This document discusses three megatrends - globalization, demographic shifts, and flexible working - that are impacting commercial real estate investment. It outlines how globalization is increasing capital flows and opening new markets. Demographic trends like population aging are shaping consumer demand. Flexible working arrangements are fueling rapid growth in co-working office spaces. The document then describes an investment opportunity in a co-working real estate company that aims to harness these megatrends through global expansion.
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Global Megatrend Report -upi
1. AN IN DEPTH ANALYSIS OF RAPIDLY EVOLVING
COMMERCIAL OFFICE BUY-TO-LET INVESTMENTS
THE COMMERCIAL BUY TO LET
GLOBAL MEGATREND
2. Change is afoot in commercial real estate. Three megatrends — globalisation, demographic
change and flexible working — are expanding the universe of economic opportunity and
changing the way investors are thinking about the future.
Consider the pioneers of megatrends in the past such as Facebook, Uber, Instagram or
YouTube. If you knew then what you know now you would definitely have invested, right?
Here we explore the three main megatrends in commercial real estate markets and reveal
the implications for successful and profitable property investment in the current
economic climate.
3 GLOBAL MEGATRENDS
IN COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE AND
WHY THEY MATTER
3. Globalisation is being driven by the explosion of information flows, services and
know-how. And this is creating new opportunities for commercial real estate
investment strategies.
In fact, commercial real estate is healthier (and more global) than ever before.
Research suggests that global real estate investment could reach historic levels in 2016
at more than $1.1 trillion — an increase of 3 to 6% in local currency terms over 2015.
This globalisation of real estate is expanding investors’ appetites for new markets
and asset types, resulting in larger pools of capital on the move. And while core office
remains strong, traditional work environments are being challenged by new working
practices which have introduced the new asset class of co-working offices, becoming
increasingly popular in the international investment community.
Local knowledge remains critical in understanding market dynamics and despite the
tremendous flow of capital and information globally, it is still the key differentiator for
successful global commercial real estate investment.
MEGATREND 1:
GLOBALISATION
North America
South America
Africa
Middle East
Asia
Pacific
GLobal Capital Inflow Summery 2015
94
133
103
978
17,942
26,022
9,680 2,857
1,357
465
37
17
110
706
128
291
75
25
19,333
45,788
62,336
17,576
1,020
10,522
11,993
8,434
4,827
2,823
999
88
404
433
1,999
58
495
Europe
Middle East
North America
Pacific
South America
Asia
Africa
4. Real estate usually is thought of in terms of buildings and addresses, but in today’s
world, we need to think about it in terms of people and their communities, says Melina
Cordero, America’s Head of Retail Research at CBRE. And these demographic realities
have major implications on commercial real estate as talent remains a key driver of real
estate decision-making.
According to McKinsey research, as the world continues to age, retiring and elderly
populations will drive significant urban consumption and housing growth. Yet, the
realities of an aging population also present challenges.
In contrast, emerging markets will not only feature younger populations but also see
the rapid expansion of the middle classes with implications for retailing and housing as
well as education and healthcare.
MEGATREND 2:
DEMOGRAPHICS
5. Demographic shifts will also drive the importance of the urban core, with working-age
populations, notably millennials and the ‘creative-class’, heavily represented in
city centres, driving demand for office, residential and retail asset classes, but is
equally impactful for industrial and logistics which benefit from adjacencies to
urban centres.
There are also trends affecting how we work that are filtering heavily into the office
sector of commercial real estate. The physical workplace is far more than just
furnishings and real estate; it is also about how people work and are managed,
the technologies that enable the work, and how businesses employs the workplace
for its own ends. Going further, the workplace even reflects forces of the larger social
and economic environment.
DEMOGRAPHICS
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
18 to 20 21 to 24 25 to 34 35 to 44 45 to 54 55 to 64 65 to 74 75 to 84 85 and over
Distribution of Population by Age
Source: CBRE Labor and Analytics Group
Near City Center Suburbs
6. Advances in technology have given rise to a megatrend towards flexible working.
Organisations may currently enjoy being able to choose from a surplus of qualified
workers but in the coming years they will have to compete again for the best talent.
Businesses will have to focus on ways of keeping valued employees, while being more
sensitive to the preferences of existing and potential employees seeking improved
work flexibility.
The desire for more work flexibility is, in part, a reaction to megatrend 1 above -
globalisation. Working beyond normal office hours has become the norm for many
in order to coordinate with colleagues in widely differing time zones. Workers can’t
maintain these hours on a regular 9 to 5 schedule and attend to personal family
needs easily.
In terms of the effect of this megatrend on commercial real estate, the unprecedented
rise in demand for shared office facilities has led to the rapid emergence of a new type
of office space provider. In place of traditional office provision, co-working spaces offer
flexibility to workers in the freelance economy, particularly in terms of cost. Collaboration
and networking are easily facilitated in these new work environments, often available on
a pay-as-you-go basis allowing small enterprises to grow at their own pace.
MEGATREND 3:
FLEXIBLE WORKING
7. Responding to the seeming endless demand for co-working office spaces has led to
exponential growth in the sector. A perfect illustration of this is in the case of WeWork,
an international co-working space provider founded in 2010. In March this year,
WeWork was valued at an incredible $16bn on the strength of its third round of fund-
raising which was limited to institutional investors and private equity funds.
However, there are opportunities for retail investors to enter the co-working sector with
significant growth opportunities in the short to medium term. However, with co-working
currently highlighted as an investment megatrend, the time to act is NOW.
“The office market is evolving, as companies tailor their spaces and locations to better
suit the needs of employees, including more collaborative layouts and sites closer to
public transit routes.” CBRE
FLEXIBLE WORKING
8,000
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
3 30 75 160 310 600
1,130
2,070
3,400
5,780
7,800
6,000
4,000
2,000
0
40,000
2016 2017 2018
24,000
16,000
37,000
30,000
20,000
10,000
0
Global Growth of Co-working Spaces
Projected Global Growth of Co-working Spaces
8. GET INVOLVED IN
CO-WORKING INVESTMENT
Our//Space is a rapidly expanding co-working office provider offering retail investors a UNIQUE
opportunity to harness dynamic growth in the sector, earning returns of up to 13.25%.
Our//Space is a boutique co-working space provider actively harnessing this global
megatrend. Incredibly well-financed and headed by a world class management team,
Our//Space will open 50 co-working locations in key international gateway cities over
the next 3 - 5 years to serve 50,000 paying co-working Members.
With four locations established and well-subscribed to by Members in Dubai, New York,
Miami and Birmingham, Our//space continues full speed ahead towards global expansion
and is uniquely poised to deliver a truly global footprint, extending across four continents.
9. Our//space is on the threshold of a significant growth spurt and there is an unmissable
opportunity for retail investors to benefit with an investment vehicle that no only offers a
low entry level but assures your place in the highest yielding investment market of 2016.
• Up to 13.25% P.A. assured returns
• Paid monthly for the first quarter, quarterly thereafter
• Attractive 5-year term
• Call option after 6 months
• The fastest growing asset class in global property investment
• No developer Risk
• No legal fees
• No tenants to deal with
• Investors have unlimited use of facilities
• Low level investment starting from $25,000
• Recession Proof Fixed Returns
CO-WORKING INVESTMENT
+44 207 043 2198
INFO@UNITEDPROPERTYINVEST.COM
WWW.UNITEDPROPERTYINVEST.COM
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for the purpose of engaging in any investment activity may expose an individual to a significant risk of losing all of the property or other assets invested.
[Article 48(4) Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005]