering with other Avison Young offices across Canada and the U.S. on diverse office, retail, industrial and investment real esta...

... U.S. Offices About Profession... ...rea. Metropolitan Chicago is a center of learning with more than 20 college... ...nowned schools such as the University of Chicago, Northwestern University, University of Illinois-Chicago, DePaul University and Loyola University are located here, making the city’s workforce one of the most highly educated in America. The diverse, talented workforce has attracted the headquarters of more than 30 Fortune 500 companies. Chicago is also home to the largest financial and commodity exchanges in the world, the Chicago Merchantile Exchange and the Chicago Board Options Exchange, and serves as the financial center of the region, which has a highly-diversified economy.The Chicago real estate market as a whole is the third largest in the U.S., with more than 2.25 billion square feet of space. Almost every major REIT and national property owner has a presence in the Chicago market, either through headquarters or branch offices.MarketsOfficeThe Chicago office market, home of the original skyscraper, comprises 450 million square feet of office space. Downtown Chicago, especially along Wacker Drive, has become the location for multiple office developments and redevelopments that have reshaped the city skyline and redefined the market. The strong development activity continues to attract new institutional ownership and enhance an already vibrant market. RetailThe retail market consists of approximately 500 million square feet of retail space. In the central business district, the market is driven by opportunistic retailers who have recognized that the CBD provides them an interesting demographic of young professionals as well as mature empty nesters. Companies entering the market and existing retailers are also creating opportunities for themselves and supporting reverse migration to the CBD. As a result, stores and retail centers have a long-term opportunity to capitalize on the creation of new residential properties.IndustrialWith 1.1 billion square feet of industrial space, Chicago ranks as the second-largest industrial market in America, serving as the logistical hub of the United States. Since Chicago is the only market in the nation where all six class I rail lines converge, the industrial property sector benefits from a unique location within North America. The industrial market also gains from the rare combination of a large population and unlimited green field space. The demographics make Chicago an attractive market for industrial investors. In fact, every major U.S. industrial property investor has a presence in Chicago.InvestmentChicago’s office prices remain highly affordable in comparison to other U.S. and international markets. This situation reflects a developer-friendly environment, a lack of physical restraints, and the desirability of the market. In contrast, stable capitalization rates can drive consistently-strong pricing in the industrial market. This is a reflection of the attractiveness of the market to institutional investors, and Chicago’s strategic location in the center of the country. Consequently, Chicago remains a vital market for institutional buyers and is positioned well for the future.Avison Young in ChicagoAvison Young opened its first U.S. office in Chicago in 2009, marking the launch of aggressive North American and international expansion efforts. Due to the city’s Midwest location and prominent role in North American transportation, Chicago brokers have gained considerable industrial real estate experience while also facilitating major office and retail sale and lease transactions. Avison Young’s Chicago office also works closely with the comp...

... Canada Offices About Professi... ...ture capital, Montreal is the largest city in Quebec and one of the largest in North America. The city takes its name from Mount Royal, the triple-peaked hill located in the heart of the city. Centrally located at one end of the St-Lawrence River, Montreal is the closest major Canadian market to Europe. The city is an important centre of commerce, finance, industry, technology, culture and world affairs. Montreal’s main industries range from aerospace to electronic goods, pharmaceuticals, printed goods, software engineering, telecommunications, textile and apparel manufacturing, tobacco and transportation. The city is home to the headquarters of many important multinational firms, including Air Canada, Bombardier, VIA Rail, Canadian National Railway, Cirque du Soleil, CGI Group, Rio Tinto Alcan, Molson, SNC Lavalin, Saputo and Standard Life, among others. In the aerospace industry, Montreal is an important North American presence for several large international organizations such as IATA, ICAO and SITA. In addition, there are numerous other not-for-profit organizations such as WADA. Montreal is also home to the Caisse de Depot et de Placement du Québec, which is the Province of Quebec’s pension fund managing in excess of $ 200 Billion in total assets.Montreal’s strong economic fundamentals are characterized by a diverse, highly-educated and expanding population of 3.9 million. With access to nine universities (including McGill) and 12 junior colleges within an eight-kilometre radius, Montreal has the highest concentration of post-secondary students of all North American cities. Most residents speak both French and English fluently, with a large percentage also speaking a third language.The city has a healthy commercial real estate market. Over the past decade, the office, retail, industrial and investment sectors have all displayed remarkable stability despite global economic woes. Though the city itself is an island, the north and south shores are part of the Greater Montreal Area (GMA) and have allowed for substantial real estate market expansion.MarketsOfficeDue to its strategic location at the mouth of the St-Lawrence River, its presence as the closest major Canadian market to Europe and the fact that it is the bilingual and economic centre of the province of Quebec, the Montreal office market is among the most important across the continent. With nearly 90 million square feet of office product and a creative, multi-lingual and multi-cultural workforce, the city has developed concentrations clustered around the aviation, educational, gaming and professional-services industries. The downtown office market caters mainly to larger users who operate globally and typically require more than 75,000 square feet of space. As a result, cycles tend to be longer, with historical demand for new development limited to government-subsidized clusters.RetailDue to the city’s strong employment levels, its position as a premiere tourist destination and its European flair, Montreal’s retail sector has expanded steadily over the course of time. Sainte-Catherine Street, Montreal’s main retail strip, ranks among the world’s 30 most sought-after fashion retail corridors. The list, which considers asking rental rates as a prime indicator, compares Montreal’s Sainte-Catherine Street with the Champs d’Elysées in Paris, Fifth Avenue in New York, Causeway Bay in Hong Kong, and Bond Street in London.IndustrialWith more than 250 million square feet of industrial space, Montreal’s industrial market is the second largest in Canada. Low energy costs (hydro-electricity) and an extensive infrastructure system that links the GMA’s main industrial sectors continue to contribute to the market’s strength. The Port of Montreal is the largest inland port in the world, handling more than 25 million tonnes of cargo annually. As a result, Montreal has remained an important trans-shipment point for raw materials, machinery and consumer goods. Consequently, Montreal is an important rail city and the headquarters of Canadian National Railway (CN Rail).InvestmentInstitutional investors – pension funds, REITs and public companies have been present in Montreal for decades due to its large inventory base. While institutional investors dominate the office sector, they have also invested billions in the retail, industrial and multi-residential markets. Private investors tend to have stronger footholds in the industrial and multi-residential sectors.Avison Young in MontrealAvison Young’s roots in Montreal date to 2002. In recent years, Montreal brokers have negotiated large transactions in all asset categories while partnering on major projects with other Avison Young offices in Canada and the United States. What differentiates Avison Young’s Montreal office is a core of senior-level brokers whose experience and track record are unrivalled in the marketplace. Due to this, Avison Young’s Montreal office is particularly well-suited to advise clients through the most complex real estate situations involving office, retail, and industrial leases, as well as a...

