Domestic real estate development market is expected to have a new change. If we have a look at the changes in financing of real estate development since IMF crisis in 1997, the financing plan was changed from corporate finance based on contractor's as...
Domestic real estate development market is expected to have a new change. If we have a look at the changes in financing of real estate development since IMF crisis in 1997, the financing plan was changed from corporate finance based on contractor's assets and credit into the project financing method based on theoretical project profitability and the IMF crisis was the opportunity. After 10 years, the Sub-prime mortgage crisis occurred in 2007 and 3 more years later, is still having economic influences
Pre-existing project financing enabled constructors to secure constructions in a form of construction contract without a large financial burden. In the past, the development projects were processed as private constructions and this increased debt ratio which led to worsening of the entire finances of the company, however, such financial structure could be improved.
However, realistically, not only the business value but also the payment guarantees are required and therefore, if one project shows failure, this also affects other projects and after all the financial burden has not changed that much. And one main reason for this is private or corporate investors place top priority on financial safety.
And now the interests in development REITs, emerging as a substitute of project financing, is increasing. First introduced in 2001, the REITs didn't show any certain profitability due to lack of institution, however, with gradual mitigation, now it becomes a new solution in development finances. Amendment of real estate investment company act on 14 October 2007, gives an emerging of development REITs.
However, due to lack of investors' safety acquirement, which is also the main reason in deterioration of theoretical project financing into domestic project financing, there are no visible results until now in 2010.
Therefore, this study went through various financial mechanisms used as financing plans in domestic real estate development and compared domestic project financing project and development project introduced by development REITs.
There are extremely limited numbers of the cases introduced by development REITs and there can be limitations in case comparing analysis, however, compared in two views of profitability and safety, it showed satisfactory results for both providers and investors.
However there are still weak points in investment safety for activation of development REITs. This is because the initial stage includes too many numbers of risks for the investors compared to its profitability.
And therefore the study analyzed which elements need to be reformed in order to activates development REITs in views of institution, providers and investors.
Firstly, to see from the view of institution, the mandating of initial public opening which risks the investors the most should be abolished and lowered ownership restriction. In addition, institutional reformation is required due to mandating of capital gains tax, enlargement of real estate valuation and market information, prevention of similar institutions in case of the owner kind-investment in development REITs.
In a view of providers, incentives in corporate tax of self-management REITs, abolition of deadline for tax exemption and improvement of professional manpower regarding asset management and finally in a view of investors, the conversion of primary recognition in REITs and suggestion of reasonable revenue rate and warranty product for certain profitability are required.
Activated development REITs can be applied in largey construction projects such as subway area in Yongsan, Sangam DMC, Songdo, Yongjongdo and Chongna. These projects are currently having difficulties because of the problems of public participating PF.
In addition, the accumulation, branding and funding of the specialized projects through development REITs can be a suitable mechanism considering the weakness of "small-sizedness" and poor funding of domestic real estate development companies.