NEW YORK CITY—It's common today for Chinese investors to snap up iconic hotels—such as the Waldorf-Astoria here—but buyers from the country also are interested in ground-up apartment development in the city, Slate Properties Group founder Martin Nussbaum tells GlobeSt.com in this EXCLUSIVE interview.

GlobeSt.com: What are you seeing with respect to Chinese investors?

Nussbaum: I've always been raising capital from foreign sources but very recently we've been working with Chinese groups. We are working with them on two projects in Brooklyn and one in Manhattan—all three are condo projects.

GlobeSt.com: Why do you think you're seeing this trend?

Nussbaum: They're very interested in ground-up condominium development, especially in Manhattan and Brooklyn. New York City is appealing because they like cities, particularly those with growth potential and a stable economy. Manhattan and certain parts of Brooklyn represent that.

In terms of the interest in condos, I think it's because culturally, the Chinese people are accustomed to home ownership and the projects fit their time horizon. They want to be in transactions where they can get in and out quickly and condos are more easily underwritten than rental units.

GlobeSt.com: How was the experience of working with a Chinese partner?

Nussbaum: We found it very easy because this particular group has put together a local team. That's allowed them to conduct business in a way that is customary for people here. It's helped to identify and process transactions as well as with underwriting and to work through the approval process in a very institutional manner. We've enjoyed working with them.

GlobeSt.com: What do you think is the future of Chinese investment in NYC?

Nussbaum: Chinese investors are continuing to come to the market and they're showing interest in prime local markets. Many different types of investors from China are coming to speak to us; I don't see that changing any time soon.

Want to continue reading?
Become a Free ALM Digital Reader.

Once you are an ALM Digital Member, you’ll receive:

  • Breaking commercial real estate news and analysis, on-site and via our newsletters and custom alerts
  • Educational webcasts, white papers, and ebooks from industry thought leaders
  • Critical coverage of the property casualty insurance and financial advisory markets on our other ALM sites, PropertyCasualty360 and ThinkAdvisor
NOT FOR REPRINT

© 2024 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.

Rayna Katz

Rayna Katz is a seasoned business journalist whose extensive experience includes coverage of the lodging sector, travel and the culinary space. She was most recently content director for a business-to-business publisher, overseeing four publications. While at Meeting News, a travel trade publication, she received a Best Reporting award for a story on meeting cancellations in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina.