Commercial Real Estate Market Recovery Has Already Begun, Says New White Paper From Forward

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- While residential property markets remain troubled, commercial real estate markets have already entered an up cycle and are poised for "slow, steady improvement" over the next five to seven years, says a new white paper from Forward Management, LLC ("Forward").

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110927/PH75286LOGO ) 

Titled Inflection Point: The Start of a New Cycle in Real Estate?, the paper posits that the recovery will play out in uneven waves across U.S. and international markets.  Knowledge-based "gateway" cities and technology corridors are already recovering as job growth fuels demand across commercial property sectors. As vacancies drop and rents rise in those areas, demand will likely spill over into suburban job centers and secondary markets, the paper suggests.        

"Many investors see commercial real estate as tarred with the same brush as the residential market, but  the dynamics of the two sectors are quite different. Commercial real estate didn't have the same kind of massive, debt-fueled bubble that brought down the residential sector, and commercial property prices and rents recovered fairly quickly after the financial crisis," said Joel Beam, one of the three Forward real estate portfolio managers who authored the paper.   

"Even with weak U.S. job growth, the supply/demand picture appears favorable on the commercial side, especially in the apartment and lodging sectors, while housing is still in the weeds. Meanwhile, commercial properties are relatively inexpensive by historical standards," said Ian Goltra, also a co-author of the paper.  He noted that in 2011, private equity fundraising for direct property purchases hit a new peak of more than $150 billion[1].               

Among other evidence of the commercial property sector's improving prospects, the paper cites:

-  Improving property operating results, due largely to declining vacancies and rising rents.  Same-property operating income across the five major property sectors shrank in 2009 and 2010, but is expected to grow by 2.4% in 2011 and rise further in the ensuing five years, according to forecasts by Green Street Advisors, Inc.    

- Historically low growth in the supply of commercial properties, due to tight credit and weak economic growth. Construction is barely sufficient to replace obsolete properties, pointing to a further decline in vacancies and rise in rents.   

- The continued profitability of many real estate companies during the recession. As one indicator, the paper shows that four of the five largest companies in the FTSE NAREIT Equity REITs Index had greater cash flow from operations in 2009 than they did pre-crisis.      

The paper cautions that expectations for a new real estate cycle are predicated on continued improvement in the economy and job picture, and that the recovery of equity markets generally could be derailed by some unforeseen shock to financial systems. "In spite of the uncertainties, investors still need to earn a return on their money," commented Beam. "We believe that, with its relatively predictable cash flow, real estate remains a sensible way to invest for the long term. If anything, the market turmoil of the last few years has reaffirmed just how sensible it is."   

Individuals who want to invest in commercial real estate should consider publicly-traded REITs among the options, particularly if they are seeking investment income, the paper suggests. Among the advantages of public REITs, it cites their liquidity, predictable cash flow from long-term leases, and low correlation to the broad equity markets, as well as their dividend streams. Under federal law, U.S. REITs must distribute 90% of their taxable income to shareholders if they want to avoid corporate income taxes[2].

"We see real estate as an essential portfolio building block for investors who want to pursue long-term returns, find investment income, and manage portfolio risk through diversification," said J. Alan Reid, Jr., CEO of Forward Management. "As a broad asset class, real estate has returned an average of 11% annually over the past 30 years and has often been a reliable source of dividends. Our analysis suggests that it may continue to hold a variety of opportunities going forward."   

The three authors of the study team-manage four mutual funds with more than $1.3 billion in total assets as of December 31, 2011. Joel Beam is lead portfolio manager of the Forward Select Income Fund, which focuses on REIT preferred securities; Ian Goltra is lead portfolio manager of the Forward Real Estate Long/Short Fund; the two co-manage the Forward Real Estate Fund. Michael McGowan is portfolio manager of the Forward International Real Estate Fund.

The team is unusual in having more than 20 years of shared history that spans four major real estate industry cycles. The lessons learned through that experience are reflected in the team's two-pronged approach to valuation, its analytical disciplines, and its emphasis on on-the-ground fundamental research.         

About Forward
Investors today are seeking new tools and strategies to help them achieve their goals and manage risk.  Forward is an asset management firm that is helping to meet and anticipate those needs with a set of diverse, ever-evolving solutions. Providing broad access to  innovative strategies once available only to the largest and most sophisticated investors, we are helping to lead the industry in a new direction. As of December 31, 2011, Forward manages $5.1 billion in assets in mutual funds, separate account strategies and limited partnerships.  More information on Forward Management and the Forward Funds can be found at www.forwardmgmt.com.

The FTSE NAREIT Equity REITs Index is representative of the tax-qualified REITs listed on the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ National Market.

You cannot invest directly in an index.

Diversification does not assure profit or protect against risk.

There are risks involved with investing, including loss of principal. Past performance does not guarantee future results, share prices will fluctuate, and you may have a gain or loss when you redeem shares.

A fund that concentrates its investments in opportunities in the real estate industry or otherwise invests in real estate-related securities is subject to the risks associated with direct ownership of real estate. Real estate values can fluctuate as a result of general and local economic conditions, over-building and increased competition, increases in property taxes and operating expenses, changes in zoning laws, casualty or condemnation losses, regulatory limitations on rents, changes in neighborhood values, increases in interest rates, and defaults by borrowers or tenants. The value of equities that service the real estate business sector may also be affected by such risks.

The Forward Select Income Fund seeks high current income and potential for modest long-term growth of capital.

The Forward Real Estate Long/Short Fund seeks total return through a combination of high current income relative to equity investment alternatives, plus long term growth of capital.

The Forward International Real Estate Fund seeks total return from both capital appreciation and current income through investing primarily in a portfolio of non-U.S. real estate securities.

The Forward Real Estate Fund seeks income with capital appreciation as a secondary goal.

You should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the Forward Funds carefully before investing. A prospectus with this and other information may be obtained by calling (800) 999-6809 or by downloading one from www.forwardfunds.com. It should be read carefully before investing.

Forward Funds are distributed by ALPS Distributors, Inc. Separately Managed Accounts and related investment advisory services are provided by Forward Management, a federally regulated investment advisor.

[1] http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-08-17/colony-joins-buyout-firms-seeking-real-estate-funds-as-fees-under-pressure.html

[2] Source: Forward Management  

Contact: Victoria Odinotska
Kanter and Company
(703) 534-2150

SOURCE Forward Management, LLC