Forget pessimism, trust the data

Simon Kuestenmacher is a leading demographer who ranks as one of the world’s Top 10 influencers in data visualisation, using data to explain how the world works. In the first in a two-part Talking Property series from the Property Council of Australia’s annual Congress, Simon shares why he thinks the property sector shouldn’t be too pessimistic, why global capital still wants to come to Australia and why migration isn’t going to slow down.Simon also shares his views on the long-term outlook for interest rates, Australia’s skills shortage and why the major political parties aren’t interested in cheaper housing, despite the rhetoric.Stay tuned for our second Congress podcast and you can check out details for next year’s Property Council Congress here.

Australia’s emerging build to rent sector remains in the spotlight, with the country’s need for housing having never been stronger.But it’s been a tough year to get new projects started, amid government policy issues, delivery challenges, high interest rates and a constrained capitalmarkets environment.So, what does the future hold? What’s needed to accelerate Australia’s BTR rollout? And what are some of the lessons learnt by Australia’s BTR pioneers.Find out in our latest Talking Property episode featuring Richard Carmont, the chairman of Arklife and a board member of ADCO, one of Australia’s largest builder-developers. ADCO recently sold recently sold two Brisbane projects to the $256 billion Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan and the US-based Hines - the world’s second largest BTR player. This episode also features insights from the Pacific Head of CBRE’s Living Sectors Capital Markets business, Andrew Purdon.

Residential property prices. They’re a lively source of dinner party conversation, particularly when it comes to the records being toppled across Australia.Whether it be Atlassian tech billionaire Scott Farquhar pocketing $130 million for his Point Piper estate, Aussie Home Loans founder John Symond chasing over $200 million for his nearby mansion, the Myer family putting a more than $100 million price tag on their Toorak estate, there seems to be no shortage of cash at the top end of the market.So why has the prestige market been so immune to the slowdown in the wider residential market and stubbornly high interest rates? Where are some of the new hot spots? Why are wealthy Australians eyeing off multi-million dollar apartments on the world’s largest luxury residential yacht? And are there prestige markets that have fallen out of favour.Find out all the answers in this latest episode of Talking Property featuring Lisa Allen, Editor of The Weekend Australian’s property magazine, Mansion, and CBRE’s NSW Head of Prestige Residential Valuations Bader Naaman.

In this final edition of The House View for 2024 we delve into the critical role social infrastructure will play in shaping Australia’s future. Healthcare, retirement living, and childcare – they all fall into this category and there are unique dynamics which are driving investor interest in these asset classes.CBRE’s Pacific Advisory Services CEO Phil Rowland and Pacific Head of Research Sameer Chopra also give their take on the key risks and opportunities in the property sector as we move into 2025, and their top three investment picks.They also dissect the outlook for rate cuts. Will it be this year or next? Make sure you follow Talking Property so you don’t miss Phil and Sameer’s first 2025 House View and fortnightly episodes of Talking Property.

Green loans. Sustainability linked loans. They’re become increasingly prevalent, reflecting the property market's commitment to responsible and sustainable lending.And it’s not just about reputation. Green finance is becoming one of the keys to accessing debt in today’s competitive market, with billions of dollars required to electrify our building stock and eliminate embodied carbon in the race to net zero.So, what do property owners and financiers need to consider? Find out in our latest Talking Property podcast featuring the Australian Sustainable Finance Institute’s Nicole Yazbek-Martin, Frasers Property Ltd’s Rory Martin and CBRE’s Daniel Sollorz.If you have ideas for future Talking Property podcasts, please contact us at [email protected].

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping the world as we know it, and the long-term property sector impact will be profound. But what exactly can landlords and occupiers expect in the coming decade?  From accelerating the rollout of smart buildings through to revolutionising office design, lowering building outgoings, and even shortening our working week, AI has significant potential. But how can companies be disruptors, and not be disrupted, as these AI advancements roll out? And is Australia’s property sector behind the eightball when it comes to embracing AI? Find out in CBRE’s latest Talking Property podcast featuring Taronga Ventures’ Growth Advisor Julian Kezelman and CBRE’s Head of Office Market Research Tom Broderick. You can read more about what to expect in CBRE’s new AI Impact on Office report. And subscribe to Talking Property to ensure that you don’t miss any of our upcoming episodes.  

Luxury retail brands. They’re in demand in Australia right now and you might be surprised by who’s buying these high-end products. Forget the Boomers and Gen X, its Millennials and Gen Z who have a growing appetite for luxury, fuelled by their favourite influencers on TikTok and Instagram.These younger consumers helped push luxury retail trade in Australia to a record $6.2 billion in 2023 and the smart retail landlords are taking note. To discuss the trends, we’re joined by Tomi Grainger - most recently the Creator Engagement Partnerships Lead at TikTok - and by CBRE’s Sheree Griff.

Australia’s largest private hotel owner Dr Jerry Schwartz is not your stereotypical multi-millionaire businessman. He’s been described as a long-haired larrikin and Australia’s very own Willy Wonka, who rarely wears a suit and has been known to jump into the pool at launch events. He’s been a trailblazer in the hotel industry and has made an art-form out of going with his gut, building a portfolio of 15 properties across the country. We chat to Jerry and CBRE’s Wayne Bunz in our latest Talking Property podcast to get the lowdown on the current trends shaping the Australian hotel sector, including the rise in experiential travel and why sustainability has become the industry’s new X factor.

What role can data play in enhancing property values, meeting ambitious sustainability goals, capturing the best occupiers and ensuring that property owners are on track in the ongoing race to net zero? And how do investors leverage data to make the right investment decisions? In our latest episode of Talking Property we explore whether big data can provide a big payback. Tune in to hear from the Global Leader of Sustainability for CBRE’s Property Management business Carl Brooks and from the General Manager of ESG for Scape, Australia’s largest student accommodation provider, Chris Nunn.