Tag: buy

Carmena’s New Plan Prevents Construction of 50,000 Social Housing Units in Madrid

10 April 2018 – El Mundo

The Compensation Boards of Valdecarros, Berrocales and Los Cerros have filed a contentious-administrative appeal requesting the precautionary suspension of the Master Plan approved by the Town Hall of Madrid in January, which prevents the construction of more than 50,000 social housing units in the southeast of Madrid.

The representatives of the three developments in the southeast of the capital have received public support from Madrid’s Association of Property Developers (Asprima), which considers that “the application of the Master Plan would have very negative consequences for Madrilenians by making house prices more expensive, in both the rental and purchase markets; it would cause serious harm to the municipal coffers due to the large number of compensation claims that the Town Hall would have to pay out”, say sources at the entity.

On the other hand, Asprima warns that the aforementioned plan “would prevent the construction of more than 50,000 social housing units and the development of important public housing construction plans for rental properties, and as a result, would lead to an increase in house prices, placing further pressure on demand in towns on the outskirts, and further congesting the access roads to the capital”.

The appeal highlights that the legal nature of the Master Plan is uncertain since it is not provided for in the Community of Madrid’s governing Land Law and that it should be considered as a binding directive or as a legal planning instrument, which may be appealed and suspended in a precautionary way.

Moreover, “the Master Plan has been built as a figure with regulatory strength, but it was approved by the Government of the Town Hall of Madrid without a prior report from the General Intervention or any report from the municipal legal services. Similarly, it was not subjected to any public consultation to allow citizens to express their opinions”, say sources at Asprima.

It is for this reason that Madrid’s Association of Property Developers considers that the Compensation Boards of Valdecarros, Berrocales and Los Cerros have sufficient legal grounds to request the suspension of the Plan and, in addition to the legal grounds, all of the economic and environmental data available to draw the conclusion that the developments in the southeast are absolutely necessary for the city.

Original story: El Mundo (by S. V.)

Translation: Carmel Drake

# Of Estate Agents Grow With A Vengeance In The Community Of Madrid

19 September 2017 – Real Estate Press

The resurgence of real estate activity in Spain, and in particular, in the Community of Madrid, has given rise to a significant increase in the number of companies in the sector, which have grown by 18.5% since 2014. Currently, the Community of Madrid has 31,384 real estate companies and 33,616 real estate related premises. In other words, one for every 192 inhabitants.

So far this year, 41,641 homes have been sold in Madrid, up by 17% compared to a year ago, and up by 30% compared to two years ago. Moreover, prices rose by 10.9% in the second quarter of 2017 with respect to the previous year. In addition, rental prices have risen by 11% over the last year.

Jaime Cabrero, President of the Official College of Real Estate Agents in Madrid, says that “Normally, when the sales market is strong, the rental market is weaker, and vice versa, but now both sectors are booming”. He added that “Naturally, we are seeing an increase in (the number of) real estate companies (…); there are 33,616 estate agent premises”, which is a high number of establishments dedicated to real estate activity.

According to figures from the Central Directory of Companies, compiled by Spain’s National Institute of Statistics (INE), over the last three years, the number of estate agent premises has risen by 5,377. The increase in the number of companies, many of which have more than one branch, amounts to 4,912. Logically, this activity has an impact on employment. During the second half of 2017, the sector provided work to 29,300 people, according to the INE’s Active Population Survey, 8,800 more than in 2014 and the highest figure for the last decade.

In fact, the real estate activity category includes all companies dedicated to the sale, purchase or rental of all kinds of properties, including “lessors, agents and brokers”, as well as other key services, such as appraisal. The category also includes companies dedicated to construction, which then carry out the maintenance and rental of buildings, as well as managers of real estate properties. The sub-category containing the latter – “real estate activities on behalf of third parties” – grew by 1,773 companies between 2014 and 2017, to exceed 10,000 in total.

Original story: Real Estate Press

Translation: Carmel Drake

Fotocasa’s Owner, Schibsted Spain, Buys Habitaclia

17 January 2017 – Inmodiario

On Monday, Schibsted Spain announced its acquisition of the real estate portal Habitaclia. In this way, Schibsted Spain, owner of other portals including Fotocasa, has strengthened its leadership position in the real estate classified adverts sector.

