5 major property investment transactions which defied market gloom in 2Q2012

Savills estimates that investment transactions more than doubled in 2Q12 to $7.4 biliion topped by Compass Point.

The S$7.4 billion of investment transactions in Q2/2012 represents a 52.4% increase over Q1/2012’s S$4.9 billion. This has  brought the total volume to S$12.3  billion in the first half of 2012.

Of the total transactions, the  private sector accounted for S$4.3  billion or 58.3% in Q2/2012.

According to Savills, in spite of renewed concerns about  a slowing US economy and red  lags uttering in the eurozone, investment activity, especially in the commercial property sector, regained momentum, with the  total value of investment sales going up by 59.9% quarter-onquarter. Low interest rates and
retained bullish expectations for the economy played important roles in the reviewed quarter’s spate of
acquisitions, it said.

Here's more from Savills:

The public sector accounted for  S$3.1 billion or 42% of the total  investment sales in Q2/2012. A
total of 15 state lands, including 11 residential sites, three industrial  sites and one hotel site, were sold
for a total of about S$2.9 billion. In addition, JTC has sold Fusionopolis Phase 5 for S$172.8 million through its concept and price tender system.

Looking ahead, investment volume may hit a stalemate in the near term, given that macro conditions
have worsened in recent months. A squeeze on buyers’ i nancing cannot  be ruled out, which in turn will affect volume.