Boost for build-to-rent

Abstract

Established players and new market entrants are stepping up their investment in build-to-rent, following the relative outperformance of the asset class in the COVID-19 era.

Mirvac has completed projects at Sydney’s Olympic Park and has set its sights on 5,000 build-to-rent apartments under management within five years.

Lendlease is looking to convert some of its proposed developments, while Queensland has new large-scale schemes underway led by Frasers Property Australia and Mirvac.

In February, US build-to-rent specialist Greystar amassed a $1.3 billion war chest to fund new Australian projects.

The fund’s first two projects are expected to kick off in inner Melbourne later this year and will deliver around 1,300 new rental homes and create 2,000 jobs in construction.

According to Puian Mollaian, CBRE’s associate director of structured transactions and advisory services, offshore institutional funding accounts for around 57 per cent of the total pipeline.