WITH the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) drawing closer, coupled with the tougher operating environment, property developers are likely to strategise to buffer any negative impact.<\/p>\n
A senior executive of a listed property group says some developers are looking at the possibility of launching GST schemes for their upcoming commercial projects to make them more attractive for buyers.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou see, when I sell you a piece of commercial property worth RM950,000, there is still a 6% GST charged on it. Banks will not likely finance the 6%, so buyers will only be able to get financing for the price of the property, which is RM950,000 million. Whereas, if the property has a total price of RM1 million, inclusive of the GST, consumers should be able to get financing for RM1 million,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, some developers are considering packaging the GST into the final prices of their commercial properties. It is all about packaging.\u201d<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, a tier-one property developer says it is looking at an easy payment scheme for the GST.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is to help our customers with their cash flow. We are still figuring out how to implement it,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
Affin Hwang Research expects developers to focus on launching more affordable products in the face of a challenging economic environment and tighter credit rules.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis in turn could impact overall margins, given the shift towards lower-margin products. In addition, we believe margins could be under pressure due to competition, rising development costs (due to the impact from the GST) and weak property market sentiment, which will affect product pricing and take-up rates,\u201d it states in a Jan 15 note.<\/p>\n
Maybank Research also expects margins to be compressed in the coming months due to the provision of more freebies and non-cash incentives to attract property buyers.<\/p>\n
It notes that developers are in a final push for sales before the implementation of the GST in April, with many bringing forward their property launches and offering attractive packages, including discounts\/rebates of up to 20%.<\/p>\n
\u201cDevelopers have expressed caution about the property market\u2019s outlook over the 12 months post-GST implementation. They are expected to focus on affordable housing and landed properties while delaying high-end\/high-rise launches,\u201d it says.<\/p>\n
\u201cS P Setia, Eco World, Sunway and Mah Sing are targeting sales growth of -0.4%, -6%, -7.7% and 0% respectively for FY2015. As for UEM Sunrise, it will only disclose its FY2015 sales target in February, together with the release of its FY2014 results.\u201d<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, industry players and experts expect the prices of residential properties to rise 2% to 4% post-GST despite the fact that such properties are not subject to the GST. Developers are not eligible to claim input tax credit for such properties. They also cannot pass on any output tax to their customers.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe permutation should be a 2% to 3% rise in property prices. Only raw materials will be subject to the GST \u2026 but what people do not realise is that the components of construction cost \u2014 which includes building materials \u2014 versus the GDV (gross development value) of the project is about 50%. This means that some 50% of the GDV will be impacted by the GST, but because residential developments are exempted from the GST, developers cannot claim the credit for the GST cost incurred by them for the raw materials. So, there will be an impact on our construction costs, which, based on calculations, could bring about a rise in prices of 2% to 3%,\u201d says Ken Holdings Bhd group managing director Sam Tan.<\/p>\n
\u201cRaw materials make up half of the GDV here. In other countries, such as Hong Kong and Singapore, it is land cost that makes up the bulk of it. The land cost here is in the 20% range, depending on the area. So, with the GST coming in, developers will be hit mainly by the cost of raw materials.\u201d<\/p>\n
A senior property executive expects the market to see a price increase of 3% to 4%. \u201cDeveloper units will see the increase. There will be no direct impact on sub-sales as there is no material cost incurred.\u201d<\/p>\n
A lawyer specialising in the property industry notes that although the sub-sale market will not see an immediate direct impact, prices could climb later because of the increase in prices of new units in the same area. \u201cThere is a soft take-up of properties now due to a couple of factors, including the rising cost of living, as well as banks getting stricter with their loan approvals.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hong Leong Investment Bank Research expects property buyers to be more selective as spending tightens. It points out that developers need to price their products strategically to remain competitive.<\/p>\n
It says a 3% increase is enough to cause potential buyers to rethink their intended purchases, given the tight loan conditions and lower spending power.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe continue to believe that buyers will adopt a wait-and-see attitude, especially after the GST is implemented. Given the slower economic growth and the recent drop in MIER\u2019s Consumer Sentiment Index, we do not foresee the trend to experience a significant reversal but to stabilise before a gradual recovery. Hence, we are still keeping our mid-to-long-term favourable growth for the sector,\u201d it notes in a Jan 26 report.<\/p>\n
Moody\u2019s Investors Service expects the country\u2019s demand for residential properties to slow further this year, crimped by cooling measures imposed in 2013 and weak market sentiment.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe expect the anticipation of higher mortgage rates and the implementation of the GST to dampen sales in 2015, as buyers take a wait-and-see approach,\u201d says Moody\u2019s assistant vice-president and analyst Jacintha Poh in a report last Wednesday.<\/p>\n
She adds that the magnitude of the sales impact will depend on developers\u2019 target segment of project launches and pricing.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
This article first appeared in The Edge Malaysia Weekly, <\/em>on February 9 – 15, 2015.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" WITH the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) drawing closer, coupled with the tougher operating environment, property developers are likely to strategise to buffer any negative impact. A senior executive of a listed property group says some developers are looking at the possibility of launching GST schemes for their upcoming commercial projects to …<\/p>\n