HARTAMAS NOTESFOR THE WEEK-Make Real Estate A Breeze-

14 Feb 2021 - 28 Feb 2021

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Research

Lead from the backand let others believethey are in front.

Nelson Mandela ( a political leader, philanthropist, President of South Africa )

What you need to know this week:

03 Kuala lumpur and Selangor office monitor 4Q2020

04 Property market displaying signs of resilience despite Covid-19

05 World Bank: Malaysia GDP to recover in 2021 on effective vaccine deployment

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GDP

The way forwardfor officesWhat’s going on here?Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Office Monitor 4Q2020 shows that theaverage rental and overall occupancy rates of office space in KL city,KL fringe and Selangor remained under pressure in 4Q2020.

What does this mean?According to Knight Frank Malaysia, the tenant-led office market isexpected to remain relatively soft in the near term. More organisationshave started to consider co-working and flexible workspaces in theirreal estate planning as it allows them flexibility to control their spacerequirements and length of term. Meanwhile, landlords will work tosupport the arrangement, continue to focus on asset managementand leasing strategies that are centred on cost optimisation and tenantretention to overcome the challenging environment.

Why should I care?While the office is here to stay, it needs a tweak to its purpose forcollaboration and flexibility where health and safety will remain topof mind for occupiers.

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Resilience inproperty market

What’s going on here?PropertyGuru Malaysia country manager said that the propertymarket is resilient despite the current number of Covid-19 casesand extended MCO 2.0.

What does this mean?The latest PropertyGuru Malaysia Property Market Index (MPMI)report showed no changes in the overall asking prices for the finalquarter of 2020. In Selangor, asking prices improved by 0.84%compared to the last quarter which indicates an upward movementof prices in 2021. The property market will be driven by "movers"and "waiters" this year, where some will move into the market to takeadvantage of prevailing favourable conditions, while others wait forfurther price drops or more stable financial situations.

Why should I care?With the positive GDP forecast and the history low OPR rate thatmight be further reduced, the property market is expected to improveconsiderably from June onward this year.

04

Vaccines andGDP

What’s going on here?According to the World Bank, Malaysia’s economy is expected togrow by 5.6 - 6.7% this year following the global rollout of theCovid-19 vaccination programme that will boost consumption worldwide.

What does this mean?Malaysian Economic Outlook 2021 forecasts the country’s externaltrade to grow by 3.9% as a result of the recovery in global trade andsupply chains. The government is in total control of the fiscal policyand will continue to step in when required. In the monetary landscape,Bank Negara Malaysia still has a lot of room to manoeuvre. Inflation,however, is likely to make a comeback in 2021 signalling a strongersurge in consumer spending.

Why should I care?With the belief that the economic recovery would follow with therecovery in public health, the government is targeting to vaccinatealmost 27 million people, representing over 80% of the country'spopulation, by the first quarter of 2022 to achieve herd immunity.

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What else we arereadingMaintaining the momentum 27/2, TheStar >>> Read More

Inflation expected to return on high fuel prices, demand 26/2, TheStar >>> Read More

New launches, positive sentiment to drive Sime DarbyProperty in FY21 26/2, NST >>> Read More

Worst not over for hotel industry, says MAH president 26/2, NST >>> Read More

Penang - Modest pace in 2021 24/2, NST >>> Read More

Malaysia's CPI falls 0.2% in January 24/2, TheStar >>> Read More

Vaccine hope for office sector 20/2, TheStar >>> Read More

Savills’ real estate industry outlook for 2021 20/1, TheEdgeMarket >>> Read More

LBI Capital to develop properties with GDVof RM220mil-240mil 18/2, TheStar >>> Read More

Immunisation will strengthen M’sia in global supply chain18/2, TheStar >>> Read More

Moody's: Malaysia, Singapore positioned to gain fromglobal growth in 2022 17/2, TheStar >>> Read More

Klang Valley - Volatility continues in 2021 15/2, NST >>> Read More

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SkyWorld offers full financing for its latest launches 22/2, NST >>> Read More

Mah Sing to develop Bandar Baru Salak Tinggi homes 20/2, TheStar >>> Read More

Prime industrial assets in Klang on the radar ofdevelopers, manufacturers, and investors 16/2, NST >>> Read More

Port infrastructure to drive growth for logisticsindustry — Knight Frank 16/2, TheEdgeMarket >>> Read More

Hong Kong’s retail sector to rebound with coronaviruvaccine, says New World Development 27/2, SCMP >>> Read More

China sets 15-year transport expansion plan as it seeksto double size of economy by 2035 26/2, SCMP >>> Read More

Mainland property developers surge as major Chinesecities prepare to alter land auction system 25/2, SCMP >>> Read More

Bad news for Shenzhen housing speculators as officialssteer home prices below market levels 24/2, SCMP >>> Read More

Australian developer Crown Group targets Malaysians forits pipeline launches23/2, NST >>> Read More

Hong Kong's weekend home sales jump to eight-year high22/2, NST >>> Read More

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Chinese investors look south to Hong Kong as outflow rules ease 21/1, SCMP >>> Read More

Singapore Minister flags risks of low rates onproperty market 17/2, NST >>> Read More

Hong Kong housing deals to rise in Year of the Ox,after downbeat Year of the Rat: analysts16/2, SCMP >>> Read More

[Disclaimer: All content provided by Hartamas Sdn. Bhd. is for informational and educationalpurposes only and is not meant to represent trade or investment recommendations.]

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