Tuesday, 11 October 2011

Industrial Property Development Market - From Bust to Boom

By Robert Tan


Historically the property development market in South Africa has been vibrant. But when the current world economic slump began to take hold back in September 2008, it drained the confidence out of many investors and the market nose-dived along with the general economic situation. But with the signs of economic recovery beginning to take hold again, what prospects are there for a resurgence in the industrial property market?

When industrial and commercial property prices showed up in a completely new low, it signaled a few things. To begin with the marketplace was seriously depressed and was vulnerable to stay by doing this for quite a while, but furthermore the feet from the trough happen to be showed up where in order to out, was up.

While using market getting stable at its new low, it led to the glut of distressed characteristics which were flowing in had stopped, together with the laws and regulations and rules of supply and demand functioning, while using a lot more than supply far outstripping demand, prices ongoing to become depressed.

However, the final 12 several weeks has seen signs of recovery in the commercial sector, with property prices still unnaturally low. It has started to stimulate demand, as property development investors is one again realizing the chance of creating good short to medium term returns on new opportunities.

Office properties particularly are probably the present positive outlook. With economic forecasts being positive, although slow-moving, and prices being less than they are, now is a superb time to buy. As confidence returns for the economy, the chance of recent letting contracts is flourishing and characteristics are once again beginning to maneuver, leading to a pokey but steady rise in prices and rates. It's forecast this trend continues progressively, depleting the supply surplus which will eventually trigger a completely new bout of property development happening.

Current thinking is that this may well lead to an industrial property boom in 2014/15. Of course with such a long gestation period for new developments to come to final fruition, the process needs to be kicked off now. Feasibility studies, surveys, finance - all of these things must be in place before actual construction can begin to take place.

From a national point of view, the South African government already has its policy in place and several IDZs, (industrial development zones), are already planned and underway. The private industrial property development market is also getting its house in order, and many new private developments are in construction with many more at the planning stage.

Overall this really is now a really positive time for property development. Industrial property traders have every reason to become very carefully positive, because the short to medium term prospects are searching very positive, and this is the time to take a position and invest.




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