With 2Q 2020 posting arguably the ugliest set of economic data in history, most residential real estate markets have largely kept away from huge price changes.

COVID-19 has taught us not only the impact that a pandemic can bring upon, but also the multitude of investment opportunities to be had.

In the corporate space, trends are leaning toward shorter office leases as employers are cautious about committing to long-term decisions.

As investors, we remain highly sensitive to aligning with economic fundamentals, staying conservative on underwriting assumptions.

The first half of 2020 has ended, with the unprecedented COVID-19 outbreak we have witnessed the highest market volatility in this decade.

Read up on past Weekly Vantage Points to find out the hottest news during the period of Q2 2020.

The retail business is anticipated to suffer one of the worst performing quarters as many countries were at near standstill in the last few months.

As countries emerge from lockdowns, stakeholders move focus from fire-fighting to managing the post COVID-19 era in the real estate investment circle.

Despite concerns of a second virus wave as governments gradually ease lockdown measures, market confidence has begun to turn the corner in certain cities.

Major US cities such as Seattle and Austin are experiencing quick recovery in the housing market, whereas UK home prices fell for a third straight month.

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.

As countries begin to re-open their economies, more news and data points emerge to give a glimpse of the impact of the pandemic on the real estate market so far.

While transaction volumes have fallen, certain sectors are experiencing a strong pick up in investment interest.