RICS: Investment Cash Returns to Commercial Property

USA - English

• USA - English
• USA - English

HONG KONG, Feb. 1 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Investor activity rose across 70 percent of the Globe as commercial property recovered as an asset class says RICS Global Property Survey published on 27 January.

(Logo: http://www.prnasia.com/sa/2009/08/17/200908171721.jpg )

Commercial property transactions rose across the majority of the globe with Brazil and China leading the way. With generally low interest rates and relatively high yields, investors have returned to commercial property. The net balance of surveyors reporting a rise in transactions in Brazil rose from 29 percent to 61 percent in the fourth quarter while the net balance in China edged up to 58 percent from 47 percent. By way of contrasts, more surveyors again reported a drop in activity in the US. Occupier demand has also been most visible across the emerging economies with lettings activity picking up most in Latin America, emerging Europe and most of Asia.

The UK property recovery was led by the London office market, with the amount of available space declining for the first time in two years. However, elsewhere in the UK and across 90 percent of the globe, the amount of available space continued to rise. There were some notable exceptions. Brazil, Peru, Venezuela, Austria, Hong Kong and Ghana are all witnessing mild declines.

Surveyors are confident that the emerging economies, particularly in Latin America and Asia, will continue to lead the property recovery into the first quarter of 2010 but concerns persist over the outlook for some of the more developed real estate markets. Surveyors generally remain downbeat on the US, Japan, Germany, Italy and the United Arab Emirates.

RICS chief economist Simon Rubinsohn said:

"The latest Global Commercial Property Survey demonstrates in the clearest possible terms that it is emerging real estate markets where sentiment has turned around most significantly. Crucially, the improvement in investor appetite is being accompanied by a firmer tone to the rental market. This is key to ensuring that the recovery proves sustainable."

"The strength of the results contained in the survey for Latin America and Asia are a reflection of the unfolding economic recovery with many of the more developed markets likely to be hampered by the challenges resulting from the ballooning of public sector debt and need of the authorities to gradually exit from emergency monetary conditions."

Commenting on the report, Ong See Lian, Vice President of RICS and Chairman of RICS Asia said:

"Clearly the report confirms investors' confidence in the Asia market, in particular China. Asia will lead the world in its economic recovery and the improvement in investors' confidence will augur well for the property market in Asia."

Henry Li, Chairman of RICS China commented on the Chinese market:

"The more positive sentiment towards the occupier market has been evident across a wider number of real estate markets, in particular China. The RICS Global Commercial Property Survey Q4 2009 reflects the investor transactions are now rising with China topping the statistics in terms of an investment led property recovery."

Focusing on local issues, David Faulkner, RICS Hong Kong Chairman said:

"The positive sentiment towards both the investor and occupier markets in Hong Kong has seen both capital values and rents increasing whilst yields remain at record low levels. With no signs of an imminent rise in interest rates, yields are expected to remain stable with any increase in rents being reflected in higher capital values in the short term."

Notes to Editors:

About the Global Property Commercial Survey

RICS' Global Commercial Property Survey is a quarterly guide to the developing trends in the commercial property investment and occupier market. This edition details market conditions for the 4th quarter of 2009 based on information collected from leading international real estate organisations and local firms.

If you would like to download the full report, please click at the link below: http://www.ricsasia.org/newsDetail.php?id=156&regionID=0

About RICS & RICS Asia

RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) is the mark of property professionalism worldwide. It covers all aspects of property, construction and associated environmental issues. RICS has 140,000 members globally and represents, regulates and promotes the work of property professionals throughout 122 countries.

The RICS Asia supports a network of over 11,000 individual professionals across the Asia Pacific region with an objective to help develop the property and construction markets in these countries, by introducing professional standards, best practice and international experience. It promotes RICS and its members as the natural advisors on all property matters. It also ensures that services and career development opportunities are provided to members.

The RICS Asia region covers national associations and local groups locating in Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, The People's Republic of China and the SAR Hong Kong. It also has members working across the region such as Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma/Myanmar, Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Kiribati, Laos PDR, Macao, Mongolia, Nepal, North Korea, South Korea, Taiwan, The Maldives, The Philippines, Timor East and Vietnam. For more information, please visit: http://www.ricsasia.org .

    Media enquiry, please contact:

     RICS Asia Public Relations Representative
     Ms Belinda Chan / Ms Ava Lau
     Tel:    +852-2372-0090
     Fax:    +852-2372-0490
     Mobile: +852-9379-3045 / +852-9829-2913
     Email:  [email protected] / [email protected]

SOURCE Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors