SA investment property sector delivered 15.3% in 2013

Stan Garrun, executive director and head of the SA IPD.

This result comes despite modest economic growth, constrained employment and cresting consumer spend. Income return was steady at 8.2%, while the uplift was provided by capital growth of 6.7%, supported by historically low cost of capital and high transactional activity.

The index is based on asset level data collected from a sample of 1354 properties covering R213 billion capital value at the end of December 2013. This represents approximately 60% of professionally managed investment property in South Africa.

Outperforming bond, equity returns

Property continued to demonstrate its hybrid nature, outperforming 2013 bond returns of -0.4% (All Bond Index) and competing with equity returns of 12.5% (MSCI South Africa Index). Property values were driven higher, in spite of a 95 basis point (10 year Government Bond) bond yield softening over the year, benefiting from rental growth of 6.0% and net income growth of 14.3% on a Rand per square metre basis. Aggressive asset management and increasing focus on administered cost recoveries was a boost to gross incomes.

At a sector level, industrials came to the fore with a return of 17.1%, marginally outperforming retail at 16.8%. Offices followed trend by underperforming the other two sectors during the property cycle recovery but still managed 13.6% total return.

Commercial property vacancies across all three sectors declined over the year, underlining confidence in the recovery trends, although competitive leasing strategies have put pressure on base rental growth rates. At a property segment level, light manufacturing/low grade industrial surprised with a 20.9% return. Super regional centres once again showed their strength in the face of rising occupation costs with a return of 19.4%. Inner city offices continue to trail behind with a 12.7% total return for the year.

Demonstrating sector advantage

Stan Garrun, executive director and head of South Africa, IPD, said, "This is an impressive performance. Property fundamentals continue to demonstrate the sector's advantages, providing investors with consistently robust and diversified returns. Active asset management and a singular focus on sustainable net income growth have once again shone a light on South African property."

Frank Berkeley, managing executive of Nedbank Corporate Property Finance added, "As financiers to the property industry, we are encouraged with the performance delivered by the investment property sector as it is an indication of the professional nature with which the South African property industry is managed, therefore ensuring positive returns for investors."