Reporting from MIPIM: A "perfect storm" for investment in the U.S.?

Reporting from MIPIM:

The U.S. is poised at a "perfect storm" of factors aligned to drive investment in the country. Factors including the US dollar which remains the world's default currency, the continued appetite of U.S. businesses for new opportunities and American consumers' continued reign as the top worldwide consumers of goods and services.

On Tuesday afternoon, presenters from the Association of Foreign Investors in Real Estate (AFIRE), CBRE, the Paramount Group and Metzler Real Estate spoke on what many analysts foresee as an influx of investment capital coming into the U.S. over the next five years. This confluence of factors points to the U.S. as a safe haven.

Primary points from the discussion included the continued dominance (some would say stranglehold?) that the U.S. has as an investment destination and as the best option for capital appreciation. U.S. cities make up three out of the top four cities for global investment: New York, London, Washington DC and Sao Paolo. Additionally, total U.S. transaction volume has reached its 2004 volume, there are downward sloping unemployment numbers in the US, the return on real estate is 500 basis points over that of bonds, and foreign investors and pension funds are currently buying U.S. REITs: More elements of a "perfect storm," even in the face of anticipated uncertainty in market confidence from November's U.S. presidential election.


For more on investment trends for 2012, read more about the survey conducted annually by the Graaskamp Center of members of AFIRE: New York, DC and Then...Sao Paulo? The 5 Top Cities for Investors

And for more coverage of discussions and developments at MIPIM, check our blog and visit the official MIPIM blog.