Singapore Real Estate Report Q2 2012

It seems that even Singapore’s historically stable commercial real estate market has been affected by the subdued global market, in anticipation of another financial crisis. Debt fears in the major markets of the US and eurozone in particular have caused the overall outlook to slide. Solid economic fundamentals, political stability and a transparent business environment drive the property market; however, activity has been subdued in recent months.

BMI’s view continues to be that the economy is cooling from its record 14.5% growth in 2010, with an estimated GDP expansion of 5% in 2011. A weak electronics sector and volatile manufacturing may also lead to an even greater reduction in growth, to 3.8% in 2012. However, domestic demand is currently outpacing exports, which should at least help to keep growth from slipping to the negative.

Key Opportunities In The Real Estate Market:

Singapore’s real estate sector has historically led the Asia Pacific region. Even though growth is slowing due to the subdued US and eurozone markets, the country still presents an attractive investment environment.

Singapore has one of the most transparent real estate markets in the world. According to Jones Lang LaSalle’s 2010 Global Real Estate Transparency Index, Singapore ranks third globally. Transparency International’s 2011 Corruption Perceptions Index ranks Singapore fifth highest (least corrupt) on the list of 183 countries, while the World Bank’s 2011 ‘Doing Business’ report ranked the country first for the fourth consecutive year. In August, Singapore was rated by Savills’ World Class Index of residential property markets as the fourth best city in the world.

Developers are targeting investment from mainland China. Singapore’s transparent market, lack of capital gains tax and status as a gateway into a number of emerging South East Asian economies have helped China become the biggest foreign buyer of Singaporean property at present.

Key Risks To The Real Estate market:

The current global economy is beset by uncertainty, especially from the eurozone’s sovereign debt crisis and the effects of the US fiscal deficit. Asia is heavily exposed to this potential downturn. In Europe, the risk of a freeze on bank lending to Asia (as seen in 2009) is acute, while strong trade links (particularly with Singapore, which exports around 15% of its products to Europe and the US) suggest a eurozone recession would hurt the region's export powerhouses.

One of the key risks to the growth of Singapore’s real estate market will always be its size. As space for new developments runs out, companies will become increasingly reliant on reclamations and renovation projects, as well as seeking new developments overseas.