November 2018

• Amazon has committed to 25,000 jobs over a 10 year period. They chose this area in part because of the extensive talent pool already here (emphasis added). Jobs are expected to be mostly in accounting and tech with incomes of about $150k. Of course, a ‘new’ business with such a significant presence is also expected to create jobs in supporting industries like retail, construction, and service businesses nearby (with lower incomes.)
• Amazon has made a commitment to STEM education investments, including a new Virginia Tech campus focused on Computer Science as part of National Landing, and investments at George Mason. The idea here is that Amazon is hoping to hire some homegrown (and local) talent years down the road.
• Incentive payments to Amazon are dependent on the actual number of jobs created.
• Arlington and Alexandria have committed to investing $570 million in transportation improvements, and Virginia has committed to an additional $195 million. Planned investments are additional entrance(s) to the upcoming Potomac Yard metro station, improvements to Rt 1, pedestrian bridges. Additional funding is available if Amazon creates more than 25,000 jobs.

Job Absorption This area is well positioned to absorb the expected 25,000 jobs to come over the next 10+ years. The region already annually adds 34,000 jobs on average; in 7 of the last 17 years we absorbed one FULL (50,000) Amazon’s worth of jobs! (See graph at left.) This could end up being a ‘blip’ in the greater regional area.

Companies whose talent is being poached may or may not backfill hiring, and those companies are scattered throughout the region. Many employees hired locally will not relocate because it just won’t make financial sense and/or the situation will be complicated by a spouse’s commute or kids in school. Consider a hypothetical tech worker making $150k and living in the Reston area. If hired by Amazon (and remember, they’re coming here for the existing talent pool), is this person likely to sell their current home and relocate to Arlington? It’s possible, but it’s more likely this person will just factor in their new commute as an opportunity cost in taking the job. That employee’s current employer will then need to hire someone, who may or may not live in Arlington. See graphic at right for expected distribution of housing for HQ2 employees.

Housing Inventory – Sales and Rentals We can certainly expect an inventory shortage for buying, but also a more significant rental shortage in the short term (first few years) of the deal. Speculators will swoop in hoping for to find a cash flow positive deal—they’re unlikely to find one currently. As always, buy and hold is a much safer strategy, and especially now.

Longer term, builders can build condos and/or convert existing apartments and office buildings to condos for quicker delivery. There isn’t much (any??) land left to build developments, so expect prices on townhouses and single-family detached homes to rise disproportionately vs, condos in the immediate vicinity. There is a strong pipeline of multi-family development already planned for the DC area (see graph). Tear-downs will swooped up by builders at breakneck speed. Once the employees arrive, the segment most likely to see increased competition is the $400-600k range, which is the likely purchasing power of someone in the salary bracket Amazon is hiring. Certainly, this will speed ongoing gentrification of South Arlington and affect nearby pockets of relative affordability that currently exist. With our current affordability crises, even a small increase in prices may have a disproportionate ‘push out’ effect for lower-income workers and renters, and any increase in property taxes resulting from higher valuations will also hurt longtime homeowners on fixed incomes.

Summary These jobs are coming over time, and our area is easily capable of absorbing them. Expect a short-term psychological bubble – sellers should take advantage of this, buyers need to not panic, and investors should proceed cautiously. Think rationally and don’t get caught up in the hype. Expect dramatic rent increases as a result of the trifecta of this area being the ‘next big thing’, eventual students at the new VT campus, and new hires relocating (who will rent for a least a while before buying, if they buy at all.) Housing impacts will be dispersed throughout the area and gradual. Inventory shortages will be most severe in the segments and locations we already have them: entry level townhouses and detached homes in close-in Arlington and Alexandria. Appreciation in property can only be realized if you’re selling, and is a double-edged sword—expect higher property tax assessments (and remember that deductions for state and local taxes like property taxes are now capped in the new tax law.) There ARE opportunities here, if we don’t lose sight of the fundamentals. We’re trying to give you a realistic view of market conditions, and not just trumpet the hype. We’ve seen some excellent opportunities in parts of South Arlington and the northern end of Alexandria. Contact us to discuss your buying or selling strategy.

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