A Contrarian Perspective

A Contrarian Perspective

The real estate business is very much an emotional business.  You can see it, feel it and touch it.  It tends to be an extension of an individual or corporation and is out there for all the world to see.   It is a tangible investment.  Whether a commercial property, vacant land or other form of real estate, it is something that has visual substance.  And no one like to make a mistake on something that everyone can see.

Back in the late 80s and early 90s, no one would touch office or hotel properties.  They were overbuilt, vacancies were high and no one knew where the bottom was.  It drove return hurdles to ridiculous levels and drove prices down to bargain valuations.  

During the most recent real estate bust, the same was true of residential real estate.  Land could be had for pennies on the dollar and the markets were littered with destroyed companies and little liquidity.

In both cases, people were afraid to make purchases and investments as no one knew where the bottom was.  Opportunistic investors swooped in and made fortunes with contrarian investment strategies, not worrying whether their purchase was at the true bottom, but feeling comfortable that it was at least low enough to guarantee a substantial return whenever the markets would improve.

A similar phenomenon is occurring in current homebuilding lending practices.  As many smaller builders went out of business in the last downturn, institutional investment dollars have now flocked to the more established large builders.  They are perceived as more stable with a lower risk of project failure.  This has resulted in the reduction of an important source of capital for new start-ups to take shape.  Without so-called country club money, new builders have limited access to capital.  

From a contrarian perspective, this creates a huge opportunity.  Consider the following.  If a project performs poorly, who is more likely to pull out, a new or established builder?  If a deal is unconventional, who is more likely to figure out how to make it work, a new or established builder?  When trying to latch on to new trends and innovations, who is more likely to react quicker, a new or established builder?  In all three circumstances, I would argue on behalf of the new builder.  They cannot afford for any deal to fail, they are more likely to think out of the box for non-standard opportunities and they have less red tape to jump through to adjust for innovation.  In an improving real estate market, these seem to be compelling, but overlooked opportunities.  Additionally, everyone loves a fresh face.  

I understand that there is fear that the real estate markets can falter again.  After all, it is an investment and investments move both up and down.  We tend to get scarred easily and those wounds take time to heal.  Except for those contrarians who recognize opportunity.  In an improving homebuilding market.  For new homebuilders.  

Until next time…

Keep kicking the dirt!

Jeff Gersh is President of Gersh Consulting Services, a real estate advisory firm, headquartered in Orlando, FL.  He may be reached at jsgersh@gmail.com or 407-468-9328