PRICES of luxury high-rise residential properties within the Klang Valley are set to see an increase in rentals this year, but are unlikely to reach levels that were achieved before the global financial crisis hit in 2008, say experts.
Malaysian Institute of Estate Agents (MIEA) president Nixon Paul says he is optimistic about the outlook for high-end residential condominiums this year.
“Rental values have dropped from its high (in 2008) but have since stabilised and are slowly on its way up. We see a slow and gradual move upwards but not a dramatic increase,” he tells StarBizWeek.
Nixon says after the financial crisis hit in 2008, rentals of high-end residential condominiums “took a beating.”
“The slowdown in Europe and the US caused by the financial crisis at the time caused many expatriates to pull out and there was also an oversupply of condominiums then.
“But things are more stable now in Europe and the US. Furthermore, various Government initiatives under the Economic Transformation Programme are helping to attract foreign investment. The oil and gas sector is also responsible for attracting a lot of expatriates,” he says.
MIEA deputy president Siva Shanker is also optimistic about the high-end residential sector this year.
“Barring any unforeseen circumstances in Europe, the US and China, we’re looking at fairly reasonable growth in both rents and occupancy rates of high-end condominiums in areas like KLCC, Mont’Kiara, Bangsar and Ampang.”
Siva recalls that after the global financial crisis hit in 2008, many companies in Europe and the US started having financial difficulties and either pulled back their employees or reduced the quantum of their employees’ housing loans – which had an adverse impact on the local high-end condominium market.
“Because many companies were restructuring around the world, there was a drop in high-end rental market. Rents came down by between 30% and 35%. It also did not help that we had a huge oversupply situation. Developers were building but the expatriates were returning back to their home countries.”
At this point, occupancy rates dropped while vacancies rose, says Siva.
He says that many expatriates that remained in the country moved to cheaper apartments.
“High-rise condominiums within the KLCC area suffered the most. There was a lot of supply that came in between 2007 and 2008. Many investors bought them and some developers promised expected rentals of RM20,000 a month!
“But in the last couple of years, we are seeing a recovery. Many expatriates are coming back. We haven’t recovered to the pre-financial crisis days but condominiums within the KLCC area is doing well. We believe these apartments have an occupancy rate of 80% or more, presently.
Nixon meanwhile says it was difficult to determine current rental rates of high-end condominiums as there were “too many variables.”
“Rental rates depend on a lot of factors. Are the units fully or partly finished? Is it on a higher or lower floor? Does it have a great view? There are a lot of variables,” he says.
According to C.H. Williams Talhar & Wong’s property report card for Klang valley in the first half of 2012, the overall luxury condominium market during the period faced a competitive market environment.
“These could be due to the tightening lending guidelines introduced byBank Negara as well as the reinstatement of Real Property Gains Tax as of Jan 1, 2012. On the demand side, the sales rate was stable.”
As at the first half of 2012, it said the total supply of luxury condominium in Kuala Lumpur increased by 2.2% from 21,771 units (137 developments) in 2011 to 22,268 units (140 developments).
“Generally, the average occupancy rate for existing luxury condominium in KL has been on a downtrend since 2008 except for the Kenny Hills area. In the first half of 2012, the average occupancy rate further decreased by about 5% to 61.6%.
“Both condominiums and serviced residences experienced the downtrend registering occupancy rates at 63.2% and 59.5% respectively.”
It said prices of luxury condominiums in KL have remained stable as compared to 2011.
“In the first half of 2012, two new launches were announced. However, sales prices in KLCC area are estimated to range between RM800 per sq ft and RM1,600 per sq ft. The Pavilion Banyan Tree maintained sales prices at an average RM2,000 per sq ft.
“In terms of rental levels, the average asking rental levels of luxury condominiums have remained stable, ranging from RM5 per sq ft to RM6.50 per sq ft monthly in KLCC and Ampang Hilir / U-Thant. Other areas such as Bangsar and Mont Kiara are asking about RM4 per sq ft to RM6 per sq ft per month.” - The Star
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