China Named Top Buyer, Seller of US Commercial Real Estate

Realtors are confident that sales and leasing activity involving foreign investors will increase this year, as foreign money pursues smaller commercial properties

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National Association of Realtors 2017 Commercial Real Estate International Business Trends survey

China was the most common country of origin for international buyers and sellers of U.S. commercial real estate in 2016. Florida was the top destination for all international clients, followed by Texas, according to the 2017 Commercial Real Estate International Business Trends survey released recently by the National Association of Realtors.

As foreign investors flock to smaller-sized commercial properties in secondary and tertiary markets, realtors expressed confidence that sales and leasing activity involving foreign investors will increase this year.

The top countries of origin for buyers were China (17%), Mexico (14%) and the U.K. and Venezuela (both at 7%). Sellers were typically from China (17%) or Brazil, Canada, France and Mexico (all at 10%).

(more on international buyers of U.S. commercial real estate . . . )

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