Global real estate consultant JLL presumes 2022 investment volumes to be around $200 billion or over 15% above the full-year estimate for 2021, which presently stands at $162-169 billion. This is despite renewed uncertainty over the societal and economic impact of Covid-19.
According to JLL, in 2022 several themes will drive heightened investment activity and support ongoing recovery in leasing across asset classes, including a stronger office market, high demand for modern logistics facilities, and the continued growth of alternative sectors such as data centers and life sciences.
“Asia Pacific’s real estate markets will be stronger in 2022, as investors maintain their bullishness and leasing activity continues to further recover,” said Anthony Couse, Chief Executive Officer, Asia Pacific, JLL.
“It’s clear that the path to economic recovery is not a straight one, but we’re hearing from our clients that they have confidence in the future of office-based work. Investor sentiment is positive though uncertainty remains the reality and will be factored into any decision-making this year.”
JLL forecasts the volume of capital targeting real estate will remain stable throughout 2022 with investors deploying more funds towards opportunistic investments in markets including China and Japan.
Asia-pacific office market
In 2022, Asia Pacific’s office market will add 6.9 million sqm in supply, up 13% from last year. JLL anticipates net absorption levels to rise by 20% this year, driven by expansion of financial, technology and flexible space operators.
Prime logistics stock is set to raise by 17% between 2021 and 2022, the fastest pace of annual growth on record, with 20.8 million sqm of new supply expected to be delivered, resulting in increasing stock and portfolio reallocations. JLL forecasts logistics investment to rise to $60 billion annually by 2025.
Hotel Sector
Hotel investments are also anticipated to rise by up to 30% in 2022, crossing the $9 billion threshold, as confidence builds in the hospitality sector.
Investor and occupier demand for data centers will remain to grow in 2022. The hyperscale cloud market will expand by 400% from $37 billion in 2021 to $179 billion by 2026, creating healthy demand for real estate to support expansion.
Although the life science sector remains niche for some Asia Pacific investors, the region will offer diverse opportunities in terms of location and asset class as occupier demand continues to grow in 2022.
“The real estate market in Asia Pacific has faced unprecedented challenges in 2021. While 2022 will come with some risks, investors with a long-term view remain confident in the secular trends that will drive demand in this region: ongoing urbanization; increasing prosperity and a growing middle class; and the acceleration of e-commerce. All of these point to opportunities for investors,” says Roddy Allan, Chief Research Officer, Asia Pacific, JLL
Asia-Pacific region is an important economic area for the Commonwealth with some of its members like Singapore, India and Australia are in the region.
