Weekly Vantage Point

Despite the increase in price and limited supply of houses, with the purchase activity increasing, this could be a sign for a good year in the real estate industry.

Optimism rises across the markets with hopes of a vaccine coming near. The global real estate markets have become relatively predictable with hot growth in the residential sector.

Global real estate has seen liquidity beginning to recover, although the impact on the property market due to COVID-19 could be temporary or more structural.

Real Estate Investment looks up to a new dawn after a long tiring night of Coronavirus gloom starts to fade away, with potential new hopes and opportunities.

While hospitality, office, and prime retail spaces remain battered, the rest of the property sectors are pointing upwards in momentum.

Economic data for the third quarter of 2020 has been promising and filled with many pleasant surprises on a recovery.

Whether in residential real estate or in the office sector, we see that investors and developers alike are exploring new options in real estate investment.

Transaction numbers of new home sales in US have reached a new high since 2006 fuelled by record-low mortgage rates.

Individual investors wary of risks are increasingly turning to direct investments in real estate, focusing on the IT and Healthcare sectors.

With more expected stimulus coming from the government, the outlook for home sales and rental payments in real estate continue to remain stable.

Due to constraints caused by COVID-19, commercial real estate transactions have reduced. However, investors remain confident in its recovery in the near future.

Global markets remain highly fluid in the current climate, leaving businesses to continue looking for creative ways to adapt and survive.

For real estate investors navigating these uncertainties, adopting a longer investment horizon and diversification have taken on even greater importance.

Activities in the property market starts to pick up especially with the UK government's fresh investment and support grants for building projects.

Companies in the UK have begun moving from city centre offices to suburban work hubs as employees grow accustomed to the luxury of minimal commuting.

With 2Q 2020 posting arguably the ugliest set of economic data in history, most residential real estate markets have largely kept away from huge price changes.

COVID-19 has taught us not only the impact that a pandemic can bring upon, but also the multitude of investment opportunities to be had.

In the corporate space, trends are leaning toward shorter office leases as employers are cautious about committing to long-term decisions.

As investors, we remain highly sensitive to aligning with economic fundamentals, staying conservative on underwriting assumptions.

The first half of 2020 has ended, with the unprecedented COVID-19 outbreak we have witnessed the highest market volatility in this decade.

The retail business is anticipated to suffer one of the worst performing quarters as many countries were at near standstill in the last few months.

As countries emerge from lockdowns, stakeholders move focus from fire-fighting to managing the post COVID-19 era in the real estate investment circle.

Despite concerns of a second virus wave as governments gradually ease lockdown measures, market confidence has begun to turn the corner in certain cities.