Offices

Offices generally are particularly ripe within the market right now. The demand for office spaces have increased considering the amount of companies that are looking to re-locate to much bigger and better sites. Although there has been a lack of major construction during the crisis years, now means that there are limited available spaces for offices.

It has been said, from the fund manager Guy Glover who runs the F&C UK Property fund, that investing in offices can have the potential to distribute a competitive return with rather low volatility, it can also provide a sturdy and stable flow of income via rent and the outlook of long term capital growth remains as the prices for property continues to rise. Stated by the IPD Annual Property Index for 2013, office spaces have yielded returns of 9.2% over the space of three years, which is higher than both equities and bonds. Rental income returns of 2013 have reached around 5.3%, compared to residential property which only received 2.4%.

Those that are private investors wanting to invest within the office space market can do so going directly or via a commercial property fund. Despite buying any office spaces as in individual investors the barriers for entry can be considerably high. With there being companies or products, like Fiona Rowley who manages M&G Property Portfolio fund, they mainly invest in offices, and commercial property funds which can provide sole investors with easy access. It is has been thought to be suggested by Rowley that it is ideal to select a large fund with a well-diversified portfolio in terms of locations and the accrual type of the property itself.