Disruption, confidence in SA commercial real estate
CRE was under major pressure last year with many companies downscaling or opting to renew rather than relocate. In addition, landlord incentives to attract and retain tenants had the industry battling it out and losing significant margins. We saw companies renewing rentals at 20-30% discounts.
A survey run by Galetti echoed this, with 71% of respondents saying that they expected a 5-20% reduction in their property rentals due to the economic downturn. We do see an improved sentiment entering 2020 with clients opting to act rather than adopting a wait-and-see approach.
What difference does the new repo rate make?
While the recent announcement of a repo rate reduction of 25 basis points has been widely welcomed by commercial property owners, the cut is smaller than one would have hoped for. Adding to this, electricity supply constraints are likely to keep economic activity muted in the near term.
We do, however, believe that the industry will start to recoup its losses in 2020. While some say that the private sector is on an investment strike, this is simply not true. We’ve started seeing really promising private-sector, fixed-investment growth towards the end of last year and this trend is set to continue.
Current commercial real estate trends
The rise of proptech
More than a buzzword, proptech is changing the real estate landscape. In a recent article by Forbes.com, experts predict that 2020 will see an acceleration in the proptech startup ecosystem. Johannesburg alone is home to more than 10-million-square-metres worth of commercial real estate and has been identified as a receptive market for opportunists in the proptech sector.
While companies like Zillow in the US have been innovating in this space for years, the general uptake has been slow. Proptech (such as geo mapping) brings much-needed digital transformation to CRE. Data is key in making informed decisions. Knowing where the market is and where the best deals can be found is critical.
Rentals are stabilising
Rentals are now finding a base despite the oversupply. Although vacancies are high in certain sub-sectors it’s not a one-size-fits-all scenario. Tenants still require unique space for their operation and it may not be readily available.
Opportunistic buyers are out there
There are some good deals in the market and planning ahead is key. Companies with a good balance sheet are looking for opportunistic buys.
Trusted advisory is key
Clients are now looking to reputable, full-service providers for peace-of-mind. Consider consultants with proven track records and an offering that includes both agency and tenant representation.
Co-working and mixed-use buildings continue to soar
With companies like WeWork paving the way, this trend is set to continue. In a recent survey hosted by Galetti, 60% of participants said that they would opt for flexible working over a 5% salary increase.