With the news that the Japanese Government are looking to invest a massive £43 billion into real estate across the globe from their new London base, the impact of overseas investors is highlighted once more. Japanese investors, prominent throughout the 80s and 90s, are once again at the forefront of an influx of Asian investors within the London market – both in residential and commercial markets. However, there has been a diversification in who is investing. Relaxation in Chinese and Taiwanese regulations have allowed investors to acquire assets in the UK, whilst Indian investment accounted for the highest proportion of land acquisitions in London Q2 2014. Middle Eastern, European and American investment also highlights the truly global range of investors who are looking to enter the London market – with a focus on prime assets.
The attraction of London’s market to overseas investors is also a diverse one in of itself. Market liquidity, security and transparency allow for overseas investors to diversify their portfolios, often in a safer location than their current assets. Teresa Beatty, surveyor at Morgan Pryce notes how it is not only for financial reasons that overseas investors are looking to London,
“More and more often we are seeing foreign acquisitions of prime London assets – some may call these Trophy Assets. The publicity of acquiring a world renowned property in a fashionable city like London can often be the driving factor in why an overseas fund chooses to invest.”
As overseas investment continues to increase from a diverse collection of investor types and nationalities, the question of what impact this has on UK investors must be raised. Can they compete? Are they being pushed away from prime London assets? Will overseas investment slow down? Only time will tell…
This news was brought to you by Morgan Pryce, a specialist tenant acquisition agent with offices in Oxford Circus and the City. Morgan Pryce specialises in search, negotiation and project management and works exclusively for tenants.
