US Housing Market Rapid Response Housing Starts (Aug.) Housing starts fell sharply across both the single-family and multifamily sectors in August, suggesting that construction has now reached a turning point. We expect this downward trend to continue for... 19th September 2023 · 2 mins read
Europe Commercial Property Update Flex office woes not systemic, but concerns remain The problems of WeWork, which have intensified in recent months, do not look reflective of significant distress in the wider flexible office market. However, flex has yet to see much of a boost from... 19th September 2023 · 3 mins read
US Commercial Property Rapid Response Commercial Property Lending (Aug) The $29.0bn monthly rise in real estate debt held by US banks in August, now at $5.48trn outstanding, was the largest m/m increase in six months. However, we expect this spike to be short-lived, as... 18th September 2023 · 4 mins read
US Commercial Property Update Apartment and single-family REIT divergence to persist The recent outperformance of single-family REITs versus apartment REITs appears to be down to differences in the capital value outlook for the sectors, rather than any major difference in rental... 15th September 2023 · 3 mins read
China Economics Weekly Too soon to conclude property easing has failed It’s been two weeks since Chinese regulators announced a major easing of property controls and so far there hasn’t been a meaningful turnaround in new home sales at the national level. But many cities... 15th September 2023 · 5 mins read
UK Commercial Property Update Record fall in passing rents highlights office weakness The surprising strength of office market rents looks to reflect the increased use of incentives. Indeed, passing rents have seen a sharp decline, with all-office annual growth recently falling to a... 15th September 2023 · 4 mins read
Europe Commercial Property Update What do yield spreads tell us about the outlook? Over the last year or so, spreads over sovereign yields have narrowed to their lowest since the euro-zone debt crisis. But while these are expected to widen again over the next year, mostly thanks to... 13th September 2023 · 3 mins read
US Commercial Property Update Uncovering the factors impacting downtown recoveries Data on cell phone usage suggest that cities with a high share of professional, scientific and technical occupations and long commute times are typically associated with poorer downtown recoveries... 12th September 2023 · 3 mins read
US Housing Market Update New home sales can’t defy gravity for much longer New home sales have brushed off a collapse in overall housing demand, rising 23% in the first half of 2023. More competitive pricing will be providing some support to sales, but the primary factor is... 12th September 2023 · 3 mins read
Europe Commercial Property Update Weak macro outlook to weigh on Italian office rents After a strong 2022, annual office rental growth has slowed in Italy in H1 2023. And given the contraction in employment we are forecasting, together with increased supply, we think prime rents will... 12th September 2023 · 3 mins read
UK Housing Market Update High rates restrain lending and push up arrears The Q2 Mortgage Lenders and Administrators statistics from the Bank of England showed that higher rates are limiting lending and making it more difficult than ever for single-income households to get... 12th September 2023 · 3 mins read
UK Commercial Property Update Who pays for greener buildings? The UK government’s decision to block Marks and Spencer’s (M&S’) re-development of its flagship store highlights the challenges in the transition to net zero. In particular, while authorities are... 7th September 2023 · 3 mins read
UK Housing Market Update Real house prices hit seven-year low According to Halifax, house prices are up by 20% compared to 2019 even after their recent falls. But adjusted for inflation they slipped to a seven-year low in August. High mortgage rates point to a... 7th September 2023 · 2 mins read
Europe Commercial Property Update End of Budapest office underperformance in sight The Budapest office market has underperformed in recent years, with rents lagging the rest of the region. While some weakness is likely for the rest of this year, the outlook is improving. With a more... 7th September 2023 · 3 mins read
UK Housing Market Rapid Response Halifax House Prices (Aug 2023) The steep fall in the Halifax House Price Index in August confirmed that the further leg down in house prices we have been forecasting has materialised. If we are right to think that mortgage rates... 7th September 2023 · 2 mins read
UK Commercial Property Update IPF Consensus Forecasts (Aug. 23) The latest IPF Consensus Survey showed a reversal of last quarter’s forecast upgrades, bringing the consensus view more in line with our own. The surge in interest rates thanks to high inflation is... 6th September 2023 · 3 mins read
