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CAP Rate Spread: Indicator of Opportunity

Thomas Beyer

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REIN Member
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Aug 30, 2007
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Those following commercial real estate may find this article interesting !

Essentially is argues that CAP rates are about 400 basis points above treasury yields which is a historic high, thus indicating an "oversold" market condition.

Excerpts:

The cap rate spread over the 10-year Treasury yield is normally positive, reflecting the additional risks inherent in real estate assets (Exhibit 1). The risk premium is generally considered necessary to compensate for liquidity, leasing and tenant credit risk.

This risk premium component fluctuates depending on the outlook for the commercial real estate market. We believe this spread can serve as a rough gauge of the relative value of the real estate market.

When projected future income growth is strong, asset values will likely appreciate and the risk premium will decrease. As a result, the cap rate spread over the Treasury yield may fall below the long-term average.

For example, in 2005 and 2006 cap rates for several large office sales in Manhattan were reported to be less than 4%, well below the 10-year Treasury yield of about 5% at that time. Such low cap rates were justified at the time by expectations of significant income growth — often double-digit growth — in future years. Unfortunately, those aggressive assumptions did not materialize as the economy went into a severe recession in 2008 and 2009.

Conversely, when projected future income growth is weak, the risk premium will likely increase and the cap rate spread over Treasuries rises above the long-term average. Today, rents in most markets across the country are falling and asset values are depreciating. The risk premium is high.

As illustrated in Exhibit 2, the long-term average spread between the cap rate and the 10-Year Treasury yield since 2001 has been 320 basis points (the dotted line). We believe that persistently high cap rate spreads above the mean may indicate that markets are oversold, while persistently low cap rates — especially negative spreads to Treasuries — may indicate that markets are overbought.


more:

http://nreionline.com/finance/news/david_lynn_cap_rate_spreads_1005/ ://http://nreionline.com/finance/news/..._spreads_1005/ ://http://nreionline.com/finance/news/..._spreads_1005/


Note, this is a US view .. but an indication of a severe market correction (or as Don Campbell would call it: a pendulum swing to the other side) indicating BUYING opportunity !!
 
Interesting. Do you know whether we have cap rate statistics on residential real estate (most of us REIN members rent out in those markets)?

The yield on 10yr Gov Can bonds is now around 3.8% and with the 4% spread from your article, cap rates should be around 8%. So, would that mean e.g. that if we find many properties with a 8% cap rate for Calgary rental properties we`re probably oversold? Or do I make things to simple?

Just a few chaotic thoughts.
 
Or are the cap rates higher due to the higher perceived risks of commercial property in this current North American marketplace.
 
QUOTE (gwasser @ Oct 5 2009, 09:18 PM) ..

The yield on 10yr Gov Can bonds is now around 3.8% and with the 4% spread from your article, cap rates should be around 8%. So, would that mean e.g. that if we find many properties with a 8% cap rate for Calgary rental properties we`re probably oversold? Or do I make things to simple?
5 year bond is 2.5% or so .. and in Canada the CAP rate spread would be 2% .. maybe 3% at most .. thus: 5.5% is what is still paid for a well located rental property in a prime town such as Vancouver, Toronto or Calgary. More in smaller cities .. and more in the US !

8% CAP rate: love to see it .. but haven`t found it for the last 4 to 5 years !!
 
Two thoughts:

1) I`m left with the impression that their model implies that the cap rate spread should be decreased if rates are lower (or conversely if rates at 15% it would justify higher cap premium). IE current oversold RE conditions.

2) A different view might be the RE market is valuing in higher bond rates in future

True or false?
 
Why would you compare with 5yr bonds in Canada and a 10yr treasury in the US?

Anyway, a 5-6% cap rate is my typical rental property so I am not that far from the norm. Would be nice to get 8% though.
 
QUOTE (gwasser @ Oct 6 2009, 02:52 PM) Why would you compare with 5yr bonds in Canada and a 10yr treasury in the US?
because a typical commercial mortgage is 5 years in Canada and 10 years in the US !!

QUOTE (gwasser @ Oct 6 2009, 02:52 PM) Anyway, a 5-6% cap rate is my typical rental property so I am not that far from the norm. Would be nice to get 8% though.

Yes, 8% CAP rate would be nice .. but: the DIFFERENTIAL matters !

A 8% CAP rate building with a 6% mortgage yields a similar ROI than a 6% CAP rate building with a 4% mortgage !
 
QUOTE (thomasbeyer2000 @ Oct 6 2009, 06:20 PM) because a typical commercial mortgage is 5 years in Canada and 10 years in the US !!



Yes, 8% CAP rate would be nice .. but: the DIFFERENTIAL matters !

A 8% CAP rate building with a 6% mortgage yields a similar ROI than a 6% CAP rate building with a 4% mortgage !


Hi Thomas...with interest rates on the rise at some point do you expect a huge crash in values? are you staying on the sidelines?
 
QUOTE (BrianPersaud @ Oct 6 2009, 04:40 PM)
Hi Thomas...with interest rates on the rise at some point do you expect a huge crash in values? are you staying on the sidelines?


I neither expect a huge increase in interest rates nor a crash. We're buying multi-family assets right now in select sub-markets in W-Canada .. but of course not at any stupid price .. but many opportunities exist in many markets.



I had expect a correction in prices and honestly have not seen it even during those dark days of 4Q 2008 to 2Q 2009 .. and now with the recession bottomed out we see price increases already .. not huge of course .. but tepid increases .. but increases none-the-less !



As an investor we also invest into existing buildings and improve the value .. and also sell selective assets that we purchased 3,4,5,6 years ago ..



You must do all three these days .. buy selectively, hold+improve and sell selectively .. like a good gardener we plant, we pull weeds and we prune .. all at the same time in the same garden [called W-Canada multi-family apartment buildings] !



Related post on equity gain not the only way to make money in RE: http://myreinspace.com/public_forums1/Real_Estate_Discussion/62-10711-Equity_is_not_the_only_way_to_make_money_in_real_estate.html
 
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