In first quarter 2020, there was much uncertainty and many unknowns about how the medical office market would fare as COVID-19 began to wreak havoc across the globe. At the end of 2020, vacancy was down and rates were up. And now, the vaccine rollout has many providers feeling more confident with expansion plans, according to JLL’s latest Orange County medical office report.

While many health systems continue to restrict capital spends, private payer groups continue to absorb space throughout Orange County with fertility, surgery centers and behavioral health groups leading the way. The continued strength of the medical office market but with fewer health systems absorbing new space is as if the Patriots had six Super Bowl wins without Tom Brady.