“Habitaclia is a well-known real estate portal in the Mediterranean area. The portal has managed to grow in an extraordinary way in a highly competitive environment, basing its success on a detailed understanding of the needs of users and advertisers. Habitaclia is a great company and we are really happy that it has joined the Schibsted Spain family” said Frode Nordseth, CEO of the company.

Following this latest acquisition, Schibsted will offer its users more than 1,500,000 properties to buy and rent each month, from more than 15,000 estate agents and individuals. Moreover, the acquisition will allow advertisers to reach a larger audience in a simpler way.

Schibsted Spain owns a group of portals that receive more than 180 million visits per month, of which 35 million relate to the real estate sector. As a result of the purchase of Habitaclia, the group’s traffic will increase by more than 15%.

Habitaclia will operate as an independent brand within the Schibsted Spain group, retaining its offices and incorporating its more than 80 employees into Schibsted’s workforce. Fotocasa and Habitaclia will continue to operate independently, although certain processes will be established to enable both brands to learn from the strengths of the other.

“We are very happy to be joining the Schibsted family. Schibsted Spain has extensive experience and knowledge about the management of classified advert portals across multiple sectors. We are certain that Habitaclia will be able to benefit from this experience to offer greater value”, explained Javier Llanas, CEO at Habitaclia.

Habitaclia’s turnover amounted to €6.8M during the first three quarters of 2016, which represents an increase of 36% compared to the previous year. The firm has an EBITDA margin of more than 30% in its main region of operation (Cataluña, Balearic Islands and Andorra). This acquisition will increase Schibsted Spain’s total turnover by 8%, resulting in combined revenues of more than €88 million during the first three quarters of 2016.

Besides fotocasa, Schibsted also owns InfoJobs, Coches.net, Vibbo and Milanuncios.

Original story: Inmodiario

Translation: Carmel Drake

Deloitte: 29 Shopping Centres Worth €1,531M Are Up For Sale

13 December 2016 – Expansión

Between January and October, investors spent €3,028 million buying shopping centres in Spain. That is a historical figure, which pulverises the volume registered in previous years. For example: in 2015, a record year in terms of real estate investment, investors spent 60% less on shopping centres than they did during the first ten months of 2016.

And this strong performance in the retail investment market looks set to continue, given that 29 more properties, with a combined value of €1,531 million, are expected to be sold during the final stretch of the year, according to Deloitte. (…) Of those, four have already changed hands, specifically, the outlet centres located in San Sebastián de los Reyes, Las Rozas and Getafe, which the joint venture owned by Nienver and Tiaa purchased on 23 November, as part of a wider European portfolio that also included three other centres in Italy and Poland, worth €700 million in total. Moreover, the same partnership completed the acquisition of the Nassica shopping centre in Getafe on the same day.

And these are not the only shopping centres that will be changing hands over the next few months, given that other new assets are expected to come onto the market next year, including the Madrid Xanadú shopping centre in Arroyomolinos.

In total, forecasts indicate that transactions amounting to almost €2,000 million (specifically, €1,932 million) will be closed in 2017, with another €604 million worth of shopping centres expected to be sold in 2018, according to sources at the professional services firm.

Gains

Most of the shopping centres that will have new owners over the next 18 months belong to overseas funds that bought these assets before the recovery of the sector, and which now have the opportunity to unwind their investments with significant gains just a few years after they bought them. “The decrease in the risk premium and the recovery in consumption are some of the reasons behind the 16% appreciation in this type of asset over the last 12 months”, said Javier García-Mateo, Financial Advisory Partner at Deloitte.

In fact, we have already seen operations of this kind in 2016, such as the sale of the Gran Vía de Vigo shopping centre, which the fund Oaktree sold in the summer to the Socimi Lar España for €145 million. The US fund had acquired the centre two years earlier for €115 million. (…). Meanwhile, Northwood sold Diagonal Mar for €495 million after buying it two years ago for around €150 million.

