"... you are certainly correct that there is a lot of stock under construction that will settle through the end of this year and next. However, with few exceptions most of this is small 1bd and 2bd "investor" stock targeted at the rental market. As you said, this is already leading to increases in vacancy rates and lower rents - at present, this is probably just a return to normal but it will probably over-correct and the rents/vacancy for small 1bd and 2bd stock will be worse than long term trend levels. That said, why do you see this impacting on quality owner occupier buildings such as admiralty, quay west?? The investor stock being constructed at present is vastly different to the owner occupier stock and I doubt there are many occupiers out there tossing up between admiralty and meriton's soleil. I feel the two markets will diverge and the the limited amount of quality owner occupier stock will lead to growth in this market. Do you not agree?"
This is my response. The over-supply in Brisbane is having an impact on the rental market for the high quality, owner occupied buildings. Note that many these buildings still have more than 40% of the apartments rented out, usually to long term tenants. For example, in Admiralty Towers, large three bedroom apartments that rented for about $1,400 a week at the top of the rental market boom are now renting for less than $1,000 a week. An excellent large one bedroom apartment with river views, fully furnished, has been vacant for months, at an asking rent of less than $600 a week. This apartment would have rented quickly at about $640 a week two years ago. For some reason, some tenants prefer smaller apartments in newer buildings.
The rental market in quality buildings is being impacted by a number of factors, and not just new apartments being completed. These factors include:
- the end of the mining boom, so less executive rentals
- a rental boom, that probably caused rents to increase too much
- short term rental apartments not achieving good returns, and so these are re-entering the long term rental market
- lower population growth
- no income growth
- younger people having different views as to what is a trendy apartment
- more choice in more inner city locations
Prices seem to be holding up at present, partly because interest rates are so low. I recently locked in an investor loan fixed for 3 years at 4.09%. Even at a reduced rent, this property is cash flow positive today. So why sell?
I agree that owner-occupiers still have little choice for quality apartments in Brisbane. If you are looking for a large two or three bedroom apartment in a quality building in a good location, there is still not much choice. Very few of the new buildings would be suitable if you are looking for a long term residence.
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