Do Large-Scale Owners Enjoy Brand-Induced Premiums?

Executive Summary In this paper, we examine the impact of large-scale ownership on commercial real estate rent and selling price premiums. We also examine whether ENERGY STAR premiums found in the literature are a result of a signal for an ownership brand effect rather than the label itself. The results suggest that large-scale owners generate significant market rental premiums, indicating a potential brand effect. The effect of sales prices is mixed when buyers manage the property. We argue that large scale owners create a brand effect by reducing information asymmetry in the commercial real estate leasing market. The results show that the price and rental premiums associated with the ENERGY STAR designation might signal the brand effect to the market.