Office property market in Melbourne, Sydney and Gold Coast rising: Herron Todd White
The office property market in Melbourne, Sydney and the Gold Coast is rising with the Brisbane market bottoming out, according to the December office Property Clock from Herron Todd White.
HTW said Sydney's vacancy rate at June 2016 was 5.6 percent and this is predicted to fall further by the end of 2017 and into 2018 and due the strong tenant market, the only national CBD office market with a total vacancy below 7 percent. The Melbourne office market is continuing to strengthen.
"By June 2016, the CBD office market had recorded a positive net absorption of approximately 148,000 square metres, due in part to the withdrawal of buildings acquired for the new metro lines and those being converted to residential," HTW said.
"Melbourne’s offce market has continued to strengthen over 2016 with falling vacancy rates and tightening yields.
"According to the Property Council of Australia, Melbourne’s CBD of ce market has observed a decline in vacancy rates over the rst half of 2016 from 7.8 percent in January to 7 percent in July, underpinned by positive demand and withdrawal of older office buildings.
"Melbourne remains the second lowest vacancy rate throughout all capital cities and is significantly lower than the national average of 10.4 percent.
"Brisbane's rolling refurbishment programs will allow the properties to be repositioned within the market and capitalise on the next round of anticipated major tenant moves later in the decade. We believe commercial development heading into 2017 will reduce significantly with only two commercial development projects currently in progress.
"As premium office accommodation has entered the market, we have seen a tightening in vacancy rates and rental incentives between premium grade buildings and older style, B grade accommodation.
"B grade vacancy rates were reported at 18.6 percent in July 2016. Prime vacancy rates increased from 8 percent in July 2015 to 22.1 percent in July 2016. It is believed that these vacancy rates will force further refurbishment or withdrawal of older stock."
"Almost 22 percent of Perth’s CBD office space is sitting empty. That is a 2.2 percent increase over the past six months and a 4.5 percent increase from a year ago."