Dark clouds gather as real estate risks mount

The global economic outlook has deteriorated, with downside risks threatening global real estate. An interest rate-induced pricing correction is set to dent near-term returns, with global all-property total returns expected to average 3.4% pa over 2022-2024 under our baseline scenario.

What you will learn:

• However, as downside risks mount, the possibility of even weaker returns has increased. On a risk-adjusted basis, the weighted-average return for all scenarios this quarter is 2.7% pa.
• Recently, the risk of a near-universal global housing market crash has risen sharply, spurred by rising mortgage rates, high valuations, and squeezed real incomes. Under this scenario, all-property returns would be nearly 6ppts below our baseline by year-end 2024. Advanced economies with already exposed housing sectors, such as Canada and the UK, would see returns dented the most.
• But the greatest risk to property returns is a scenario where inflation remains elevated and central banks lose their credibility in controlling it. Under our high inflation regime scenario, global all-property returns fall 9.5ppts by 2024. Property values are severely hit, falling 12% below our baseline forecast.