China used to have the global real estate scene cornered, thanks to its citizens and the 'new rich.' While its people may have slowed down on the investments lately due to its people's adherence to policies and the effects of various trade disputes, other foreigners have picked up the real estate slack left by its void, according to SCMP.
Blackstone, a US-based private equity fund, had bought properties in Shanghai, including a shopping center and five office buildings. Reports said that the American firm is at it again, this time training its sights on Chamtime Plaza, a large office and retail space in Shanghai. The local developer involved in the transaction is Changjia Group.
A report by global property adviser Jones Lang LaSalle showed that Blackstone is just one of the many real estate investment groups looking at buying properties in China. Shanghai, meanwhile, is just one of the many Asian cities where Chinese investors have given way to foreign investors with the money to buy properties.
In a reversal of roles, even in the US, some properties--which have been untouched by Chinese buyers--are bought by other foreign investors. These account for cross-border acquisitions totaling to $94.9 billion last year, which was higher by 73 percent from the 2017 total of $55.3 billion and almost equalling 2015's $100 billion amount.
According to National Real Estate Investor, these foreign nationals are attracted to the stability and possibilities of growth that the US economy has displayed lately. Given this feeling of security, it was only natural for these investors to pool their resources on a sure thing, relayed Chris Ludeman, global president of capital markets at CBRE.
As for the foreign investors, Coleman noted that Chinese investors have eased up in purchasing properties. Stepping into that void is France at first place; Canada at a close second, and Singapore at third, with around $4.2 billion in acquisitions in the US. The major reason for their purchases remained to be for diversification of their portfolios.
As China's policy eases up, so will the withdrawal of its citizen-investors. For now, however, other countries are willing to move into properties which are available for purchase, as the global trend in the economy forces investors to diversify their portfolios, in order to keep their profits and investments up.
