Ravi Chandran
Investment demand for Singapore real estate remained resilient in Q3 2019 despite the macroeconomic headwinds and heightened global uncertainties said a Colliers International research
- Total real estate investment sales* jumped 53.7% in Q3 2019 to SGD11.2 billion
- Commercial property sector led sales growth in the quarter, accounting for 41% of total transactions
- Hospitality transactions hit the record high at SGD2.8 billion in Q3 2019
Colliers International today published its latest quarterly research report which showed that investment demand for Singapore real estate remained resilient in Q3 2019 despite the macroeconomic headwinds and heightened global uncertainties.
Based on data tracked by Colliers Research, real estate investment sales totaled SGD11.2 billion in Q3 2019 – representing a 53.7% increase from the previous quarter as well as the corresponding period a year ago. The growth was driven by stronger sales across all segments of the property market, as global capital continues to seek opportunities in safe and stable investment destinations.
“Based on advance estimates from the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI), Singapore’s GDP grew by 0.1% YOY in Q3 2019, the same pace as in Q2. As of 23 September 2019, Oxford Economics has downgraded Singapore’s GDP growth forecast for the year from 0.7% to 0.5% as trade outlook remained weak due to slow Chinese import demand, a sluggish global ICT sector, and uncertainties amid the US-China trade war.”
Colliers said that amidst the macroeconomic headwinds, the real estate investment demand in Singapore remained resilient.
“The commercial sector continued the strong momentum started in Q2 2019 and accounted for 41% of total investment volume in Q3. The residential sector increased its share in total investment volume to 27%, up from 22% in Q2, boosted by increased public land sales and a jump in luxury home sales (defined as non-landed and landed homes, and Good Class Bungalows (GCBs), over SGD10 million). Hospitality transaction volumes surged in Q3, increasing sector’s share to 25%, from 6% in Q2.”
Ms Tricia Song, Head of Research for Singapore at Colliers International, said, “Amid unprecedented levels of uncertainty in the global environment, Singapore remains firmly on investors’ radar owing to its growth potential, stable government, and pro-business policies. Therefore, we expect Singapore real estate – particularly commercial and hospitality assets – to continue to attract interest. Colliers Research projects that total investment sales could reach SGD33.8 billion for the full year 2019 – on par with that of 2018.”
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Commercial
The commercial sector led investment sales growth, making up 41% of the total volume in Q3 2019. Commercial real estate investment sales came in at SGD4.6 billion in Q3 – up by 3.2% quarter-on-quarter (QOQ) and more than doubled year-on-year (YOY) – anchored by deals for Duo, 313@Somerset and 71 Robinson Road.
This brought the commercial tally in the first nine months of 2019 (9M2019) to SGD10.3 billion, an increase of 174% YOY. In view of the strong investment interest, Colliers Research projects that commercial real estate investment sales could hit a record high for the whole of 2019, trumping the SGD12.5 billion achieved in 2007.
Jerome Wright, Director of Capital Markets at Colliers International, said, “There was strong demand for commercial (office and retail) properties in Q3, with increasing foreign interest. Given Singapore’s strong market fundamentals and the favourable interest rate environment, we should expect investors’ interest to remain elevated. In addition, incentives to redevelop older office buildings in the central business district, coupled with tight vacancies and a light new supply pipeline, should encourage more investments into the sector.”
Residential
In Q3 2019, residential investment sales increased by 90.1% QOQ and 4.7% YOY to SGD3.1 billion, accounting for 27% of total transactions. This took the 9M2019 overall volume to SGD5.8 billion, Colliers Research noted.
Public land sales contributed to the bulk of the residential sales, representing 62% of the total. During the quarter, four sites – Clementi Avenue 1, Tan Quee Lan Street, Bernam Street, and one-north Gateway – valued at a combined SGD1.9 billion were awarded to developers. In particular, Tan Quee Lan Street was among the five largest transactions posted in Q3 2019.
Luxury homes sales, including Good Class Bungalows (GCBs) also boosted residential investment volume. Transactions in this segment jumped 62.4% QOQ and 53.8% YOY to SGD1.1 billion in Q3 2019. Notable deals in the quarter included James Dyson’s purchase of a GCB and a super-penthouse for over SGD100 million.
In the light of the weaker collective sale market, Colliers Research expects residential investment sales in 2019 to fall by 55% from the record level in 2018, before recovering from 2020 onwards.
Hospitality
Hospitality deals in Q3 surged by 545% QOQ and more than 19 times YOY to SGD2.8 billion, on several sizeable transactions including Bay Hotel, Mandarin Orchard and Crowne Plaza Changi Airport. Colliers Research observed that the SGD2.8 billion worth of transactions in Q3 2019 was the highest level ever recorded on a quarterly basis.
Factoring in the strong sales recorded in the first half of 2019, hospitality transactions in 9M2019 totaled SGD4.2 billion, higher than even all previous full-year figures in our database, which started from 2006.
Ms. Song added, “We believe the hospitality segment presents good prospects amid robust international visitor arrivals and generally healthy tourism outlook. Singapore continues to be an attractive destination and additional investments in the MICE and leisure sectors should attract both corporate and leisure travelers in the next three to five years. Additionally, the government’s ongoing efforts to revamp offerings and improve transport infrastructure should help to further drive tourism and support the hospitality sector.”
Industrial
Meanwhile, industrial investment sales in Q3 edged up 12.0% QOQ to SGD681 million, mainly on Keppel DC REIT’s acquisition of two data centres. On a YOY basis, the sales volume was down by 41.2%. Over the first nine months of the year, the sales tally for industrial properties remained modest at SGD1.8 billion.
Colliers Research expects more industrial assets to be monetised by way of sales to real estate investment trusts (REITs), and projects full year 2019 industrial sales to increase by 30% YOY on big-ticket transactions. High-specs business space that caters to the high-growth technology sector could be one key investment bright spot, it notes.
