38 percent of Australian residential development sites purchased by Chinese in 2016

Nearly 40 percent in value of residential development sites were purchased by Chinese developers and investors in 2016 according to a report by Knight Frank.

The figure is up 12 percent in comparison with 2015 and up by 36 percent from 2012.

The report, The Rise of Chinese Developers in Australia – Market Insight: January 2017 found Chinese developers and investors purchased $2.4 billion worth of Australian residential development sites in 2016, some 9.4 percent percent stronger than 2016.

Michelle Ciesielski, Knight Frank's head of residential research, Australia said despite overall total sales falling during 2016, and sales to Chinese developers and investors still being 11.2 percent lower than the market peak recorded in 2014, their influence has grown.

"Chinese developers and investors purchased AUD2.4 billion worth of residential development sites last year. Of these, the average residential development site had an area of 21,045 square metres – increasing more than 18 times from 2012 – and averaged a potential 502 dwellings per development site," she said.  

“While the Australian residential market collectively strengthened throughout 2012 and in 2013, growth in sales turnover encouraged prices to rise for local developers and investors alike.   

“At this time, the Australian dollar became very favourable against other currencies for investment into Australia. The Chinese renminbi was no exception.  

“Opportunistic developers, many for the first time, considered Australia to build their next development after becoming a household name in homeland China. It was considered, and still is to some extent, worth the risk to build a first-time signature development (even if profitability resulted to just be break-even) to be accepted as a reputable developer by the local Australian market.  

 “In the past three years, Chinese developers and investors accounted for over 25 percent of disclosed total sales each year – with 2016 recording a share of sales as high as 38 percent.  

“Long-term strategies must now be devised to allow for the Chinese government tightening the ease of outbound capital flow, and local lenders limiting funding to control their liquidity and satisfy APRA requirements.

"But one thing is clear – Chinese developers are determined to succeed in Australia, and for many generations to come."