Offshore Guidebook | Real Estate Investor Magazine Offshore Guidebook 2014 | Page 35

by uncertainty around the 2015 elections, while private sector developers and investors might delay development and investment plans. For the commercial and industrial property sector, Lagos State is the centre of activity. Offices Demand for A-grade office space continued apace in 2013, with Victoria Island seeing several leases signed at an average rental rates in excess of US$800/m2 a year. Prime-grade properties have recently achieved rental rates of US$1,000/m2 a year. Grade-A properties of between 300m2-500m2 are most in demand, especially in Ikoyi and Victoria Island, which remains a preferred location for companies.Supply has responded to demand for higher standards and there is an increase in the amount of A-Grade space being brought on-stream. Based on the current development pipeline, more than 200,000m2 of both prime and A-grade properties is expected to come to market in the next 24 months in Victoria Island and Ikoyi. Retail The retail market in Nigeria continues to expand on the back of steady demand. The most attractive locations for development in the retail sector often fall in Lagos and Abuja due to access and infrastructure. Other cities like Port Harcourt, are also providing opportunities due to population growth trends and household demographics.In 2013, construction started on several new retail sites. Line shops of between 50m²-150m² are in demand, with expectations that demand for larger premises could rise significantly in the future as new international retailers enter the market. Net rentals for premises under 150m², depending on the location and quality of the mall, range from US$55/m²-US$90/m². Retail ma lls in Lagos and Abuja demand higher rentals than in other cities achieving an average net through-rental of www.reimag.co.za U S $55/m ²-U S $ 6 5/m ² f o r s p a c e s b e t w e e n 50m2-700m2 excluding anchors. Leisure As part of the broader retail sector, leisure and entertainment has enjoyed its fair share of growth. A number of new hotels opened in Lagos and expectations are that the leisure sector will continue to grow in 2014. Industrial Still largely underdeveloped, the demand for industrial space – driven by economic growth and business expansion - continues to outstrip supply, especially when it comes to clean, light industrial premises for the logistics and manufacturing sectors.The launch of the National Enterprise Development programme by the government is poised to boost the industrial sector. This will increase demand for industrial real estate in the country. Residential Residential propert y continues to experience tremendous g row th, w ith a number of new developments completed last year in Lagos State. Focus areas for developers for middle income housing are the Lekki- Epe Axis and the Lagos Mainland commercial centres of Yaba, Ikeja and Surulere. Luxury serviced apartments are in demand in Victoria Island and Ikoyi. There is a steady increase in supply of two-to-three-bedroom apartments, and up to five-bedroom detached houses for purchase, and housing estates in particular are popular. An opportunity which could attract a lot of activity and supply to the real estate sector (mainly residential for the low-mid income population) is the recently inaugurated Nigerian Mortgage Refinance Company which, when operational, would inject new funds to the housing sector at affordable interest rates. RESOURCES Broll CBRE Affiliate Network Offshore Handbook 2014 33