Capital Markets

Q2 2023 Singapore Figures report provides the latest commentary and data on net absorption, rents, vacancy, supply and other key metrics in Singapore's office, business parks, retail, residential and industrial markets, along with an analysis of real estate investment activity.

Executive Summary

Office: With a low prevailing vacancy level, gross effective rents for the Core CBD (Grade A) market increased marginally by 0.4% q-o-q.

Business Parks: Leasing activity was focused on renewals as occupiers exercised more caution due to rising global macro economic headwinds. Selected tech and R&D industries gave up space in Q2 2023.

Retail: Prime retail rents for all submarkets rose further in Q2 2023, supported by the continued recovery of the Orchard Road, City Hall/Marina Centre and Fringe areas, and the resilience of the suburban market.

Residential: Private home prices declined for the first time in three years after cooling measures.

Industrial: Prime logistics rentals have grown by 8.6% in H1 2023, despite a weak macroeconomic backdrop mainly due to limited supply.

Investment: Preliminary real estate investment volumes in Singapore for Q2 2023 declined 44.1% q-o-q and 64.3% y-o-y to $3.495 bn, mainly on sharp falls in retail and office asset sales.

This report was originally published in https://www.cbre.com.sg/insights/figures/singapore-figures-q2-2023

Download the Report Read More

FY23 saw PE activity in real estate stable on a y-o-y basis. However, there was a keen interest in platform deals, with a total value of $4.5 Bn. Most of the large ticket platform deals were in rent-generating assets (offices & warehouses) for pan India developments, while the smaller ticket items were largely for residential developments in southern cities of India. Domestic investors were significantly more active in FY23, while foreign investors have seen their incremental investments decline. Consequently, the share of domestic PE investors in Indian RE increased from 14% in FY22 to 22% in FY23.

Download the Report Read More

The office sector remains a key focus for Asia Pacific investors optimistic about the long-term fundamentals.

• Within APAC, Melbourne and Tokyo stand out on the path to value stability and recovery along with Copenhagen, Toronto and San Francisco at the global level. 

• While core offices remain a top pick for investors in APAC and EMEA, substantiated by current office investment volumes, there is a very different narrative in North America.

• Office occupancy levels in APAC are averaging 80%, and office density remains high. In Europe, occupancy is back to 65% and in North America, rates are at 50%.

• Seoul and Singapore recorded net absorption 30% above historical averages with both markets recording falling vacancy rates over 2022, contrary to most major markets globally. 

• Although limited sales transactions occurred over Q1 2023, we anticipate market sentiment will recover as an expected peak of the interest rate cycle comes to fruition over H2 2023 and equips investors and vendors with clarity and confidence regarding asset values and the cost of borrowing across the region.

 

Read More

Key Trends

• Investment sentiment remains subdued
• High interest rates continue to weigh on investor demand
• Office (-40% q-o-q) and industrial (-52% q-o-q) investment declines sharply
• Negative carry drives some motivated sellers to increase discounts
• Cap rates set to expand further over remainder of year
• Purchasing activity to remain muted but should resume in H2 2023
• Prices to undergo further downward adjustment

This report was originally published in https://www.cbre.com/research-and-reports?PUBID=CA8D02B3-3EA7-409C-B5BA-0BD91194CD6E

Download the Report Read More