The $235 billion opportunity investors may be missing

It's been challenging for traditional real estate. But could a lesser-known area of this asset class provide strong returns?
MA Financial Group

MA Financial Group

The last few years has been challenging for traditional real estate investment.

The combined effects of spiking inflation and rising interest rates has ended the era of cheap debt. Increasing finance costs for borrowers has weighed on earnings and investment returns. This has been acutely felt in more traditional (core) office real estate where revenue is built around structured rental flows, leaving little room to pass through higher costs.

The increase in cash rates has pushed government bond yields higher creating investor concern around a corresponding expansion in capitalisation rates and potential declines in asset values for core real estate. After experiencing a jolting decline in value in 2022 as investors de-risked their positions, Australian listed real estate securities stabilised in 2023. The ASX 300 A-REIT1 index has outperformed the ASX 300 in 2024, although performance has been concentrated in a few stocks. The questions around capitalisation rates and market valuations continues to dominate the sector.

Overshadowing this has been talk of a global slowdown, stemming from central bankers committing to a strategy of rate hikes to curb inflation, sending the asset class to a halt.

Fuelled by the pause in capital invested in core real estate and supported by compelling demographic and structural changes supporting improving demand drivers, ‘alternative’ real estate is set to broaden its investment footprint.

The market in Australia is estimated to be valued at more than $235 billion, but what is alternative real estate and what are the key factors driving increasing investor demand?2

What is (or what is not) alternative real estate?

Alternative real estate has been coined as a convenient term to unify a range of non-traditional forms of real estate investments.

Considered against core real estate investments such as office buildings, retail shopping complexes, logistics and warehousing, and even residential property, alternative real estate is broadly and loosely defined by what it is not. It refers to investment in real estate sitting outside of these traditional boundaries.

Operational intensity is a key distinction

Also referred to as operational assets, the return from alternative real estate is linked directly and deliberately to the revenue or income generated by operating the asset.3 As a result of this alignment, when investing in alternative real estate you are, in a sense, both the tenant and the landlord.

This definition emphasises the operational nature of the assets, in particular the ability to deliver key performance metrics specific to their use – including income and occupancy – through active management of the space, specialist expertise, as well as taking advantage of the unique attributes of the asset, for example, its design or build quality, location, or distinct function.

Alternative real estate can be divided into three (very) broad and often overlapping categories – social infrastructure, living and infra-lite - based on key demographic determinants, the function the asset fulfils and demand drivers for the end-user.4

Social infrastructure: these assets support the well-being and quality of life of communities. Backed by public expectations for improved access and recent government policy reforms, this sector includes private hospitals, medical centres, aged care, childcare, and specialist disability services.

Healthcare dominates in terms of size and institutional investment. Nonetheless, there is a myriad of asset types in this category from hospitality, hotels and pubs, marinas, and service stations to educational, art and cultural facilities.

Living: driven by changing housing requirements and a broad undersupply of affordable housing, the ‘living’ category includes build-to-rent, student accommodation, retirement facilities, and lifestyle communities.

Infra-lite: this category includes assets that lie close to the boundary of infrastructure and traditional property assets such as data centres, self-storage, life sciences (laboratories, research facilities) and renewables (solar and wind farms).5 This category is called ‘light’ due to low asset value concentration (there are many rather than few assets), a lower level of public usage and limited government regulation.

What is driving investor interest in alternative real estate?

The value of an asset is ultimately a function of its earnings potential and alternative real estate can offer investors several key benefits including:

  • regular income - income is often better protected from vacancy risks and inflationary pressure as prices can be reset and higher costs passed through to end users of the product or services provided
  • diversification - from both traditional real estate and public market volatility (as they are generally unlisted investments)
  • capital growth - the expertise of the operator can generate earnings growth which offsets the expansion in capitalisation rates, underpinning growth in the value of the asset.

Alternative assets are generally more defensive in nature. They have a greater ability to maintain and grow earnings against the backdrop of high inflation and a slowing economy.

Additionally, several alternative real estate sub-sectors are still maturing as more sophisticated, corporatised operators with deeper capital relationships invest in the sector.

This brings greater access to key drivers of growth: economies of scale, extraction of operational efficiencies, and the integration of technological improvement to capture greater earnings and upside value. Notable examples of the benefits of this transition can be seen in the growth in childcare, retirement, self-storage, and land lease communities in recent years.

Alternative real estate can never be entirely removed from macro challenges. However, structural changes in societal norms, work patterns, shopping and consumer spending habits, and technological change are challenging core real estate sectors, increasingly focusing investor interest on alternative real estate options.

