Lyons of Savills LLC

As foreign investment groups continually seem to be seeking out investments in the US, last week in our GlobeSt.com Quick Poll, we asked readers if those groups will continue to seek out opportunities within the US property market over the next 12 to 18 months. Sure enough, the majority of readers, (60%), along with John Lyons, president and CEO of Savills LLC, say absolutely. Only 16% said no, and 24% said maybe.

“The number of inquiries [and closed transactions] on behalf of well-capitalized foreign investors seeking US commercial real estate will continue to increase over the next 12 to 18 months. It is still early in the cycle, but it’s only a matter of time before more deals like SL Green’s sale of a partial interest at 485 Lexington Ave. to a group that included Israeli investors begin to occur. The sale of AIG’s headquarters’ office in lower Manhattan earlier this summer was another indication of foreign-based interest in Manhattan real estate.”

“Unlike most of our competitors, we are active participants in this trend. Savills US, which is part of the London-based global real estate services firm Savills plc with 200 offices throughout the world, is working closely with a number of offshore groups that are actively seeking opportunities here.”