Savills

SAVILLS: “REAL ESTATE IS ALL ABOUT THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX”

From managing office buildings and residential complexes, conducting property appraisals to project management, Savills does it all. This includes advising clients who are looking to invest in real estate. With many years of experience and an outstanding reputation both nationally and internationally, Savills is wellequipped to guide development in this sector. We sat down with Bas Wilberts, Ronald Koemans and Nisreen Awad of Savills’ Residential & Hotel Investment team. How are they tackling the challenges in today’s market?

Real estate has always run like a red thread through my career, in all kinds of forms”, says Nisreen. “Right now, I’m pursuing that passion in my role as Senior Transaction & Process Consultant, where I’m coordinating and optimizing processes within my own team as well as for clients.” Bas shares her affinity for real estate and is in his element as Head of Residential & Hotel Investment. “I specialize in property sales and acquisitions and I research opportunities for alternative use in established asset classes.” Ronald supports him as a Director in the Residential Investment team, buying and selling large-scale housing portfolios, new-build developments and student housing. “I’m especially interested in assessing how existing real estate can be used most effectively.”

DIFFERENT MINDSET

Together, the three and their team work on a myriad of projects all over the Netherlands. They say that they are seeing a lot of positive development in Rotterdam. “Here, the centre and surrounding neighbourhoods have been significantly enhanced”, Ronald explains, “which is making these areas more pleasant and attractive to live in. The city is leveraging this by maximizing the opportunities available for high-rise building.” Nisreen adds, “I’m constantly hearing from everyone I work with – developers, investors, construction companies, you name it – how impressed they are by Rotterdam’s can-do approach. It’s a different kind of mindset and one which the rest of the country could do well to follow.” The three property professionals have seen that this forward-looking approach can make a big difference in the current market. “Things can get tangled up in all the new rules and measures”, Bas notes. “It can easily be several years before you have a solid plan and get the ball rolling. With the right attitude and the ability to improvise, things can actually move a whole lot faster.”

RIGHT PRODUCT, RIGHT PLACE

That said, more needs to happen to create equal opportunities across the housing market and prevent it from getting even more lopsided. With so many people now having difficulty finding a suitable home, Ronald says it makes sense to start thinking outside the box. “The crux is supplying viable products for empty nesters, to make downsizing more interesting for this large group who own relatively large homes.” The problem, according to Ronald, is that “there are not enough desirable new-build homes to serve empty nesters, as a result of which they are staying put after their kids have ‘flown’. If we could get this group moving,

Savills’ Residential & Hotel Investment team: Bas Wilberts, Nisreen Awad and Ronald Koemans

it would get the whole chain moving as well.” Ronald continues, “Real estate can be a long game. It’s important to make the most of what’s available now and analyse what can be developed in the future. In the current system, we need housing for a group who can’t purchase a home themselves. They need assistance, and that assistance has to come from the group who can afford it. In other words, a big chunk of the profits being raised from residential developments and the rental market have to be diverted to people with insufficient means.” Bas agrees. “But, the thing is, you can only help these people if profits in the higher segment are high enough. If they go down in the coming years, which seems likely, those at the lower end can no longer be compensated.” And so, it’s time to start rethinking investments in the higher segment, Ronald contends. “As soon as things start moving at the top, the whole residential chain will benefit and prices will eventually stabilize.” Nisreen concludes: “It’s a complex area for sure, but we’re happy to help clients navigate it. Our extensive research and personal advice sets us apart from others in this sector.”