Led by Ropes & Gray’s 429,342-square-foot commitment at 1285 Ave. of the Americas, Manhattan office leasing activity totaled 1.82 million square feet in November, 10% ahead of the five-year monthly average of 1.65 million square feet, CBRE reported. This marks the eighth consecutive month of leasing volume surpassing the five-year average. 

Year-to-date leasing activity through Nov. 30 totaled 20.75 million square feet, up 29% from the prior year. Renewals totaled 755,000 square feet in November, bringing the YTD total to 8.31 million square feet.

The availability rate was unchanged from last month at 18.9% but was down 120 basis points year-over-year, according to CBRE. Net absorption was positive 199,000 square feet in November, bringing the YTD total to positive 5.16 million square feet.

At $77.97 per square foot, the average asking rent was essentially flat month-over-month, but gained 1% Y-O-Y. The sublease availability rate declined 10 bps from last month to 4.2%, with the average asking rent remaining flat from one year ago at $57.89 per square foot.

The Trepp CMBS Special Servicing Rate increased another 34 basis points to 9.14% in October 2024. Over the past six months, the rate has increased by just over 100 bps, with the October figure reflecting the 10th consecutive monthly increase, according to Trepp.

Among the major property types, the office sector saw the highest month-over-month increase in the special servicing rate, climbing 136 bps to 13.94%. Compared to October 2023, the office rate is up 539 bps. The last time the office special servicing rate breached 13% was in November 2011; it remained above 13% until July 2012.

Meanwhile, the lodging rate has continued to climb, reaching 8.32% in October; the last time it was above 8% was in May 2022 when the rate was coming down from COVID highs. Multifamily and retail also experienced upticks in October, each rising by 14 bps to 6.21% and 11.37%, respectively.

The Trepp CMBS Special Servicing Rate rose 33 basis points to 8.79% in September. This was the ninth consecutive monthly increase and the second-largest uptick of 2024, the firm reported.

Distress was consistent throughout, with the respective special servicing rates of the five major property types all increasing. Although these increases varied in degree, four of the five property types increased by at least 30 bps. Driving the overall September increase was office, which surged 67 bps to 12.58%.

The office rate is now up more than 200 bps over the past four months alone, with distress continuing to mount. More than half the September dollar amount of new transfers to special servicing occurred in the sector, according to Trepp.

The multifamily rate rose 36 bps to 6.07%, surpassing the 6% mark for the first time in nearly nine years. Furthermore, the retail rate reached a near two-year high of 11.22%, and the lodging rate hit a two-year high of 7.84%. Even with an 11-bp increase in September, though, industrial CMBS in special servicing still comes in below 1%.

The Trepp CMBS Special Servicing Rate ticked up slightly in June, rising two basis points to 8.23%. Although the monthly increase was minimal, Trepp noted that it represents the sixth consecutive monthly increase. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the last time the rate eclipsed this month’s 8.23% was January 2014, according to Trepp.

A few property types experienced more than modest change for good or bad in June. Mixed-use special servicing rose the most, up 40 bps in June to 9.34%. This is the first time the mixed-use rate has eclipsed 9.00% since July 2013. The office rate also rose in June, increasing 27 bps to 10.79% after its first decline of the year in May.

Two property types that saw material improvement were lodging and multifamily, with drops of 54 and 26 bps, respectively. Although the multifamily rate experienced some relief, it remains relatively high, still sitting above 5.00%. Retail continues to hold the highest special servicing rate at 10.82%, while at the other end of the spectrum sits industrial at 0.33%.