The Impact of Renminbi (Rmb) Appreciation on The Hong Kong Property Market

In this article, I will point out and discuss the effect of the reform of exchange rate institution on the real estate market, and the discussion suggests that the appreciation of RMB leads to the rise of real estate price, but as well as the possible economic bubble in Hong Kong. The influx of capital flows and the real estate price volatility in Hong Kong real estate market shows that the expectation of the appreciation of RMB is one of the elements that inspires investment speculating in the real estate market causing the possible imbalance of demand and supply and various social problems.

BY SUNNY LAM | APRIL 16, 2012

RMB appreciation stimulates mainland investors to enter the Hong Kong real estate market

An appreciating RMB will impact the Hong Kong economy and hence the real estate market in direct and indirect ways. Indirectly, it spurs capital inflows into Hong Kong in order to lower the local interest rates, creates an accommodative monetary environment and yields substantial wealth effects from a surging stock market. As a result, such wealth effects are expected to spill over into the property market. Lower interest rates will also provide incentives for increased borrowing and boost asset prices. Under the current currency system, an increase in liquidity would suppress Hong Kong-dollar interest rates. If money supply exceeds the desired money demand, inflationary pressure will rise. The positive outlook for asset prices and expectations of further appreciation of the RMB might attract substantial capital flows into Hong Kong.

Hong Kong – an alternative exit for Chinese hot money

In the long run, it is believed that the reform of RMB exchange rate system and its revaluation will not have any significant adverse effects on China, but is rather one of the steps towards China’s strategic goal of gradual appreciation and loosening of capital control for RMB.

The domestic policy tightening in mainland China as well as the appreciation of the RMB causes the China investors to diversify their investment portfolio, Hong Kong is expected to be one of the first spots for it. Chinese investors in search of alternative real estate options, to reduce the overheating of domestic market risk exposures. China on the overseas property market influence eclipsed. China real estate investors are mostly limited to investment in the domestic market, forcing the Government to take vigorous measures to suppress excessive rise in prices of China’s domestic policy tightening in real estate, and the appreciation of the RMB will, analysts expect more Chinese people to those high returns and low limit of the overseas market investments such as Hong Kong.

Investment Strategy Consideration

The levels of total return due to the RMB appreciation offered by real estate markets in Hong Kong are likely to be attractive to many Chinese investors. In particular, in an environment when investment in low risk assets in Hong Kong offers very attractive returns, the income return from real estate is likely to be an appealing characteristic for many investors. The key to success is in the speed, scale and timing of the investment. In conclusion, the RMB appreciation presents a cross-border investor with a range of opportunities. It also offers scope for risk diversification within the real estate markets.

How might investors respond? Five trends may be significant:

- - Increasing investment demands: Firstly increasing allocations to real estate both from traditional institutional investors (pension funds, insurance companies and endowments) but also from sovereign wealth funds and new institutional investors.
  - Favorable risk adjusted return: Secondly many investors show an elevated degree of China heat effect. After all, if the outlook for returns is strong in Hong Kong many mainland investors still keen to find out the risk adjusted return for their investment?
  - More value-added investment opportunities: Whilst many risk adverse investors may likely continue to focus purely on prime properties in Hong Kong; I suspect that increasingly some risk accepting investors may start to commit to investments in secondary properties with a value add strategy to reposition the property into a core property as markets continues to grow.
  - Attractive capital flow environment: Listed real estate tends to anticipate the performance of direct or unlisted real estate. With healthy balance sheets, many listed companies have access to capital to redeploy into the wealthy real estate markets. Many investors might find this a more liquid way to participate in the boosting market environment.
  - Focus on the core segment: Depending on the risk level the investor is willing to take, investors are suggested to invest in the core segment as part of the overseas portfolio. Hong Kong being a well developed city in the region, the core segment is relative stable in term of price growth and rental income.