For real estate investors all over the globe, the Big Apple has some serious appeal. In fact, of the nearly 30 percent of international investors who say that they are currently seriously considering “acquisitions outside of their domestic markets over the next year,” New York is “at the top or near the top of their list,” reports Ross Moore, chief economist at Colliers International[1]. New York, London and Paris, “the usual suspects for global investors,” are the “big financial centers that seem to come up” when international real estate investments are discussed, he said.

Asian investors in particular appear to be focusing on office properties not just in New York, but also in Chicago. Sydney and Brisbane, Australia also are getting attention. In the Middle East, a full 63 percent of foreign investors indicated that they would be acquiring additional real estate over the next 12 months and that New York properties would definitely be in the running, along with cities in emerging markets like China and India.

Interestingly, domestic real estate investors are not nearly as focused on NYC as foreign investors. “There is a sense that there are good opportunities outside of that area,” said Moore, adding that this trend likely “reflects the pricing in New York relative to other markets.” However, compared to properties in cities like Frankfurt, Hong Kong and London, New York offers incredibly reasonable pricing and fantastic rates of return, which makes it an extremely appealing market for foreign real estate investors.

[1] http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20101108/REAL_ESTATE/101109879