Three trends driving real estate investments in a post-pandemic economy

Office real estate is undergoing a fundamental shift, while COVID-19 has accelerated a number of global real estate investment trends, including the continued growth of e-commerce and falling home ownership.

However, new trends have also emerged, in particular, the decentralisation of work. Since the pandemic proved the viability of remote working, we are seeing a shift from dense urban to more city-fringe and suburban locations. It’s part of a new emerging paradigm of living, working and playing locally.

A tale of two cities: fringe vs centre

We believe the office sector will experience a bifurcation between heavily disrupted sky rise office towers, in favour of modern “A” grade city fringe and suburban office buildings.

Serviced-based businesses are well-suited to the adoption of remote working practices, and this brings into the question the need for high-rise office space which tends to be expensive, inflexible, congested and inefficient. In many instances, the difference in rent can be as high as 50%.

As a result, we believe these traditional CBD buildings will be heavily disrupted, experiencing higher natural levels of vacancy and falling market rents and valuations. Concurrently, low-rise, city fringe and suburban offices will see increased demand.

E-tailers creating tailwinds

Another trend we have observed is that while physical retail assets are under pressure, e-commerce is creating supportive conditions for the logistics sector.

Unprecedented levels of price transparency have changed the game for retailers, who can only compete on price and availability. Wholesalers, omni-channel retailers and e-tailers are investing very large amounts of money into their supply chains, and the total capital inflow is immense.

The key for them is to efficiently manage inventory: who can get the goods from the manufacturer or wholesaler to the customer door or store front the fastest? This requires very modern logistical warehousing. New facilities, in countries such as Japan, are being purpose-built up to five levels high, with high-tech robotic systems to move goods around, making modern logistical centres very valuable.

Residential rentals: reinvented

Another strong thematic in the current market is residential-for-rent, including apartments, detached housing and manufactured housing. We see a long-term trend in the fall of home ownership, younger generations don’t always value home ownership and are attracted to purpose-built apartments with high amenity. The affordability and offering can be very compelling versus home ownership.

A positive outlook for real estate

Overall, cash flows for REITs have remained fairly stable over the pandemic, and the long-term outlook for the sector is positive.

Rent collections have all remained well above +90% levels this year for logistical centres, office buildings, apartments and detached housing, data centres, self-storage centres and health care assets such as hospitals and medical office buildings. The notable exception is shopping malls, which have been materially impacted.

In the main, real estate is set to be a material beneficiary from the expected reallocation of capital across global economies and this will create significant opportunities that will likely cross decades.

Source: First Sentier Investors (Australia)