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Thread: Property development - lumps, bumps and slumps

  1. #1
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    Default Property development - lumps, bumps and slumps

    Property development - lumps, bumps and slumps

    Here's a sector that's relatively easy to understand, but there are still some factors to watch out for

    Sat, May 19, 2018

    Alan Lok
    Eunice Chu
    Guruprasad Jambunathan


    IN a complex and fast-moving financial world, it's comforting to know that some sectors remain relatively easy to understand. A case in point is property development. The property developer acquires land, an architect then designs the building and obtains planning approval before passing the baton to the construction team.

    At this stage, the developer could choose to undertake marketing and sales before construction is complete or wait until the last brick falls into place. Either way, you can then calculate the gross development value (GDV) of a project or profit from the project, of which the sum of GDV, excluding the developer's liabilities, will yield the value of the development.

    Lumpy revenue generation

    So far, so simple. There are, however, a few variations that you should note. We shall begin with the lumpy nature of revenue generation.

    It can take years to complete a project, and if the developer has only one development, then the profit-and-loss account will not record any revenue during the planning and construction phase - something that can stretch for many financial reporting quarters. Upon completion, and the subsequent sale of residential or commercial units, revenue will spike before declining when all units are sold. Investors and analysts are somewhat uneasy with this "erratic" performance.

    That said, revenue volatility is not a pertinent issue for big developers, as they usually have multiple projects running with different completion dates.

    For companies that do not fall into this category, the need to smooth out their income stream is far stronger. The following steps may stabilise the variations:

    Develop the land in phases. The first tranche is completed and sold, often at a lower entry price to generate interest in the project. When word gets out that the initial stage was well-received, work will start on phase two. By adopting this approach, the smaller developer's revenue will appear more fluid.

    For developers that lack the financial resources to take on multiple enterprises, there is the option of running numerous projects through joint ventures. The landowner supplies the land while the property developer does the rest, which evens out revenue reporting numbers and reduces risk exposure to a project.

    Generate money from property investment. Developers may hold on to units for rental purposes, forming a revenue base and providing earnings stability. Alternatively, they may spin off the property investment portfolio to a Reit, where dividends are declared on a quarterly or half-yearly basis.

    Is it also important to point out that any assessment of a property developer should consider the geographical distribution of its revenue sources - diversification reduces the risks associated with revenue concentration. Nevertheless, embodied in the points above are the all-important reputation and track record of the company.

    Different demand factors for developers

    For residential property developers, key statistics include demographics: population, age, and net migration, as well as movement from the countryside to the city. Changes in income statistics should also be observed. Other areas to investigate include issues relating to single-occupancy city-centre apartments and suburban family houses. It also pays to understand the culture of each market - is home ownership seen as a measure of success, or is perpetual renting the norm?

    In the wake of near-zero interest rates, property prices have accelerated in many countries, including those in Asia-Pacific where the price-to-income ratio (a measure of affordability) has soared. Governments may therefore offer subsidies to first-time buyers, which can bode well for developers in the lower-end space.

    When examining the more cyclical commercial property developers, begin by looking at economic data. Stronger growth and expansionary monetary policies usually suggest an increase in business activity. Therefore, warehouses, factories, and retail assets will be highly sought after. The expansion in the service industry will also propel demand for office space.

    After that, drill down and explore the factors unique to each industry and the location of the property. For example, when researching hotels, you should examine the growth in tourist arrivals. Another significant factor is the expansion of e-commerce, with demand for retail space suffering in favour of high-tech warehousing space in Asia-Pacific.

    Land - the crucial raw material

    Most developers possess a land bank, but this is an asset that can be depleted if not replenished promptly. Companies do participate in public auctions of land released by governments - in Singapore, this is known as the Government Land Sales Programme. Developers can also choose to buy land from private owners. The key to land parcels is location, location and location.

    Alternatively, developers may acquire old buildings. While this can be less expensive than participating in auctions, such activity raises questions about the time and cost-effectiveness of renovating or converting an existing asset. In some areas, they may also "land bank" through the conversion of one use of land to another, subject to the jurisdiction of the local authority.

    Study the developer

    There are key performance metrics you can employ in the study of developers. Sell-through rates for recently launched projects can be an indication of company performance, track record and reputation. Observe changes in overall transaction volume, also known as transaction velocity, as there is a strong correlation between share prices and property transaction prices (as measured by Property Price Index) and volume.

    Changes in unsold inventory can indicate cyclical upswings and downswings. As a value measure, share price to Revalued Net Asset Value, (RNAV - which is the book value of development property plus revaluation surplus) is a useful metric. During an up cycle, this ratio may range from around 0.9 to 1.5. On the other hand, a bear market can see this ratio range from 0.3 to 0.6.

    A study of how a developer manages its working capital (WC) requirement is helpful. Such an assessment should begin by analysing how it raises WC and its implications on the cost of capital and risk. At the same time, find out if the developer requires a higher level of WC in different areas of its operations, such as projects in other countries. Investors also need to note the developer's capital-allocation strategy in apportioning money to acquiring land parcels, developing properties and other competing uses.

