Going out over the next five years, Los Angeles County ranks second nationwide, behind Washington D.C., according to a Grubb & Ellis forecast that's out today. The ranking is based on a score that covers 16 demographic, economic and property variables. Orange County was in the No. 7 spot. L.A. was tops in the industrial market (by a lot), third in the retail market and second in the multi-housing market. The numbers are not that surprising - office space was very tight last year as a result of a solid economy and little new construction. Industrial space is routinely tight because shippers and retailers want to be close to the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach - and because land is in short supply. Top 10 lists on the jump. Full report.

U.S. OFFICE MARKET STRENGTH FORECAST
Top 10 Markets 2007 – 2011*

United States Overall Score* Rank
Washington, D.C., metro 70.8 1
Los Angeles County 70.2 2
Las Vegas 69.6 3
Dallas/Fort Worth 68.8 4
Phoenix/Mesa, Scottsdale 68.8 4
Seattle/Tacoma/Bellevue 68.7 6
Orange County, Calif. 66.5 7
Orlando, Fla., 64.7 8
Houston 62.2 9
Portland, Ore. 60.9 10

*Markets were ranked from 0 to 100 against 16 property, economic and
demographic variables.

U.S. INDUSTRIAL MARKET STRENGTH FORECAST
Top 10 Markets 2007 – 2011*

United States Overall Score* Rank
Los Angeles County 83.1 1
Houston 69.1 2
Dallas/Fort Worth 67.0 3
New Jersey (northern and central) 63.7 4
Phoenix/Mesa/Scottsdale 63.5 5
Miami/Dade County 61.1 6
Oakland/East Bay, Calif. 60.1 7
Chicago 58.3 8
Washington, D.C., metro 56.8 9
Las Vegas 56.4 10

*Markets were ranked from 0 to 100 against 14 property, economic and
demographic variables.

U.S. RETAIL MARKET STRENGTH FORECAST
Top 10 Markets 2007 – 2011*

United States Overall Score* Rank
Washington, D.C., metro 82.1 1
Dallas/Fort Worth 79.1 2
Los Angeles 78.9 3
Houston 72.3 4
Las Vegas 66.9 5
Atlanta 61.6 6
Chicago 59.1 7
Riverside/San Bernardino, Calif. 58.4 8
San Diego 58.2 9
Phoenix/Mesa/Scottsdale 57.7 10

*Markets were ranked from 0 to 100 against 16 property, economic and
demographic variables.

U.S. MULTI HOUSING MARKET STRENGTH FORECAST
Top 10 Markets 2007 – 2011*

United States Overall Score* Rank
Riverside/San Bernardino, Calif. 54.6 1
Los Angeles County 53.3 2
Washington, D.C., metro 51.2 3
Dallas/Fort Worth 49.8 4
Phoenix/Mesa/Scottsdale 48.3 5
Sacramento 47.1 6
Houston 45.9 7
Las Vegas 45.6 8
Orange County, Calif. 44.4 9
San Diego 44.2 10

*Markets were ranked from 0 to 100 against 13 property, economic and
demographic variables.