Fundamentals Versus Weight of Capital
Deal consummations had been significantly hampered by social distancing measures as well as the wide big-ask spreads between buyers and sellers. Yet even as volumes have pulled back, a stirring of eager capital sitting on the sidelines have not gone unnoticed.
It would hardly surprise anyone that real estate transaction volumes have plunged in 1H 2020. Deal consummations had been significantly hampered by social distancing measures as well as the wide bid-ask spreads between buyers and sellers. Yet even as volumes have pulled back, a stirring of eager capital sitting on the sidelines have not gone unnoticed.
Read also: Implications of COVID-19 Aftermath on Real Estate Sectors
As countries gradually roll back distancing measures, we expect to see a highly uneven market emerge. On one hand, deteriorating market fundamentals globally are dragging on prices. On the other, the immense weight of investment capital amidst an ultra-low interest rate environment means prices in the investment-grade segment of the real estate market should see limited downside.
Read also: Knowing Your Capital Stack
What caught our eyes this week
The Bull Case for Real Estate Investment
Bisnow – European real estate investment activity is set to plummet by 50% before rebounding sharply within the next 12 months, according to a new prediction from Savills. The broker said neither the speed nor the depth of the crash will be as bad as the Global Financial Crisis, when volumes across the continent plunged by 72% between 2007 and 2009.
Despite the spread of the pandemic across the continent, Savills said in most European markets there are indications that investors remain active, particularly in the prime market segment, where there are several deals in progress and minimal price discounts.
Read also: An Analysis of COVID-19’s Impact on Office Real Estate Demand
Asia-Pacific 1st Quarter Real Estate Investment Plunged by 26%
Forbes – Investment in Asia-Pacific commercial real estate plunged by 26% during the first quarter of 2020 as the spread of COVID-19 hurt businesses, according to global real estate consultancy JLL who expects trading volumes to bounce back more strongly in the second half of the year. “There are many well-capitalised investors waiting for investment opportunities, and we think the dislocation in the markets will create strong deal flow across most sectors.”
China Home Price Growth Accelerates in Property Market Boost
Bloomberg – China’s house-price growth accelerated in April as the central bank’s credit easing gave the property market a much-needed lift out of the coronavirus shutdown. While most easing measures didn’t target the property sector directly, buyers expect mortgage costs to decline further as the base rate it’s pegged to has been reduced twice this year.
Read also: REITs or Real Estate Co-Investments?
Rich Chinese Eye Luxury Properties from Singapore to Sydney, Ahead of Anticipated Weaker Yuan
SCMP – As coronavirus restrictions ease, wealthy Chinese buyers are making a move in property hotspots like Shanghai, Seoul and Sydney as their key market selection for real estate investment. In Singapore, virtual tours and photos have been enough to seal multimillion dollar deals, pointing to how transactions are evolving.
The rush to add real estate has led to a jump in upmarket housing prices in China, while offering some support for Asian property markets hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.
UK Property Market Could Fall 13%, Housing Experts Predict
The Guardian – The range of forecasts from the major researchers is markedly wider than usual. At one end is the Centre for Economics and Business Research, which predicts that 2020 prices will be down by 13% as "a lack of transactions, high uncertainty and falling incomes take their toll”. But the estate agent Savills said the hit to the market could be more like 5%, and a third of valuation surveyors are predicting that price falls may be limited to 4% or less.
Read also: Investing in the UK Real Estate Market
Vantage Point is a curated cache of the latest trends in real estate investing repurposed from media outlets and websites around the globe. Each article is a succinct wrap-up of key news points for an easy read. Outbound links, embedded in each editorial, are attributed to original external sources. RealVantage makes no warranties or representations regarding the accuracy, completeness or veracity of the information or data contained in such external sources. Editorials under the Vantage Point vertical do not reflect the views of RealVantage, in part, or in its entirety.
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