Regional commercial property markets in the Asia-Pacific region have been growing slower, data from the RICS Q2 2019 Asia Pacific Commercial Property Monitor showed.
According to APAC Real Estate, data from surveys have also shown that people preferred a "cautious" outlook because of the economic uncertainty currently hounding governments in the region.
They still look towards rent and capital to rise broadly over the next year or so. Concerns have been centered on trade with markets in East Asia, with some participants citing that commercial property would suffer the brunt of various economic problems. Chief among these is the renewed tensions on trade between the US and China.
There have been tensions in the region that are of concern as well, but one of the biggest remained the policies which encouraged spending within the Chinese region.
Thailand and Vietnam were seen as the likely recipients of unexpected benefits that come from the trade war, as companies looked to bring their businesses into these countries from China due to similar conditions like cheap labor.
The whole regional commercial property market of the Asia-Pacific pales in contrast to China. While the country's economy has experienced slow growth, the commercial real estate market remained vibrant, performing "remarkably well" according to SCMP.
During the first quarter alone, transaction volumes in China managed to create a quarterly all-time high of $17 billion. This showed a 14% rise in investment activity in the Asia-Pacific region despite a decline in sales in other places where the Chinese have gone. Europe and the Americas are actually feeling the loss of Chinese investors per Jones Lang LaSalle's analysis.
China's commercial and financial capital, Shanghai, created even more cause for celebration as it attracted an increased amount of investment during a time when global real estate markets are seen to be in retreat.
Risk markers in geopolitical disputes, as well as an economic decline, have borne down the once vibrant economy which China-led, as well as assets being priced too high for a late-cycle environment.
A greater part of China, Australia, Singapore, and South Korea showed signs of that late-cycle market. However, the RICS said that these markets were "moving sideways" and that growth, despite slowing down, remained constantly improving instead of increasing or declining.
Different markets posted different stories in the Asia-Pacific region. Examples included Malaysia with its improved conditions, Japan with its improvement seen as bolstered by the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and Australia, with Sydney and Melbourne, expected to show positive real estate results excluding retail.
