According to Dexus' latest Australian Real Estate Quarterly Review, 'capital flows into property are likely to remain strong through 2021 driven by low interest rates' whilst 'short-term growth prospects in the industrial and healthcare sectors are better than in the office and retail sectors where vacancy will take time to absorb'.

Key highlights include:

"Evidence from multiple global surveys suggests that while the mobility of work will continue to increase, the physical workplace will remain a core requirement for most companies. However, the function of the office will shift, requiring more meeting, learning and social spaces to encourage collaboration. What form this takes remains to be seen, however modelling indicates that increasing the proportion of collaborative space requires a lower work density".

"While physical occupancy levels are rising across CBD markets nationally there remains considerable ground yet to cover. Multinational sentiment and public transport concerns remain the biggest challenges for a return to offices. Much depends on the pace of the vaccine rollout this year".

"In a year where income preservation has been key for other sectors, the industrial sector has experienced solid demand; above average in Sydney and Melbourne. Robust tenant demand has fueled the need for more supply and given investors confidence to acquire and develop product. The fundamentals of industrial markets position it for another robust year".

"The long-term thematics for healthcare remain strong. Although employment growth in the industry flattened last year as lockdowns limited patient visits, growth forecasts are the strongest of all major industries over the next five years".

View the full report here