The Spanish real estate market continues to get battered as its economy founders and unemployment skyrockets, but the most recent Spanish Commercial Property Market Review seems to tell a different tale. The report, produced by Knight Frank, suggests that the country’s commercial real estate (CRE) market will see improvement by the end of the year despite continued shrinking of the economy. The improved outlook is bolstered by a few key real estate deals, including large purchases by Vodofone, Iberia and Agencia EFE. Experts believe that the weakened market may make room for opportunities otherwise impossible in more robust times. For more on this continue reading the following article from Property Wire.
Although Spain continues to be affected by the uncertainty that has impacted the country over the past five years, an economic recovery does now appear to be closer and forecasts for the real estate market have improved.
According to the latest Spanish Commercial Property Market Review from real estate analysts Knight Frank covering the first half 2013 it is possible that some form of recovery in the sector will be seen by the end of 2013.
It is expected that the Spanish economy will continue to contract over the coming months, and the fall in GDP in 2013 is projected to be similar to that of 2012, with the economy shrinking by around 1.6% and domestic demand is expected to remain weak but this will be partially offset by a more positive contribution from external demand, the report says.
GDP forecasts for 2014 indicate that growth will be close to 0.5%, boosted by an expected improvement in the global economy. The outlook will also be aided by the measures taken by the European Central Bank (ECB) to stabilise and ensure the survival of the Euro.
The report points out that the success of fiscal reforms aimed at ensuring that Spain reaches its deficit targets depends on the ability of the autonomous regions to meet their commitments and on improvements in the employment market.
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While the macroeconomic outlook remains uncertain, a modest improvement in the key indicators is expected. ‘Nonetheless, any boost to economic and business activity is unlikely to be enough to ensure that leasing activity returns to pre-2008 levels, across all property sectors,’ the report says.
‘However, the more modest take up figures recorded in the 2008 to 2010 period may be achievable,’ it adds.
According to the report the Madrid office market had an unusual first half of 2013, with three large scale leasing transactions boosting overall take up. Vodafone took approximately 50,000 square meters, Iberia leased close to 16,000 square meters and Agencia EFE took 14,500 square meters, in deals which were all initiated in 2012.
This helped to bring take up for the first half of 2013 to 197,000 square meter, more than 60% up on the first half of 2012. However, the report points out that without the three large deals, the take up figure for the first half of the year would have been very similar to that of the previous year, and leasing activity has generally remained subdued.
‘This situation will continue until there is a marked improvement in the economic backdrop, which will increase business confidence and encourage companies to begin taking decisions that look beyond the immediate future, and towards preparing longer term strategies,’ says the report.
‘However, the current market conditions have created considerable potential for tenants and owners to identify opportunities not normally present during a period of economic growth,’ it adds.
The report also points out that over recent years, the office market has become ever more challenging due to factors including the lack of liquidity from financial institutions, a gradual decrease in business activity, the record rise in unemployment and a continual increase in the amount of available office space.
‘This has meant that all market players have had to change their strategies, regardless of whether these are directly or indirectly related to the real estate market. On the one hand, landlords are offering a host of different incentives aimed at retaining existing tenants or attracting new ones to their buildings.
‘On the other, office occupiers are looking increasingly at ways of becoming more space efficient, by occupying smaller but higher quality offices, or by merely reducing their existing costs,’ it adds.
The report notes that since June 2013, any property being let or sold in Spain is required to have an energy efficiency certificate and this is having a significant impact on the market, and is expected to encourage more occupiers to opt for energy efficient properties, which will result in savings to them.
Buildings that are already certified as being highly energy efficient, such as Torre Cristal, are seen as having a competitive advantage.
This article was republished with permission from Property Wire.
