Investor Appetite Strengthens for Core Assets, According to PricewaterhouseCoopers' Korpacz Real Estate Investor Survey®

NEW YORK, Sept. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- With commercial real estate fundamentals still ailing from the recession and lacking clear signs of near-term improvement, investors remain focused on core assets and proven markets, according to the third quarter 2010 findings of PricewaterhouseCoopers' Korpacz Real Estate Investor Survey®, released today.  The report highlights an improved lending environment with strong appetites from both debt and equity capital for quality real estate assets, with some surveyed investors noting a surprise at the speed at  which debt availability has rebounded over the past year.

Average Overall Cap Rates Remain on Downward Trend

With a limited number of quality offerings to absorb all the pent-up capital, the report reveals that competition is strong among buyers of top-rated assets, causing overall capitalization (cap) rates to remain on a downward trend.  In fact, average overall cap rates declined in 26 of the survey's 31 markets over the past three months.  Overall cap rates, the initial rate of return anticipated by a buyer and a key measure of an investor's assessment of property income and value expectations, tend to move in step with interest rates, which remain very low on a historical basis.

Surveyed investors expect overall cap rates for core assets to either flat line or decline further through the remainder of this year, as they foresee interest rates staying low and the debt markets to continue facilitating property trades.  In the near term, participants expect overall cap rates to decline in the national regional mall market (down as much as 150 basis points) and the San Francisco office market (down as much as 100 basis points).  Conversely, overall cap rates could potentially increase in the office markets of suburban Maryland and Charlotte over the next six months.

"Many investors were waiting to pounce on the anticipated overflow of underwater and distressed quality assets, but that scenario never quite materialized as expected," said Susan Smith, director, real estate advisory practice, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and editor-in-chief of the survey.  "With the skittish economic recovery, little rent growth and minimal leasing velocity, a flight to quality is evident among investors.  Sellers offering quality commercial real estate for sale are garnering a lot of attention."

Lodging Showing Market Rebound

Even as the U.S. economic recovery signals uncertainty, lodging demand is continuing to grow at a brisk pace, creating cautious optimism for this sector.  The report finds that business travelers have returned in many markets and are delivering an important short-term boost to demand.  However, the long-term demand growth is being somewhat muted by the on-going pressure on room rates.  

The Survey finds that U.S. lodging demand is expected to increase 6.7 percent in 2010.  Since part of this demand growth will be absorbed by new supply, the U.S. occupancy rate is forecast to increase only 4.7 percent to 57.2 percent in 2010 – an occupancy level 5.1 percentage points below the 20-year average of 62.3 percent.  Industry-wide ADR (average daily rate) is expected to recover 4.1 percent in 2011 and RevPAR (revenue per available room) growth is projected to be 4.1 percent in 2010 and 6.7 percent in 2011.

Key Findings and Survey Highlights

The report finds that the apartment sector is continuing to lead the recovery with fundamentals having bottomed in most markets, where solid improvements in occupancy and demand are being seen.  

After eleven consecutive quarters of vacancy increases, the warehouse sector is finally showing signs of recovery with a downward shift in vacancy occurring in the second quarter of 2010 due to improvement in global trading, freight shipments and manufacturing activity.

As a whole, the office market continues to struggle.  Although the overall vacancy rate for the national Central Business District (CBD) office market improved slightly, job growth and feeble tenant demand remain top concerns.  Lackluster fundamentals are keeping investors and lenders focused on quality office properties and top-tier markets.

With the fragile economy continuing to hamper consumer spending, the retail sector is showing mixed reviews.  While leasing activity remains sluggish in the national mall market during the second quarter of 2010, surveyed investors note that the dynamics of the leasing market are stabilizing.

Information about subscribing to PricewaterhouseCoopers' Korpacz Real Estate Investor Survey® can be found at http://www.pwc.com/us/korpaczsurvey

About the PricewaterhouseCoopers' Korpacz Real Estate Investor Survey®

PricewaterhouseCoopers' Korpacz Real Estate Investor Survey®, now in its 23rd year of publication, is one of the industry's longest continuously produced quarterly surveys. The current report provides overviews of 31 separate markets, including ten national markets -- regional mall, power center, strip shopping center, CBD office, suburban office, flex/R&D, warehouse, apartment, net lease, and medical office buildings.

The report also includes a review of 18 major U.S. office markets including Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Manhattan, Northern Virginia, Pacific Northwest, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Diego, San Francisco, Southeast Florida, Suburban Maryland, and Washington, DC.  

The third quarter 2010 report also features up-to-date commentaries concerning the economy, debt service, as well as information relating to valuation issues in the industry, such as rent spikes, lodging replacement reserves, value expectations, tenant improvement allowances, forecast periods, and structural vacancy.   Also in this issue is the semi-annual National Lodging Highlights with analysis of four lodging segments.  

About PricewaterhouseCoopers' Asset Management Practice

PricewaterhouseCoopers' (PwC) asset management practice is a leading global provider of audit and assurance, business advisory and tax services to all areas of the industry, including real estate funds/advisors, REITs, homebuilders as well as hospitality and leisure. PwC is one of the leading providers of integrated professional services, with an integrated approach to problem-solving.  Its international network of real estate professionals offer in-depth experience in a wide range of financial accounting and reporting issues; global tax solutions; investment fund structuring; capital market transactions; securitization issues; technological applications; systems, operations and controls; due diligence and transaction support.

About PricewaterhouseCoopers

PricewaterhouseCoopers (www.pwc.com) provides industry-focused assurance, tax and advisory services to build public trust and enhance value for its clients and their stakeholders. More than 163,000 people in 151 countries across our network share their thinking, experience and solutions to develop fresh perspectives and practical advice.

"PricewaterhouseCoopers" refers to PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP or, as the context requires, the PricewaterhouseCoopers global network or other member firms of the network, each of which is a separate and independent legal entity.

SOURCE PricewaterhouseCoopers