Conversion of office buildings to dwellings

Abstract: During the current market boom, Sweden’s property market represents an attractive investment market with a continuously bright future. Stockholm contributes, according to last year's notations, to a third of Sweden’s total transaction volume and is by investors seen as the most attractive investment market in the Nordic region. While interest in investing in Stockholm's commercial property market is high, the region is facing exceptionally high numbers in population growth, which are putting pressure on the production of new housing. The amount of new construction projects in Stockholm is too low to reach the market’s demand, which encourages other options to produce new housing. In the present real estate stock for the office segment, there are several older buildings with poor economy and yields. This may be due to the property's structural conditions, floor plans and location. For properties of this kind, reconstruction to condominiums may be a viable alternative. Here, property owners have a decision to either implement a renovation to satisfy the market’s requirements for adaptable office space, or to convert into condominiums. This report presents an economic profitability analysis in converting existing office buildings into condominiums for selected sub-markets in Stockholm. Transaction prices for condominiums, office properties and standardized market valuations of office properties forms the groundwork for the analysis. This is presented in a general area analysis, which is verified by two case studies of properties in selected markets. Considering the high condominium prices in Stockholm, the region constitutes a favorable market for conversion of this type. The highest profitability has been identified in submarkets, which are AA- or A-areas for housing while at the same time C- or D-areas for offices.