As the debt problems in Europe and the US shift investor interest towards Asia Pacific, Southeast Asia could see more investments coming from outside the region. That is according to property consultants DTZ Research.
DTZ said most of the property investments in 2010 have already come from within the region.
In Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, where property investments are tracked by DTZ Research, intra-ASEAN investments made up 92.6 per cent of all foreign investments in the three countries in 2010.
According to a recent report by DTZ Research, the attractiveness of Southeast Asia’s property markets is driven by six socio-economic trends. These are demographics, rising income levels, infrastructural developments, urbanisation, tourism and economic restructuring.
The large population base in ASEAN economies, except for Singapore, and growing wealth from sustained economic growth give rise to higher disposable incomes and domestic consumption, which in turn drive demand for real estate developments.
DTZ said investment opportunities in real estate aimed at this segment of the population include mid-tier and luxury retail developments as well as affordable and luxury residential developments.
It added that the growth of REITs in Southeast Asia, which is already a major force driving real estate investments in Singapore and Malaysia, will also lead to more property investments across the region.
However, DTZ warned that Singapore’s property market is the most volatile due to the open nature of the economy and as such, can turn quickly if the economic climate and debt problems in Europe and the USA worsen.
Source : Channel NewsAsia – 1 Sep 2011