Scott Westphal of Cornerstone Real Estate Advisers joins NAREIT editorial director Allen Kenney to discuss real estate fund management and ongoing trends in real estate investment.
Cornerstone manages the Oppenheimer Real Estate Fund (OREAX), the Oppenheimer Global Real Estate Fund (OGRAX) and the Dunham Real Estate Stock Fund (DNREX).
Westphal noted that in 2012 the REIT market faced concerns over sovereign debt issues in both the United States and abroad. The related fears concerning the impact of a reduction in spending also impacted REITs with exposure to the Washington market. Additionally, REITs had to deal with tepid economic growth, both at home and abroad.
“We really feel that, on the margin, some leasing decisions may be being delayed until the greater uncertainties over tax policy and regulatory policy begin to clarify themselves,” Westphal said.
On the positive side for REITs, West Coast markets showed resiliency last year, according to Westphal.
He also said investors demonstrated a preference for mid cap REITs over large cap REIT stocks, and they were surprised by low interest rates that persisted through the year.
Cornerstone views REIT sectors as generally being appropriately valued. However, Westphal said the company does see some potential value in the hotel and lodging sector.
“We think the RevPAR growth that has occurred to date has been extremely health. Based on our prognosis of the hotel market going forward, we think this RevPAR growth will continue going forward,” Westphal said. “The vast majority of RevPAR growth at this time is all rate-driven, rather than rate- and occupancy-driven.”
When RevPAR growth is driven by rates, it doesn’t create additional operating expenses, according to Westphal.
Westphal said Cornerstone does have concerns about the state of the apartment REIT sector, and the firm is projecting that multifamily REITs will underperform early this year. Westphal also said his team at Cornerstone views the potential for shifts in governmental policies as an area of concern for health care REITs.
"The REIT market, like most markets, was periodically whipsawed over concerns about sovereign debt issues, both in the United States and elsewhere, and weakening economic growth between the United States and our trading partners" he said.