“Above all, the buyers of the shopping centres that will come up for sale in the short term will be core and core plus funds, which will take over from the more opportunist (distress) investors, which made their purchases during the previous period”, said García-Mateo. In this way, transactions amounting to €4,067 million are expected to be closed over the next two years; more than €1,200 million will be invested by institutional funds, insurance companies, and more risk-averse investors, followed by core plus investors, which will account for almost 40% of the total investment volume, compared with €108 million that opportunist funds are expected to invest in shopping centres, according to Deloitte.

Financing

Along with the improvement in the Spanish economy, another question that will help this investment volume will be the better access to financing for this kind of operation.

In this sense, more than 55% of the €4,067 million that is expected to be invested in shopping centres between now and 2018 will benefit from financing, for more than 50% of the total asset value, compared with 16% that will not be financed by any kind of loan.

Original story: Expansión (by Rocío Ruiz)

Translation: Carmel Drake

British Investors Buy Up Entire Residential Buildings In Barcelona

7 December 2016 – La Vanguardia

They used to own a flat in a good location in the centre of London. They sold it and with the profits they bought an entire four-storey building in Barcelona. That is the story of a British family, which has become the new owner of number 68 on Calle Hospital in the heart of the Raval neighbourhood. The property, constructed more than a century ago, needs to be completely renovated. Once that has been done, the four floors will be put on the market for rent, whereby benefitting from the current market of rising prices and within a few years, the owners will sell the property.

That is how British families with investment potential are managing to generate guaranteed returns from real estate assets. A property like the one on Calle Hospital costs around €1 million. After the renovation, the rental income is unlikely to fall below €1,000/month. Such properties can be sold subsequently for more than €1.5 million, at least.

This real estate “play” is not a unique case. The consultancy firm Aguirre Newman has closed the sale of two buildings in Eixample to a British investor group within the last few weeks. “The property is in a bad condition, but they will take care of the renovation, and then put it up for sale straight away”, explained Anna Gener, Director General of the firm in Barcelona.

Over the last year, Brits have realised that Barcelona offers them high returns, regardless of whether they buy or rent. “Brexit has meant that there are increasingly more investors who are interested in buying assets here”, said Albert Sarrias, Commercial Director at Engel&Völkers in Barcelona, although he recognised that “we will only see the real effects in the long term, for the moment, they are browsing more than they are buying”.

By contrast, for Miquel Laborde, owner of the real estate management company Laborde Marcet, the divorce between the UK and the EU is not the driver behind the latest phenomenon. “It is a simple matter of returns. British investors can earn more money here from investing and selling than they can in London”. The reason, beyond any fluctuations in the euro-sterling exchange rate, is that prices in the residential sector in the British capital are at historical highs and they seem to be peaking. The price per square metre of a new home in the centre of the British capital ranges between €10,000/m2 and €15,000/m2. (…).

17.66% of house sales to foreigners in Spain are made to Brits, according to data from the College of Registrars. They are followed, at a considerable distance, by wealthy French, German, Swedish and Belgian investors.

These types of operations in the residential sector are mainly concentrated in the centre of Barcelona Raval, Born and Eixample are the preferred locations although the real estate agents lament the limited supply of products on the market. (…).

Small investors prefer to put their money in the residential sector. Offices and buildings, measuring more than 5,000 m2, generate more rental income but only Socimis and large investment funds can afford them. (…).

Original story: La Vanguardia

Translation: Carmel Drake

Deutsche Bank Advises Investors To Buy Spanish RE

17 September 2015 – Cinco Días

Foreign capital is no longer frightened of Spanish real estate. In a report published yesterday by Deutsche Bank, the German financial institution recommends investors to take positions in real estate assets in our country.

“Over the next five years, we expect Spain to be one of the best performing markets in Europe”, says the report.

In fact, the Deutsche Asset & Wealth Management division – which has prepared the document – advises investors to take positions in Southern Europe in general, lead by the growth in Spain. It calls on investors to acquire more weight in investments in offices, commercial premises in prime areas and in logistics assets in our country. By contrast, it recommends an exit from London.

Amongst its reasons, the entity explains that following the reductions in returns in recent years, a sustained recovery in terms of rental income has started to materialise in cities such as Madrid and Barcelona.

