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Real estate outlook: positive returns expected in challenging year

Now we’re into 2016, investors are asking the question, “Are real estate markets peaking, or is there more upside in this cycle?"

Since the lows of the GFC, non-residential real estate and listed A-REITs (Australian Real Estate Investment Trusts) have delivered positive risk-adjusted returns. In fact, A-REITs have been the standout performer over the past five years, taking the title as the best performer in four of the past five years.

Over the five years to 31 December 2015, A-REITs delivered a total return of 15.3% per annum, more than double the 6.7% per annum from equities and 6.6% from bonds, and higher than the 10.7% from direct property, as shown in Figure 1. The one-year 2015 performance is also strong.

It is not surprising that investors are increasingly asking, “Is this as good as it gets?”

We believe the strong performance of both listed and unlisted real estate sectors won’t be repeated to the same extent in 2016, but we also believe that a major downturn is unlikely. The one caveat is if the volatility and negative investor sentiment that hit global financial markets in the first two months of this year returns, leading to a major tightening of liquidity in financial markets, then real estate, whether listed or unlisted, won’t be immune to the fallout. Having said that, prime real estate with secure income and strong A-REITs with quality assets and management will look relatively attractive.

Foreign investment set to continue

International capital was a feature of the Australian market in 2015 and will be again in 2016. According to Cushman & Wakefield, non-residential transactions topped $29.9 billion, with foreign investors accounting for just over 50% of total transactions by value, as shown in Figure 2.

Foreign investment activity in non-residential real estate (and also the listed A-REIT sector) has been growing steadily over the past few years driven by a confluence of factors, including:

  • global investors chasing Australia’s relatively high yields
  • Australia’s transparent and relatively stable market
  • growth in Asia-Pacific focused real estate funds which are allocating capital to Australia as part of their regional mandates
  • China’s insurance companies targeting real estate investments, together with a relaxation of restrictions on their international investing activities
  • the decline in the Australian dollar.

A challenging year to deploy capital

International investors will continue to be active buyers in Australia particularly for prime office, retail and industrial assets, making it difficult for local investors who typically have a higher cost of capital to compete. We also see the listed A-REIT market as being attractive to foreign capital in 2016 for much the same reasons as direct real estate.

We are now seven years into the up-cycle, and we see less upside to many markets than we have in recent years. Valuations in the direct market are not cheap enough in many instances to reflect the risk we see from the macroeconomic headwinds.

We expect steady real estate demand across most non-residential sectors with the exception of Perth and to a lesser extent Brisbane, which are affected by the resource sector downturn. Notwithstanding cap rates are nearing pre-GFC lows, given the weight of money chasing real estate assets, capital values for quality assets (i.e. those with strong covenants, long leases and quality locations) will rise in the year ahead.

The availability of equity from domestic and international investors and debt from lenders will be critical. Should one or both of these sources of capital contract due to concerns about economic or capital market conditions, it could place pressure on values, especially for secondary assets unless there is a clear strategy for value creation.

The challenge in this environment is to avoid broad ‘beta’ plays on real estate (investing in the hope that the market uplift will drive asset performance) or simply taking greater risk in search of higher (yield) returns.

Given we are close to full valuations in some markets, earnings growth rather than yield compression will be the key driver of value creation going forward.

Investors seeking higher returns by taking on more risk may not be rewarded. Instead investors should focus on value-creation through active management of assets via releasing, repositioning or refurbishing. Now is not the time to stretch on price or overcommit to acquisition-driven strategies. Be disciplined and be patient. Sometimes being defensive, including raising some extra cash, is actually an offensive move as it creates optionality when the future appears most uncertain. In our view, the next 12 to 24 months could be one of those times.

We continue to believe that real estate related social infrastructure (childcare, seniors living, healthcare and student housing) will offer attractive investment returns in the coming year. The demographic drivers and a shortage of quality accommodation in these sectors will see investors increasingly look at these investments as a legitimate part of a real estate portfolio.

A-REITs still attractive as a defensive play

The A-REIT sector has generally been disciplined in its capital allocation, including:

  • focusing on core investment strategies and not undertaking risky global expansion plays like it did prior to the GFC
  • maintaining relatively low leverage
  • employing sustainable pay-out ratios
  • growing earnings through active asset management.

We expect A-REITs to deliver a total return of circa 10% in 2016, underpinned by a dividend yield of 5%. A-REITs present well on yield relative to the cash rate and other ASX-listed equity sectors and global REIT markets and should continue to be well supported given their relatively visible earnings and distribution growth.

To access the Folkestone 2016 Real Estate Outlook paper, please click here.

 

Adrian Harrington is Head of Funds Management at Folkestone (ASX:FLK). This article is general information and does not address the specific investment needs of any individual.

 

3 Comments
Adrian Harrington
March 21, 2016

Thanks Gary for the question. Rising investment in Australia by Chinese investors is part of a global trend. Capital flows from China to Australia are being driven by our new bi-lateral trade agreement, growing numbers of Chinese tourists, students, and immigrants.
There are four key areas where Chinese investment will continue into Australia:
1. agriculture - this is being driven by China's desire to have access to foodchain;
2. hotels - Chinese are now the biggest source of inbound tourism to Australia taking over from NZ. Chinese travel companies are looking to become globally integrated and this means owning hotels in key destinations including Australia.
3. office buildings - Chinese insurance companies have only been allowed to invest in real estate since 2009. Further deregulation in 2012 allowed investment in overseas markets
and today overseas investment can be up to 15% of total asset value. Current holdings of investment properties for all Chinese insurance companies totals less than 1.0%. According to Cushman & Wakefield, the top five insurers have an allocation of under 2%
underscoring the potential for rapid growth. Most US, UK and Australian insurance companies will have around 10% allocated to real estate so they are underweight. Hence why China insurance companies like CIC, Ping Am and Fosun have been, and will continue to be active buyers of real estate in global gateway cities including Sydney and Melbourne office markets
4. residential - both developers and investors continue to come to Australia. Our residential markets are attractive for a variety of reasons. This amount of capital flowing in will ebb and flow depending on conditions in China and Australia at certain times in the cycle. However, we see the Chinese as being key players long-term in our residential market.

As to which sectors are most at risk, it is clearly residential given the recent strong flows and the investor activity. A number of smaller Chinese developers have paid too much for sites and we are hearing them struggling with rising construction costs to make things stack up. Investment into the other sectors is being driven by long-term decisions so they are mostly adopting a buy and hold strategy.

As to how much - the impact is hard to quantify. I have yet to see anyone really put a hard number on this despite reports produced by CBRE - Chinese Capital - is it here to stay?, KPMG/Knight Frank - Demystifying Chinese Investment in Australia, Knight Frank - Chinese Outward Real Estate Investment Globally and into Australia and Credit Suisse - Australia: China's Extended Property Boom. I have copies of all four reports if you'd like them.

Warren Bird
March 20, 2016

Why does this matter? Speculation about where markets might go is NOT what I read Cuffelinks for.

Gary M
March 19, 2016

Adrian, I think the biggest threat to many sectors of real estate is the potential for limits to capital outflow from China. Assuming this happened, which sectors do you think would be hardest hit, and by how much?

 

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