Expatriate Housing

The Guangzhou public library as seen during AIRINC's recent on-site survey. Photo taken by AIRINC surveyor Andrew Morollo.

Rental market updates:

Guangzhou and Shenzhen have stable but strong and growing rental markets. While rents for units in some of the most popular buildings increase every year, rents in less competitive buildings tend to decrease.

Data Points: A selection of AIRINC cost-of-living survey results

The results are in! Data Points, AIRINC's quarterly newsletter, is now available on our website at
https://www.air-inc.com/data-points/ 

Ankara, Turkey as seen during an AIRINC on-site cost of living survey.

Currency Bans in Turkish Real Estate Market

For many years, the expatriate rental market in Turkey has been dominated by leases signed and paid in USD or EUR. In September of this year, President Erdogan issued a decree stating that all leases in foreign currency must be converted to Turkish lira (TRY). This move was made to stem the sharp inflation that battered Turkey’s currency in 2018, resulting in a loss of over half its value at its worst point.

A mall in Astana, Kazakhstan as seen during an AIRINC cost of living survey. Photo taken by AIRINC surveyor Oscar Rasson.

A Cost of Living Survey in a digital world

At AIRINC, technology allows our dedicated survey staff to collect data and monitor changes through telephone and online research in conjunction with on-site surveys. We collect a wider range of data more efficiently using this multi-pronged approach, and by using an in-house research survey team, we collect the most objective, consistent pricing data.

Street view of Lima, Peru during an on-site survey. Photo taken by AIRINC surveyor Oscar Rasson.

Using Data to Fine-Tune Spending

Every year companies spend significant sums of money to house employees on global assignments. There is no easy way to assess the rationality of this spending within the context of the market. This is due to the limited access to industry-wide housing data and the limited ability to effectively analyze this data.

City view of Doha, Qatar. Photo taken by AIRINC surveyor Samuel Pearl Schwartz.

Increased Incentives, Availability 

With the continuing diplomatic blockade, more expatriates are leaving than arriving in Doha. In addition to dropping rents, some landlords are offering incentives on one-year leases, such as one to three months of free rent on twelve-month leases.

Aerial view of Guyana en route to the capital city, Georgetown. Photo taken by AIRINC surveyor Rose Allen.

Guyana and the Discovery of Vast Oil Deposits

During our recent survey quarter, I traveled to Georgetown, Guyana. Flying over Guyana I was struck by its rural feel and dense forests. From the air, it looked like the most untouched land I’d ever seen, and I later learned that roughly 80% of Guyana is rainforest.

Hundreds of housing units to choose from:

The rental housing market in Abu Dhabi is coming steadily down due to the high number of quality new properties that have come on the market, as well as fewer expatriate arrivals.