Growth potential in the alternate universe

The total value of Australia’s alternative real estate sector is estimated at around $235 billion, roughly equal to the size of Australia’s retail and logistics sectors combined.6 Despite its scale, alternative real estate is heavily under-represented in both Australia’s listed and unlisted property sectors.

As with traditional forms of real estate, alternative real estate is accessed via direct investment or through pooled investment vehicles with unlisted private fund structures and select A-REITs as the predominant investment vehicles in Australia.

The ownership of alternative real estate assets by A-REITs represents 10% of the total A-REIT market capitalisation. In contrast, the market capitalisation of alternative real estate assets in the US (around US$710 million) accounts for more than half of the approximately US$1.2 billion listed real estate universe.7 From US experience, it is evident there is significant scope in Australia for increased allocation to alternative real estate assets.

The increased allocation by institutional investors to private markets and the ability to add value through operational efficiency creates significant opportunities for private equity investors also, evidenced by the intense bidding for Ramsay Health Care by KKR.

Alternative real estate set to expand its reach

This new era of investing demands a dynamic and defensive approach to investing.

Even as macro conditions continue to generate uncertainty for investors in core real estate, alternative real estate is set to expand its reach as demand for essential and discretionary services dictates.

As defensive alternative real estate sectors mature, extracting greater efficiencies through economies of scale, technological innovation, and access to deep capital, astute investors are increasingly set to benefit from higher earnings potential.

Managed Fund
MA Secured Real Estate Income Fund
Australian Property

For more leading insights, visit MA Financial Group here. 

........
Disclaimers 1. A-REIT – Australian Real Estate Investment Trust 2. Alternative Investments Outlook 2023, JLL Research Australia 2022, www.jll.com 3. Ibid 4. Ibid 5. Infrastructure assets are physical assets providing an essential service to society. They are heterogenous, capital intensive with high barriers to entry, often holding a monopoly or duopoly position. Examples of infrastructure assets include airports, toll roads, seaports, and utility networks. 6. Alternative Investments Outlook 2023, JLL Research Australia 2022, www.jll.com 7. Investment Strategy Update #120 | Alternative real estate: A new growth option in real assets, Macquarie, 10 October 2022, www.macquarie.com Important Information: This material has been prepared by MA Asset Management Ltd (ACN 142 008 535) (AFSL 327 515). The material is for general information purposes and must not be construed as investment advice. This material does not constitute an offer or inducement to engage in an investment activity nor does it form part of any offer or invitation to purchase, sell or subscribe for in interests in any type of investment product or service. This material does not take into account your investment objectives, financial situation or particular needs. You should read and consider any relevant offer documentation applicable to any investment product or service and consider obtaining professional investment advice tailored to your specific circumstances before making any investment decision. Any investment in a fund managed by MA Financial Group is subject to the terms and conditions of the relevant fund offer document. This material and the information contained within it may not be reproduced or disclosed, in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of MA Asset Management Ltd. Any trademarks, logos, and service marks contained herein may be the registered and unregistered trademarks of their respective owners. Nothing contained herein should be construed as granting by implication, or otherwise, any licence or right to use any trademark displayed without the written permission of the owner. Statements contained in this material that are not historical facts are based on current expectations, estimates, projections, opinions and beliefs of MA Asset Management Ltd. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, and undue reliance should not be placed thereon. Additionally, this material may contain “forward-looking statements”. Actual events or results or the actual performance of MA Asset Management Ltd or an MA Asset Management Ltd financial product or service may differ materially from those reflected or contemplated in such forward-looking statements. Certain economic, market or company information contained herein has been obtained from published sources prepared by third parties. While such sources are believed to be reliable, neither MA Asset Management Ltd, MA Financial Group or any of its respective officers or employees assumes any responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of such information. No person, including MA Asset Management Ltd and MA Financial Group, has any responsibility to update any of the information provided in this material.

2 topics

1 fund mentioned

MA Financial Group
MA Financial Group

We are a global alternative asset manager specialising in private credit, real estate and hospitality. We lend to property, corporate and specialty finance sectors and provide corporate advice. We have a team of over 600 professionals across...

I would like to

Only to be used for sending genuine email enquiries to the Contributor. Livewire Markets Pty Ltd reserves its right to take any legal or other appropriate action in relation to misuse of this service.

Personal Information Collection Statement
Your personal information will be passed to the Contributor and/or its authorised service provider to assist the Contributor to contact you about your investment enquiry. They are required not to use your information for any other purpose. Our privacy policy explains how we store personal information and how you may access, correct or complain about the handling of personal information.

Comments

Sign In or Join Free to comment