Colliers research: 10 predictions for 2017

If inflation begins to increase in 2017 this could lead to higher rents in the retail sector.

Colliers International's Research team has released its Top 10 Predictions for 2017, on trends and moves across the property sector.

1. GDP growth to track higher than expected:

Some of this will be due to better than forecast employment figures and export opportunities, but also due to rebuild requirements from the latest series of earthquake damages. Early estimates suggest around $2 billion to $5 billion will need to be spent - about 1 per cent to 2 per cent of GDP. This will support a wide ranging number of businesses across the country.

2) Election year promises:

The folly of expecting elections to go the way pollsters predict will play heavily on the mind of the National Party in 2017. Property could be a major beneficiary from promises made in election year 2017. Higher levels of government spending will likely be on the table due to the surpluses achieved in the government books. Activity catalysts like tax cuts, relief packages and tweaks to infrastructure programmes could be some of the carrots on offer to provide property additional support to underlying fundamentals.

3) Interest rates to rise, but still near record lows:

Interest rates will rise from record lows as talk of inflation re-emerges and the cost of debt for the banks starts to increase. Although a slower rate of yield compression will be the outcome, the gap between costs and returns remains globally positive in most sectors. Interest rates near record lows will still be a major driver for purchasers for some time yet.

4) Desperately seeking sales:

Investment intentions are sky high, but have only just shown signs of reaching the past cyclical peak of more than 8000 sales p.a. - a feat reached back in 2003. We will be watching intently over 2017 to see if investors can break through this record or fall short - desperately wanting to purchase, but unable to find suitable stock.

5) Industrial's balancing act:

Demand for industrial space will remain strong in 2017, despite already being at record highs. Developers will try to keep pace with the demand, but areas with limited land supply will feel the impact, especially through land prices. Investors will be keen to seek out opportunities due to the sector's underlying strength, but yield levels (particularly in Auckland) are closing in on the cost of debt. Expect to see a greater focus on rental growth from landlords in 2017.

6) Retail fights back:

The seven-year shake-out of underperforming retailers since the global financial crisis will almost be over, but some retailers may still struggle in an increasingly competitive market. Although a challenging sector we believe it is underrated in many aspects. If inflation does start increasing throughout 2017, this will likely manifest into higher rents. Capital values will rise as a result of yield compression - a positive 'double whammy' for investors.

7) Residential investors to target exemptions:

We expect heightened sales activity in 2017 for off-the-plan apartment and terraced unit sales. These are exempted from the new investor minimum LVR policies implemented by the Reserve Bank. However, only experienced developers with a good track record holding resource consents and locked in construction costs will be supported by the banks and courted by investors. Consequently, supply won't increase enough to satisfy demand. Rising interest rates may be enough to slow price growth to more long-term, sustainable levels of between 5 per cent - 7 per cent p.a., but achieving that will take some time in main cities and regional growth nodes.

8. Rural and agribusiness sector's reprisal:

In comparison to the start of 2016, dairy payout forecasts at the start of 2017 will be a pleasant sight for many. Local economic prosperity is a vital ingredient for the rural and agribusiness sector's growth, but all eyes are on any potential changes globally that could disrupt export volumes into EU, UK and USA in 2017. Purchasing activity for dairy farms remains subdued in comparison to 24 months ago, but has increased in late 2016, particularly for properties in well-established areas with scale. Non-dairying pastoral farmland is in demand as well as other sectors such as horticulture, viticulture and forestry. Sales buoyancy will be supported by domestic activity, but offshore purchasers from North America, Europe and Asia will continue to invest based on the value they see in New Zealand's product quality and safety.

9) Hotels shoots for the stars:

Occupancy and room rates will surpass current record highs as inbound passenger arrivals remain at historically high levels. A shortfall of room availability in our key tourism markets will be a recurring theme for 2017, particularly in Auckland & Queenstown. There is potential for tourism numbers to be temporarily impacted due to recent earthquakes, although this is likely to be short-lived, with the underlying demand drivers remaining in place to underpin the market over the medium/long term. This will encourage owners to consider their options for expansion and refurbishment and developers and owner operators to commence new builds or conversion of redundant commercial buildings in an attempt to catch-up to the strong demand.

10) Confidence shaken:

Results from both our residential and commercial confidence surveys for December 2016 were be down for the year ahead in quake-affected and prone areas. This trend will continue through 2017. Consequences include a reluctance to invest in those areas for a while, with even more investor and occupier demand concentrated on Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Auckland, exacerbating already serious affordability issues.