MIAMI-President Barack Obama wrapped up a five-day trip to Latin America in March. His message: Latin America is a key market for US goods. But Latin American countries are also key investors into US commercial real estate. Indeed, US ties with Brazil, along with Europe and Asia, could drive an uptick in foreign investment into Miami commercial real estate this year and beyond.

According to the Association of Foreign Investors in Real Estate (AFIRE), the U.S. real estate market offers a stronger investment opportunity for foreign real estate investors’ money than it has in the last 10 years. More than 60% of respondents—a margin of 54 percentage points over second-ranked China—indicate that the U.S. offers the best potential for capital appreciation.

GlobeSt.com caught up with Tere Blanca, CEO of Blanca Commercial Real Estate, to discuss how South America fits into Miami’s foreign investment picture, what is attracting the investment, and the challenges Miami faces on this front.