2017 had been a whirlwind year as milestones kept coming in the commercial real estate (CRE) industry.
The Asia Pacific economy performed better than we expected, mostly thanks to improved global demand driving stellar export and manufacturing performance. We have had a variety of mini-shocks, some geo-political largely arising from tensions in the Korean peninsula while others being domestic such as the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in India that caused sentiments to fall temporarily in the region’s third largest economy. Nonetheless, our property markets have shrugged off these noises. Occupier demand accelerated in many markets, with office absorption levels across the region posting their highest levels in 2017. Investment volumes also set a new watermark last year, with activity on a sector basis peaking across all asset classes with the exception of retail, where volume is on par with 2013. Further, blockbuster transactions refused to dry up especially in Hong Kong, which saw the largest ever land and office transactions recorded globally. In Japan, the most notable transaction occurred in Yokohama, just outside of Tokyo, indicating that investors are creatively looking outwards to search for opportunities.
In 2018, the region will continue to benefit from the global recovery in terms of increased demand and agenda of reforms. Against this strong backdrop, central banks will begin normalizing monetary policy, with the Bank of Korea already lifting interest rates for the first time since 2011. However, the low inflation environment means a gradual approach. We expect that same strength to hold in the property markets, with office occupancy and rent growth anticipated to remain at healthy levels even as new supply peaks in 2018. Investment activity should be no different, with transaction volumes expected to edge higher in 2018. We explain below our reasons for optimism.
