Which Players Will Shape The RE Sector In 2017?

5 December 2016 – Expansión

The end of 2016 will mark not only a new record in terms of real estate investment in Spain, but also the start of a new phase in the sector, after three years of recovery.

“In mid-2013, funds like Blackstone started to close operations, at a time when the market was completely paralysed. That prompted a magnet effect, which, together with the creation of Socimis and the reorganisation of the banking sector, launched the recovery of the sector”, said Adolfo Ramírez-Escudero, President of CBRE.

Thus, after closing last year with an investment volume of €12,884 million, the expectation is that the figure will reach €13,900 million by year end 2016. “We may reach record investment figures by year end, as new property owners, with a more institutional profile, enter the market, such as German investment funds, insurance companies, etc.”, he said.

The investment figure may be maintained next year if corporate operations continue, say sources at the consultancy firm. “We are living in a different Spain, with GDP growth of 3.2% this year and forecast GDP growth of 2.5% next year. That has a direct correlation with employment and, therefore, with real estate”, said Ramírez-Escudero.

For this new phase, one of the most important players will be the large Socimis, which have continued to close operations this year, but in a more measured way as they have been more focused on managing their properties; as well as German funds, such as Invesco Real Estate and the real estate division of Deutsche Bank.

Nevertheless, these more risk-averse investors will share the stage with another kind of player in the Spanish real estate sector in 2017. “We are pretty convinced that there is going to be a new property developer cycle, given that the real estate companies have now been established, with new capital. Next year, the property developers will be building new products”, said the Head of CBRE.

Residential segment

These new players will include Neinor Homes. The real estate company, created by the fund LoneStar with the former subsidiary of Kutxabank, has become a key player in the property development sector, with projects underway across Spain. In 2017, the company led by Juan Velayos will debut on the stock market, whereby restoring the profile of property developers, such as Martinsa Fadesa and Reyal Urbis, which fell from grace following the burst of the bubble.

Another player in the residential sector will be Avantespacia. The new real estate company, in which Inveravante (Manuel Jove’s company) owns a 70% stake and Anida (BBVA’s real estate arm) owns a 30% stake, will promote almost one thousand homes during its first phase of development. Its first project in Málaga, with 135 properties, is already being sold, whilst in Madrid, the new company is preparing a development in the Francisco Silvela area.

But development will not only be happening in the residential segment, major projects are also planned for the office and shopping centre segments. In the former, Merlin Properties is expected to play an important role. Spain’s largest Socimi is currently working on the development of an office building in the Isla Chamartín area, in the north east of Madrid.

In addition, it has just completed the purchase of the Adequa business park, a complex that comprises four office buildings and a shopping area, with space for the construction of a 24-storey skyscraper, with a total surface area of 29,000 m2.

Original story: Expansión (by Rocío Ruiz)

Translation: Carmel Drake