Global commercial property transaction volumes to grow at least 15% in 2014: Knight Frank
Global transaction volumes for commercial property are tipped to grow by at least 15% in 2014, boosting the annual total of sales to more than US$600 billion.
The figures were contained in the latest Knight Frank Global Investment report, which showed that the forecast 15% lift is coming off a significant increase in global transaction volumes last year, thanks to a "very strong US market and a revival of activity in Europe".
Global transaction volumes for commercial property -which includes retail, offices, industrial and hotels - came in US$536.7 billion in 2013, reflecting an 18% jump on 2012 and the highest total since 2007.
Total commercial volumes in the Asia Pacific region rose 11% to 118%, with the report noting that Australia had a "very strong year".
The report also revealed that Chinese investment into international property is set to double in this year and that Taiwanese investors are seeking more growth and diversification opportunities outside their local market. It also noted that Australia was a target market for Chinese and US investors.
Knight Frank head of capital markets, Peter MacColl, said: “The recent increase in outbound Asian capital into both commercial and residential international property has been truly seismic, particularly from China, and shows no sign of slowing down, particularly as “newer” equity from Taiwan, Korea, and private wealth impacts".
As 2014 progresses, he said, their range of target markets and tolerance to risk would increase, as they become more comfortable with Tier 2 cities and start to look further afield at new sectors, such as retail. "This is driven by a greater acceptance of risk, the fact that pricing is strong in many capital cities and intense competition for stock", he said.
Significantly, Darrent Yates, the firm's head of global capital markets research said that thr relaxation in the rules surrounding Taiwanese Insurers’ ability to invest abroad had set the scene for the country’s largest insurers to "potentially become major players on the world property".
Short term target markets will are expected to be CBD offices in major gateway cities such as New York City, London, Paris, Tokyo and Shanghai.