    Another variation on the straightforward business model is the outsourcing of construction to contractors, as well as sub-contractors. A developer's essential competency rests on having a keen eye for acquiring reasonably priced land parcels and developing these into coveted real estate trophies. While doing this, its management may decide to focus on what generates value for the business and outsource the construction segment. When extracting value from construction, the core competency differs - in this case, execution and cost control form the recipe for success. If this is the variation, then capital and WC requirements will be lower.

    Sources of capital

    Funding is critical for property development projects. External sources of money may come from bank loans, bond financing, share-rights issuance, or some other form of equity financing. Where a property developer has obtained funding, do take the time to understand its structure because this can impact returns, especially if the company is highly geared.

    Risks - analyse these under a microscope

    A developer may successfully bid for land during a boom only to experience a subsequent market correction. Alternatively, it may pay too much for land plots.

    There may also be a supply shock with too many projects being completed all at once. This oversupply can be exacerbated by macroeconomic downturns, depressing both prices and take-up rates. Highly leveraged developers are acutely exposed when there is a double whammy of falling prices and risk-averse buyers.

    Government intervention in the market is a further source of risk. Developers may experience the adverse consequence arising from regulatory policy changes designed to curb a perceived bubble.

    Alan Lok, CFA, is the Director, Society Advocacy Engagement of CFA Institute. Mr Lok researches and writes on investor protection issues and capital-market structure.

    Eunice Chu is an ACCA-qualified finance professional. She was a regional finance director of a Fortune 500 multinational corporation and at present heads the policy function of ACCA Hong Kong.

    Guruprasad Jambunathan, FRM, is a Director for Financial Research at CRISIL, a global analytical company. He has over 12 years of experience in equity research and works closely with a broad clientele of buy-side and sell-side firms, as well as with academic think-tanks across various continents.

  2. #2
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    Uh oh.. What could this mean for the next few months of the property market? Check it out:

    HIGHER ABSD RATES, TIGHTER LOAN LIMITS: What this means for Singapore’s homebuyers
    The government has acted to cool the red hot residential property market. Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD) rates have been raised for some categories of residential property purchases, and the Loan-to-Value (LTV) limits on residential property purchases have been lowered, all with effect from 6 July 2018.
    Higher ABSD rates
    Below is a table showing the latest ABSD rates in comparison with the previous rates...
    https://www.edgeprop.sg/property-new...s-homebuyers-0





    https://www.edgeprop.sg/property-new...s-homebuyers-0

  3. #3
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    Quote Originally Posted by Gustave44 View Post
    Uh oh.. What could this mean for the next few months of the property market? Check it out:

    HIGHER ABSD RATES, TIGHTER LOAN LIMITS: What this means for Singapore’s homebuyers
    The government has acted to cool the red hot residential property market. Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD) rates have been raised for some categories of residential property purchases, and the Loan-to-Value (LTV) limits on residential property purchases have been lowered, all with effect from 6 July 2018.
    Higher ABSD rates
    Below is a table showing the latest ABSD rates in comparison with the previous rates...
    https://www.edgeprop.sg/property-new...s-homebuyers-0

    https://www.edgeprop.sg/property-new...s-homebuyers-0
    You can right click on the image, copy image address.


  4. #4
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    What is your guess, my guess is going up again.

    If you are a buyer in waiting, good luck to you.

  5. #5
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    Actually how to go up? So much ABSD.

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    Quote Originally Posted by stl67 View Post
    Actually how to go up? So much ABSD.
    for a "Draconian" measure, sales post 5th July stampede is still strangely very decent vs previous ABSD.

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    https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south...ty-residential

    Mahathir bans foreigners from buying Forest City residential units in Malaysia

    The project has been wracked by uncertainty since Mahathir’s coalition scored a shock victory at a May general election

    PUBLISHED : Monday, 27 August, 2018, 1:03pm
    UPDATED : Monday, 27 August, 2018, 2:12pm

    Malaysia will not allow foreigners to buy residential units built at the US$100 billion Forest City project in Johor, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said on Monday.

    The project has been wracked by uncertainty since Mahathir’s coalition scored a shock victory at a May general election, as Chinese developer Country Garden Holdings Co looks to revive faltering demand for its plans to build a city that would be home to 700,000 people.
    “One thing is certain, that city that is going to be built cannot be sold to foreigners. We are not going to give visas for people to come and live here,” Mahathir said.
    “Our objection is because it was built for foreigners, not built for Malaysians. Most Malaysians are unable to buy those flats.”

    A Country Garden official said the company did not have any immediate response to Mahathir’s comments.
    Forest City is mixed residential, office and retail development being built over 20 years on four artificial islands with a combined area of 13.86 sq km.
    Many of the people buying into the residential side in the past few years have been middle-class investors from China, lured a massive promotional campaign promising an affordable project “near Singapore”.
    Between 2016 and last year, state television, railway station billboards and screens in tower block lifts were blanketed in advertising extolling the pleasures of a tropical island home.
    With additional reporting by He Huifeng

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by stl67 View Post
    Actually how to go up? So much ABSD.
    Good question, that is the reason why I want to be near the ground.

    From High above you can only see the Big ABSD, but on the ground is a different story.

    The two previous ABSD did not stop it from going up, only TDSR.

    This third ABSD is not going to stop also only slow it from going up.

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