Morning Briefing: China's real estate investment in Australia will keep growing says Savills

Real estate agency Savills says China's ($6.2 billion) worth of real estate investment into Australia last year will continue to grow... Slow rental growth puts tenants in stronger position...

Real estate agency Savills says China's $US4.6 billion ($6.2 billion) worth of real estate investment into Australia last year will keep heading upwards as the types of investors and their strategies diversify and become more specific, according to the Australian Financial Review.  

"I expect to see continued flows into Australia," said Simon Smith, Savills' Asia Pacific head of research. 

"I don't see any sudden reversal. At the margins, some outbound capital is being marshalled, is being curtailed, but I think the overall trend is quite clear. 

"Outbound real estate capital capital from the mainland accelerated in 2015 and has accelerated again in the first quarter of this year. I don't see it slowing down".

Slow rental growth puts tenants in stronger position
Australia’s rental market continues to suffer, with figures released yesterday revealing the annual rate of rental growth is continuing at a record slow pace.

According to CoreLogic RP Data’s April Rental Review, the combined capital city rents grew by 0.1% during April, but were 0.2% lower than compared to April 2015.

The annual fall was the result of continued poor performance in the rental markets of Perth and Darwin, where rents have fallen 8.9% and 12.6% respectively over the year to April.

Brisbane also saw a fall over the year, with rents declining 0.6%.

Sydney (1.4%), Melbourne (1.7%), Adelaide (0.5%), Hobart (1.1%) and Canberra (2.5%) all saw modest rental increases over the 12-month period.

The combined capital city rental rate for a house is currently $490 per week and $467 per week for units.