How to identify downturns within an office submarke : A quantitative time series analysis of Stockholm CBD

Sammanfattning: The last couple of years there has been a significant increase in demand of attractive office locations in Stockholm consequently leading to all-time low office prime yields within the Central Business District (CBD), indicating warning signals regarding an overheated submarket. As the real estate market is crucial for the economy as a whole, it is essential to improve the understanding and predictability of future real estate cycles. This study produced three different logistic regression models with the purpose of identifying downturns in the office market of Stockholm CBD. The most successful model were able to predict 74 % of the actual downturns occurring throughout 114 observed quarters between Q3 1989 and Q4 2017. The dependent downturn variable consist of prime yield explained by variables on a national basis combined with submarket specific variables. Another produced model contained variables regarding confidence and expectations of tenants in Stockholm. However that model was unsatisfactory, leading to this study’s suggestion of further research on fluctuations of demand related to the current characteristics of Stockholm CBD.