The bank says that taking positions by acquiring assets, renting them out and promoting them in the heart of both cities will create value, above all, taking into account the fact that high quality assets in the centres of Madrid and Barcelona are in short supply. In fact, it highlights that these two cities offer the highest returns, ahead of Frankfurt, Munich, Milan and the La Défense district in Paris. The entity also points to opportunities in the central locations of smaller Spanish cities such as Valencia and Bilbao.

The economy as the driving force

Amongst the various factors at work in the Spanish market, the firm highlights the strong growth of the economy and the creation of jobs, which are both driving demand.

It also highlights the increase in the occupancy rates of offices in Madrid and Barcelona; available space is becoming increasingly scarce. Furthermore, rental prices are increasing in the most prime locations and it expects this trend to last for the next five years. Similarly, it states that investment volumes are returning to pre-crisis levels.

Original story: Cinco Días (by A. Simón)

Translation: Carmel Drake

Merlin, Hispania And Axia Could Raise More Than €1,340M

5 May 2015 – Expansión

The real estate investment companies are trading at record highs, and (their share prices) still have potential (to increase), say analysts.

The real estate sector is back in fashion. The current liquidity surplus, together with the scarcity of alternative investments, minimum interest rates and low financing costs have led to the resurgence of properties. In this way, the (share prices of the) 4 real estate companies (Socimis) that are listed on the stock exchange (another 5 are listed on the Alternative Investment Market or MAB) have risen by 20% on average during the year and are trading close to record highs. And yet, all of them have “buy” recommendations from the majority of the analysis firms that follow them.

Gaining in size

In this context, Merlin Properties, Hispania (which is not strictly a Socimi, but which has a similar profile) and Axia Real Estate are seeking to raise capital to fully benefit from their investment opportunities. The three entities could raise more than €1,340 million.

The first one to take the plunge was Merlin, which announced a capital increase of 64.6 million shares (50% of the volume in circulation) on 15 April amounting to a value of €613.8 million. The new shares are being issued at €9.50, which represents a discount of 27% on the trading price on the day before the announcement. The subscription period ended on 2 May. The new shares from the capital increase, which are underwritten by UBS, Credit Suisse and Goldman Sachs, amongst other entities, will begin to trade on 12 May. “The transaction makes sense because we believe that the current upwards cycle in terms of revenue and ratings may last for 2 or 3 more years”, say sources at Banco Sabadell. The analysis firm advises investors to “buy” these shares, as do the other five analysts that cover this security. “We believe in the experience and know-how of the management team at Merlin to “play” the upwards property cycle and gain a profit”, they add.

One of Merlin’s main strengths is its size. Analysts calculate that the company may have almost €1,400 million to invest. “It is able to access large transactions that other companies cannot, such as the purchase of Testa”, says Juan Moreno, analyst at Ahorro Corporación. That transaction that would have the blessing of the market if, as it being discussed, the acquisition of 30% of the company is agreed for €500 million, without the payment of a premium over the NAV (net asset value).

Meanwhile, last week Hispania increased its capital by €337 million through an accelerated placement amongst institutions, without the right to preferential subscriptions.

The company, in which George Soros holds a stake, tried to lead the purchase of Realia last March. In the end, Carlos Slim was the “cat that got the cream”, through FCC, but experts liked the design of the operation. “Hispania is innovative in the transactions it proposes. For example, it seeks to enter (companies) by purchasing debt, restructuring that debt and then buying the company at a lower price”, says Moreno. The expert also highlights the recent alliance signed between Hispania and Barceló to create a Socimi to invest in the hotel sector.

Three of the four analyst firms that follow the security advise investors to “buy”. In terms of Axia, the Socimi has announced its intention to increase its capital by 36 million shares (100% of its capital) for a value of €396 million. For the time being, the market does not know whether the current shareholders will have preferential subscription rights. But, in any case, the experts like the security, which has increased in value by 10.77% during the year. Two of the three firms that follow it advise investors to ”buy” and the third advise investors to “hold”. The share price may increase by 8.7% to €13.10.

Original story: Expansión (by C. Sekulits)

Translation: Carmel Drake