There is no denying the impact the coronavirus (COVID-19) is having on the global economy is troubling. China, the world’s second largest economy, has the largest outbreak with over 80,000 cases reported and 3,015 deaths as of this writing and has suffered the greatest. The virus has halted production and caused major interruptions to the supply chain and economic volatility, and it could lead to an estimated $2.7 trillion in lost global output, according to Bloomberg Economics.
Watching China’s production and economy falter has people questioning how the coronavirus could impact the American real estate market.
Foreign buyers will increase, at least for a while
Considering China is the largest foreign buyer of residential real estate as of The National Association of Realtors’ (NAR) 2019 International Activity in the U.S. Residential Market, accounting for $13.4 billion of $77.9 billion, or 17.2% of the foreign market share, the coronavirus could greatly impact investor activity, but surprisingly in a positive way.
Recently, China’s foreign investment in American real estate saw a decline, which many economists attribute to the lower inventory in the U.S., the U.S.-China trade war, and the strengthening dollar.
But as confidence in their own real estate and other foreign markets falters, investors are moving their money into hard assets, like real estate, in areas like the United States, who to this point has not suffered greatly from the spread of the disease. Roofstock, a popular online marketplace for real estate investors to purchase or sell rental real estate, has seen a 450% increase in traffic from Asian countries in the past month.
Revenue and growth in CRE will slow
In the event of a full-blown outbreak here in the U.S., commercial real estate (CRE) would be the hardest hit. Production and economic activity will slow because people will likely stay indoors, lowering consumer spending. Default rates in CRE loans would increase, and production and development would decline.
A number of companies and CRE investors are trying to plan ahead by taking increased measures to reduce the spread of the virus, especially in properties that house or employ multiple people.
Bryan Murphy, CEO of global coworking and private office space provider Breather, tells me he has already implemented “an enhanced cleaning and disinfecting process following guidance from the CDC to ensure Breather’s customers are safe and healthy and reduce the potential spread of the virus.”
Companies like Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN), Google (NASDAQ: GOOGL), Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), and Facebook (NASDAQ: FB) are also planning to prevent the spread of the virus by asking employees to work from home. While these methods can help, CRE investors should have a contingency plan to fall back on in case the virus isn’t contained as intended.
Shaky ground gets shakier
The global market and American economy was already on shaky ground prior to the coronavirus outbreak. I previously wrote about a number of signs in our economy that indicate a possible recession in 2020. Those indicators have only been perpetuated as investors’ fears about the spread of the coronavirus and impact on the global market grow.
It’s obvious Congress and the Federal Reserve are concerned about the strength of our economy. Lowered interest rates will only help for so long. While this may boost borrowing and deployment of capital in the short term, it’s unlikely a fix that will counteract the impact of the virus in the long term.
The market will remain relatively unchanged for now
As of today, Saturday, March 7, there are more than 300 cases of the coronavirus reported in the United States, according to the New York Times. While this number is still relatively low in relation to the 327 million people who live in the United States, it is spreading quickly.
For the time being, it’s likely markets will remain volatile with the residential market remaining mostly unchanged for now. Investors can take advantage of lowered interest rates and minimal impact on the U.S. economy up and to this point. If the outbreak continues to grow, it’s unlikely our economy or residential real estate market will be able to withstand the impact.
The depth of impact depends on how widespread the virus gets
Unfortunately, only time will tell how the coronavirus will impact the real estate market. There is no doubt the coronavirus will impact the American economy and real estate market in some form, but no one truly knows to what extent.
Many real estate markets in the United States have rebounded and recovered from the 2008 recession, but there is a large chance that the continued spread of the coronavirus could be the tipping point, putting the U.S. economy into a full-blown recession.
HALIFAX – A village of tiny homes is set to open next month in a Halifax suburb, the latest project by the provincial government to address homelessness.
Located in Lower Sackville, N.S., the tiny home community will house up to 34 people when the first 26 units open Nov. 4.
Another 35 people are scheduled to move in when construction on another 29 units should be complete in December, under a partnership between the province, the Halifax Regional Municipality, United Way Halifax, The Shaw Group and Dexter Construction.
The province invested $9.4 million to build the village and will contribute $935,000 annually for operating costs.
Residents have been chosen from a list of people experiencing homelessness maintained by the Affordable Housing Association of Nova Scotia.
They will pay rent that is tied to their income for a unit that is fully furnished with a private bathroom, shower and a kitchen equipped with a cooktop, small fridge and microwave.
The Atlantic Community Shelters Society will also provide support to residents, ranging from counselling and mental health supports to employment and educational services.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 24, 2024.
Housing affordability is a key issue in the provincial election campaign in British Columbia, particularly in major centres.
Here are some statistics about housing in B.C. from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s 2024 Rental Market Report, issued in January, and the B.C. Real Estate Association’s August 2024 report.
Average residential home price in B.C.: $938,500
Average price in greater Vancouver (2024 year to date): $1,304,438
Average price in greater Victoria (2024 year to date): $979,103
Average price in the Okanagan (2024 year to date): $748,015
Average two-bedroom purpose-built rental in Vancouver: $2,181
Average two-bedroom purpose-built rental in Victoria: $1,839
Average two-bedroom purpose-built rental in Canada: $1,359
Rental vacancy rate in Vancouver: 0.9 per cent
How much more do new renters in Vancouver pay compared with renters who have occupied their home for at least a year: 27 per cent
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 17, 2024.
VANCOUVER – Voters along the south coast of British Columbia who have not cast their ballots yet will have to contend with heavy rain and high winds from an incoming atmospheric river weather system on election day.
Environment Canada says the weather system will bring prolonged heavy rain to Metro Vancouver, the Sunshine Coast, Fraser Valley, Howe Sound, Whistler and Vancouver Island starting Friday.
The agency says strong winds with gusts up to 80 kilometres an hour will also develop on Saturday — the day thousands are expected to go to the polls across B.C. — in parts of Vancouver Island and Metro Vancouver.
Wednesday was the last day for advance voting, which started on Oct. 10.
More than 180,000 voters cast their votes Wednesday — the most ever on an advance voting day in B.C., beating the record set just days earlier on Oct. 10 of more than 170,000 votes.
Environment Canada says voters in the area of the atmospheric river can expect around 70 millimetres of precipitation generally and up to 100 millimetres along the coastal mountains, while parts of Vancouver Island could see as much as 200 millimetres of rainfall for the weekend.
An atmospheric river system in November 2021 created severe flooding and landslides that at one point severed most rail links between Vancouver’s port and the rest of Canada while inundating communities in the Fraser Valley and B.C. Interior.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 17, 2024.
