Chart 1: TNX price chart as at June 11, 2013 (Source: Yahoo Finance)
Chart 2: US Real Estate Index as at June 11, 2013 (Source: aboutinflation.com)
While the above charts are based on the US example, I believe the same also applies to other countries, such as Malaysia. When I first started working in the banking industry in late 1980s, housing loan interest rate was above 10%. Over the years, interest rate has dropped steadily to a low of 5% recently.
If interest rate regime changes from a declining trend to a rising trend, I believe the value of real estate would be capped initially and then reversed. This topping-out process would not be immediate and may play out over a few years duration- depending on the movement in interest rate.
I remember one exercise that we did when I was in the bank when we raised the installment amount on the housing loan customers due to increase in interest rate (brought on by increase in Base Lending Rate). Many of the customers struggled to meet their installment payment. The reason we raised the installment amount was because the amount received was not enough to cover the interest accrued on the loan. For example, a RM500,000 housing loan on a tenor of 30 years at an interest rate of 6% would call for monthly installment of RM2698. If interest rate rises to 8%, the installment amount would rise by RM604 (or, 22%) to RM3302. That amount can be very taxing for many borrowers and especially so for over-leveraged borrowers.
In an environment where investing or speculating in properties has been a sure-thing for so long, the danger of a disorderly clearing out is very real. This danger had prompted a Singapore Minister to caution the citizens of the republic of the impact of future interest rate hikes (here). If you think this is another example of Singapore kiasu mentality, think again. Yesterday, Indonesia raised its interest rate by 25 basis points to 6% (here).
3 comments:
Dear alex,
Many would bets property will continue to rise in price. I would say should wait and see. Nevertheless, landed property will remain as safe investment, the most you can lose on landed properties is time and cost of holding. What your say on this?
Also, can i know your comment on texchem? I have
asked the same question to you few years back. Do you still hold the same stand or you have different view on it now?
Hi KENNY BLOG
The financial performance for Texchem is still unexciting. The stock may have broken above its 6-year downtrend line at about RM0.60 in April-May. We saw a similar "breakout" in February 2006 which fizzled out. We will have to wait & see how the current breakout will fare. My gut feeling is that it will also fizzle out after 2-3 months.
BTW what did I say about the stock a "few years back" as you've said. Was I negative then? I should think so...
Yes. You were negative on it. I am waiting for it to turnaround just like digi ten years back. Hopes it is digi and not mas. Anyhow, i am making paper gain on it now.
Thanks for your advise.
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