You are here

Property Market In Dublin Is Inflated and May Burst Again

Commercial Property Market Is Inflated and May Burst Again

by David McWilliams

Dublin property investors had better hope that Brexit happens soon.

They should also hope that it’s not just a ‘hard’ Brexit, but a granite Brexit — a Brexit that’s as hard as possible. They should be betting on the buffoonery of Boris Johnson, down on both knees praying for a massive barney between Davis and Barnier.

A granite Brexit might prompt the migration of hundreds of corporate refugees from isolated London to the freewheeling safe haven of Dublin. If Brexit doesn’t drive a massive uptake in demand for prime property, we are in for a massive wobble in our inflated commercial property market.

Before we remind ourselves how this property story goes, let’s have a look at the facts: the glossy brochures are back, stockbrokers are packaging all sorts of property-related products to “investors”, the price of ad space in the property porn sections of the press is surging and of course the skyline is full of cranes and Armagh flags.

CBRE – a property-flogging outfit – tells us there are currently 31 office schemes under construction in Dublin, which is more than 380,000sqm in the pipeline. They tell us that more than 30% of this stock is already let. It also gushes that 44% of the office stock due for completion before the end of this year has already been pre-let. Meanwhile, agents tell us that prime office rents in the Dublin market stand at approximately €673 sqm.

It looks like things couldn’t be healthier.

Office take-up in Dublin surged 101,000sqm in the past three months, bringing total take-up in the first half of this year to more than 150,000 sqm. That’s a lot of space. 81 individual large office lettings were signed in Dublin since March (45 to Irish companies; 18 to US firms and 11 to the Brits). This is more than double the figure for the period from January to March.

The market is tight, hence all the building. The vacancy rate in the city centre is only 4.5% and yields for investors are stable at 4.6%. This is only because rents have been surging to keep up with the soaring prices.

Before we get carried away, remember rents are a cost and Ireland is competing with other European countries, so let’s compare our prices, not with some of Europe’s poorest countries, but why not with its richest, Germany? This will give a bit of perspective.

Comparing our prices with similar rents in Germany, we see that Dublin is already massively more expensive. Prime rents in Frankfurt are €474 sqm per annum. Remember Dublin is charging €673 sqm. The difference — €199 per annum — means that Dublin is 42% more expensive than Germany’s most expensive city. Once you start comparing other German cities, the extent of Ireland’s commercial property rip-off becomes more evident. Take Munich, capital city of Germany’s richest province Bavaria. Prime rents in Munich are €420 sqm per annum. In Hamburg, Germany’s sophisticated northern powerhouse, prime rents are €312 sqm per annum, while in Dusseldorf, the cross-road of Europe, prime real estate will set you back €318 sqm per annum – less than half of what it costs you in Dublin.

In all German markets, vacancy rates are higher so that means there’s much more choice.

When the price of something as basic as office space is profoundly more expensive in a country that has a much lower economic footprint, much smaller population and less rich capital base, you should worry.

The rebound in the Dublin commercial property market has been significant... (see chart above)

...

Meanwhile the foreign investors have got out with their profit and the Irish are left thinking they can get rich by selling Ireland to each other.

Wait, haven’t we seen this before? Maybe Brexit will ensure a happy ending this time?

Dublin’s Commercial Market Praying for a Granite-Brexit - Read in full here

 

News and Commentary

Gold hits 4-week high on weaker equities, U.S. dollar (Reuters.com)

IMF cuts U.S. growth forecast for 2017, 2018 (MarketWatch.com)

Stocks to Edge Lower Before Earnings Flurry, Fed (Bloomberg.com)

Stocks brace for volatility in earnings deluge; Fed meeting looms (MarketWtch.com)

Charges dropped after ‘London Whale’ accused Jamie Dimon of making him a fall guy (MarketWatch.com)

[image]https://www.goldcore.com/ie/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2017/07/COMM-total-global-debt-stands-at-all-time-high-07212017.png[/image]
Source: US Funds

“Mother of All Bubbles” Keeps Gold in Focus (AdvisorPerspectives.com)

Can You Guess the World’s Largest Gold Jewelry Market? (Fool.com)

The Student Loan Bubble and Economic Collapse (AntoniusAquinas.com)

Former 'Plunge Protection Team' Member Warns "Blockchain Is Freaking Governments Out" (ZeroHedge.com)

Deeply flawed Western economic models undermining worst global recovery in history (CNBC.com)

Gold Prices (LBMA AM)

24 Jul: USD 1,255.85, GBP 962.99 & EUR 1,077.64 per ounce21 Jul: USD 1,247.25, GBP 958.89 & EUR 1,071.39 per ounce20 Jul: USD 1,236.55, GBP 953.63 & EUR 1,075.06 per ounce19 Jul: USD 1,239.85, GBP 950.84 & EUR 1,074.83 per ounce18 Jul: USD 1,237.10, GBP 949.47 & EUR 1,071.82 per ounce17 Jul: USD 1,229.85, GBP 940.71 & EUR 1,074.03 per ounce14 Jul: USD 1,218.95, GBP 940.54 & EUR 1,067.92 per ounce

Silver Prices (LBMA)

24 Jul: USD 16.50, GBP 12.66 & EUR 14.17 per ounce21 Jul: USD 16.43, GBP 12.63 & EUR 14.11 per ounce20 Jul: USD 16.18, GBP 12.50 & EUR 14.07 per ounce19 Jul: USD 16.23, GBP 12.44 & EUR 14.08 per ounce18 Jul: USD 16.17, GBP 12.41 & EUR 13.99 per ounce17 Jul: USD 16.07, GBP 12.30 & EUR 14.02 per ounce14 Jul: USD 15.71, GBP 12.11 & EUR 13.76 per ounce

Recent Market Updates

- Gold Hedges Against Currency Devaluation and Cost Of Fuel, Food, Beer and Housing- Millennials Can Punt On Bitcoin, Own Gold and Silver For Long Term- “Time To Position In Gold Is Right Now” says Jim Rickards- Bloomberg Silver Price Survey – Median 12 Month Forecast Of $20- “Bigger Systemic Risk” Now Than 2008 – Bank of England- “Financial Crisis” Coming By End Of 2018 – Prepare Urgently- Video – “Gold Should Probably Be $5000” – CME Chairman- India Gold Imports Surge To 5 Year High – 220 Tons In May Alone- “Silver’s Plunge Is Nearing Completion”- China, Russia Alliance Deepens Against American Overstretch- Silver Prices Bounce Higher After Futures Manipulated 7% Lower In Minute- Precious Metals Are “Best Defence” Against Bail-ins In Economic Crisis- Buy Gold Near $1,200 “As Insurance” – UBS Wealth

 "It is important to note that all portfolios under all conditions actually perform better with exposure to gold and silver" - David Morgan

 

In the short video above, David Morgan, the Silver Guru, speaks briefly about the importance of owning silver bullion coins and bars as financial insurance in an uncertain world. He speaks about GoldCore Secure Storage and how he recommends GoldCore's ultra secure allocated and segregated gold, silver, platinum and palladium bullion storage (Zurich, London, Singapore and Hong Kong) to his retail and high net worth clients.