According to Colliers International’s 2015 Asia Pacific Property Outlook, the rising popularity of CBD living means there will be increased apartment supply in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane next year.
Colliers managing director residential Peter Chittenden said state and local government infill policies were encouraging developers to increase their exposure to inner metropolitan locations.
This was evident in the volume of new apartments being developed and approved by local councils, and the strong growth in development site values, he said.
“Buoyed by strong offshore demand, and a rapidly rising inner city population, this is a trend we anticipate will continue in 2015.”
In the strongly performing Sydney and Melbourne CBD markets, the volume of apartments under construction in the next five years will reach 6,000 and 18,000 respectively.
Chittenden said that, although interest rates forecasts were mixed, indicators like unemployment, construction activity and GDP point to a period of weaker overall economic growth.
This should result in interest rates remaining steady in the short to medium term – which is good news for the residential sector and points to continuing demand side momentum.
“The low interest rate environment is a key driver of residential activity in the current market… We anticipate it will provide supportive conditions for strong investment activity in 2015.”
Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane residential markets will have the strongest residential growth, Chittenden continued.
“But weaker economic conditions in Western Australia will lead to a slowdown in development and investment activity in 2015.”
Overall, the Colliers report predicts that, in 2015, property across the Asia Pacific region will experience a continued increase in investment volumes, improved tenant demand and structural change across various sectors.