... Canada Offices About Professi... ... Area OverviewSituated on the shores of Lake Ontario, Toronto is the capital of the province of Ontario and, with a population of more than 2.6 million, the largest city in Canada and the fifth largest in N... ...ty and multiculturalism are hallmarks of Toronto life, with nearly 50% of city residents born outside of Canada as of the last census. More than 180 languages and dialects are spoken by Toronto’s citizens, offering employers a labour pool well-suited to doing business around the world. Toronto is considered the financial capital of Canada – home to more corporate headquarters than any other Canadian city, along with the country’s five largest banks, many of its largest insurers and pension plan funds, and the Toronto Stock Exchange, which is the second largest in North America and lists more energy and mining stocks than any other in the world. In addition, the city is an important base of operations for publishing, media, telecommunications, film production and information technology.MarketsOfficeToronto is Canada’s largest office market, and among the five largest in North America, with inventory in excess of 168 million square feet. Toronto’s office market houses a diverse tenant base, including financial and professional services, law firms, and the head offices of resources and mining companies. The last five years have seen a revival in development projects in the city’s downtown, expanding the traditional boundaries of the district as new building sites have been located both within and just outside the downtown core. Office submarkets along the subway lines in midtown and at the north end of the city offer good alternatives within the city limits, while the suburbs also boast a wide selection of spaces.RetailWith more than 5 million consumers in the Greater Toronto Area, the city’s stock of retail real estate has historically enjoyed low vacancy rates and stable rental rates. Regional malls and big-box centres scattered across the region augment the city’s smaller plazas and local shopping amenities. As Canada’s largest retail market, Toronto has attracted the attention of retailers from around the world. Over the past five years, high-end retail chains have contributed to the up-market transformation of the posh Bloor-Yorkville area, creating the city’s premier designer-brand shopping district.IndustrialWith more than 850 million square feet of space, the Greater Toronto Area industrial market is Canada’s largest and among the top three on the continent. Traditionally part of the manufacturing heartland, the area is undergoing a transition from manufacturing to a focus on warehousing, logistics and distribution, with some of the largest logistics and supply-chain management companies operating facilities in the area. With 120 million people living within a 500-mile radius of Toronto, the city benefits from its proximity to the most densely populated part of Canada and the United States, the 400-series highways, cross-border railway distribution lines, and air and sea cargo connections to the rest of the world.InvestmentToronto, like the Canadian market overall, is viewed internationally as a safe, stable and transparent place to invest, and thus has attracted attention from foreign buyers. Given the institutional-grade quality of assets in the city, the size of the market and the high profile it enjoys among the international commercial real estate investment community, it is not surprising that Toronto captures the lion’s share of dollar volume in the Canadian investment market.Avison Young in TorontoAvison Young’s presence in Toronto began with the founding of Avison & Associates in 1989 and has grown steadily ever since. Avison Young’s brokerage team in Toronto has consistently completed major leasing and investment sales transactions involving all types of assets on behalf of tenants, landlords, vendors and buyers alike, including many large national and international corporate clients. As Toronto serves as the national headquarters for many corporations, Avison Young’s Toronto office frequently partners with the company’s brokerage operations in both Canada and the United States, collaborating on transactions for branch offices, distribution and retail facilities across the continent. ...