Billions driving infrastructure development: Angus Raine
Investors, self-managed super funds (SMSFs) and owner occupiers are dominating commercial property in the $1 million to $3 million price bracket, largely thanks to the RBA slashing interest rates to a record low of 2%. This is creating significant interest in the sale of commercial properties with long leases and solid tenants.
What’s more, the falling Australian dollar means Australian property markets are also increasingly attractive to international investors. However on the domestic front we have seen small to medium enterprises (SMEs) sitting on their hands, as they delay a decision to upgrade to larger or newer commercial premises. Still, with the significant spike in residential house prices, some SMEs are now starting to branch out and use this asset growth as collateral to fund new business and commercial ventures.
The other big factor driving some of our commercial property markets is infrastructure investment, with billions of dollars committed to developments such as Barangaroo in the Sydney CBD, while the prospect of a light rail service for busy Cleveland Street is another major plus. In greater Sydney, the Badgerys Creek airport project is translating into increased commercial interest from St Marys down to Camden, while the North West Rail Link and the North Connex and West Connex road projects are also spurring commercial activity.
In regional Queensland, the massive recent infrastructure injection, courtesy of the Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport, has already seen a number of large commercial developments spring up on the western side of Toowoomba, attracting enquiries from businesses considering a relocation from Brisbane. Further north, and the ongoing Inpex LNG project at Blaydin Point in Darwin is expected to propel commercial interest for some years to come.
At Raine & Horne Commercial, we’ve also taken the opportunity to expand our network coverage to Queensland’s Sunshine and Gold Coasts, with the recruitment of businesses from a rival network. The opening of Raine & Horne Commercial Sunshine Coast is timely as the property market in Queensland is starting to show the form that we’ve come to expect from the southern states. Meanwhile, Raine & Horne Commercial Gold Coast has entered a market that is picking up for the first time since the Global Financial Crisis, with the completion of the Gold Coast Light Rail and Commonwealth Games infrastructure buoying business confidenc
Raine & Horne’s growth hasn’t stopped there either, with our international expansion now taking in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, which has emerged as a leading regional commercial hub with state-of-the art infrastructure and a world-class business environment. Our Raine & Horne Dubai operation is located in Business Bay, which will have upwards of 240 new commercial and residential buildings completed in the next few years.
On a personal note, I’ve also recently exclusively taken on the role of Executive Chairman, in which capacity I’ll be concentrating on further expanding the business in Australia and overseas.
Angus Raine is Executive Chairman, Raine & Horne.