The dawn of the new financial year has thrown up some challenges for global markets and will keep Australian real estate investment trust managers on their toes as they head into the full-year reporting season next month.
But as the dust starts to settle on Brexit and its impact, the growing consensus is that bricks and mortar will be the haven du jour and most likely demand will be for those properties based in the Asia-Pacific region.
That spells good new for AREITs and private funds in the market to buy and sell assets.
One of the latest is 28 O'Connell Street, which is the headquarters of Chubb (formerly ACE Insurance) and is being sold as Chubb moves from its seven floors later this year to more efficient layouts at Grosvenor Place and in North Sydney.
The agents on the deal, Vince Kernahan from Colliers International and James Aroney from JLL, said the pricing expectations are about $70 million.
"The building will appeal to investors or owner-occupiers seeking a prime-located boutique office investment as well as those looking for a land-banking opportunity," Mr Kernahan said.
Mr Aroney said 28 O'Connell Street was a rare offering, "being one of only 13 sub-$100 million corner buildings within Sydney's financial core and located within 100 metres of the proposed Hunter Street Metro station".
It's timely as the real estate market of Australia is a secure and attractive nature for global capital after Brexit, said David Rees, head of research for Australasia at JLL.
"Both the UK and Australia are rated as preferred destinations in their respective geographical regions by global investors seeking exposure to portfolio diversification and income yield. They both rank as No.1 in their respective geographical regions in terms of market transparency and they are among the most liquid real estate markets globally," Dr Rees said.
He said in Asia markets it is possible there could be a short-term hold-up of a couple of Asia-Pacific deals, involving funds containing a high proportion of European-based investors.
"However, the weight of global capital is such that any gap left by European investors, will be rapidly filled by other capital sources. In periods of volatility, real estate acts as an anchor in a portfolio while fund managers attend to more frequently traded assets."
Matt Whitby, head of research and consulting, Knight Frank Australia, said there was no doubt that the vote in favour of Brexit would generate renewed uncertainty, but mainly in the UK and Europe. Some demand, especially from investors and businesses (hiring and investing), would be delayed and in some cases redirected to other markets.
"Demand for Australian property may actually benefit (as a haven) as global investors pause in directing capital into Europe and our demand rests on a wide range of drivers – most of which are unaffected by the referendum decision: the scale of Australia's business clusters, depth of skills, education, lifestyle and language," Mr Whitby said.
"However it must be said that the world is entering a period of renewed uncertainty in the UK and London market, and ongoing issues around EU and especially eurozone stability, which will be highlighted in the run-up to French and German elections.
"Uncertainty and instability is bad for financial markets and capital investment, so let's see what impact it may have on borrowing costs and business/consumer confidence here in Australia."
