Sydney industrial property market continues strong performance: HTW
The Sydney industrial property market performed strongly in 2018 and will be an even more exciting market to watch in 2019, according to a recent Herron Todd White commercial report.
There was a notable increase in demand in Sydney’s industrial market during 2018, driven by a number of factors including a strengthening economy coupled with low interest rates.
Demand was influenced by residential infill re-zonings in traditional industrial precincts close to the Sydney CBD, airport and ports, prompting a flight from inner city areas to more outlying precincts and a chase for yields and capital growth.
Examples of this include the Alexandria and Mascot areas and the Lower North Shore where land is being rezoned and traditional industrial users need to look further afield for good quality premises.
An Alexandria high functional freestanding commericial facility has been listed for lease with a price of $290 to $525 per sqm.
Located at 29-31 O'Riordan Street (pictured above), the property features flexible configurations up to 5,000sqm, ample car parking and extensive frontage.
"Despite the declining residential market and the slowing of the residential development sector, we anticipate that some of these factors will continue to drive demand for industrial space, particularly in the first half of 2019. Many tenants and owner-occupiers alike are experiencing difficulty finding well located, good quality industrial space, a trend we expect to continue this year.
"In particular, we expect that demand levels will remain reasonably strong in well-located industrial precincts with good connectivity to major transport routes and ease of access to regional business centres including Liverpool, Campbelltown, Parramatta, Blacktown and Penrith. Such precincts include Wetherill Park, Silverwater and Seven Hills.
"In 2019, we expect yield compression to stabilise and display a more subdued rate than was evident in 2018. Industrial properties are currently sold subject to relatively low yield rates, currently generally sitting between four and seven per cent. We consider that these low yields will continue for much of 2019," states the valuation firm.
The report notes average prime grade industrial rents in Sydney remained somewhat subdued in 2017 and to an extent in 2018, when increases only seemed to appear in the later part of the year.
"However, with the increased demand for industrial facilities and a lack of stock, we anticipate rents to grow in 2019, particularly in well located precincts that offer ease of access, transport or proximity to the CBD and ports," says the valuation firm.
A continued lack of land supply will see premiums paid for vacant land and under-improved sites.
"We continue to follow with anticipation the progress of the Western Sydney Airport. To date, staging works, some roads and clearing has been done. Further work is currently underway.
"We watch this area keenly as we consider it will have a real impact on the local industrial market, especially as we get closer to the completion of the site and even now, as more and more businesses look to firm up their strategic positions for the future.
"We consider that 2019 will still see some opportunities in the market. The lower end of the market, particularly well located strata units, still present some good opportunities for both rental return and capital growth in the long term. At the other end, investors with a bigger budget will benefit from the increasing rental returns," says the valuation firm.
A high exposure corner site near Western Sydney Airport has been listed for lease with a price of $2,000 per week.
The corner site at 10 Martin Road, Badgerys Creek (pictued below) includes 3 bedroom house and 130sqm shed/garage.
It's close to all the Western Sydney aerotropolis infrastructure construction.
The industrial market in Sydney started off on a strong note in the first quarter of 2019, particularly in the sub $10 million price bracket. The most notable larger sale (missing 2019 by one day) occurred on 31 December 2018 in South Granville. The sale represented an increase in value from around $16 million in 2014 to $24 million in 2018.