Kevin May
Director, GRS | Corteq
(310) 614-9329
[email protected]
We know that commercial real estate in the United States is on a pretty strong tear right now, but across the Atlantic, things are strong as well.
European commercial real estate property prices shot up to $148 billion in the first half of 2015, a 37-percent increase from the prior year, and the best start assets across the pond saw in the first half of 12 months since 2007.
Much of that activity was from U.S.-based investors, as we have seen in the European stock markets recently.
What’s ironic about this is that there are so many firms from abroad are investing in U.S. commercial real estate.
All of the large commercial brokerage firms based in the United States, including CBRE, Newmark Grubb Knight Frank and Cushman & Wakefield are pushing their European services.
The reason for this is, as the U.S. market’s transaction opportunities tightens, we’re going to see more investors looking for chances in other locales. We know that Europe is going to come back. There are too many thriving cities with trophy properties for it not to.
Andrew Chisholm, the managing director of GRS | Capital & Provincial, who is based in London, says: “In addition to the large U.S. brokerage firms pushing their services in Europe as evidence of U.S.-to-U.K. activity, we are seeing increased levels of funding with lenders/investors such as Quadrant Real Estate Advisors, Wells Fargo, American Healthcare Investors and Northstar Realty Finance financing development opportunities through the U.K. in various sectors, from healthcare, to office, retail, and mixed-use schemes.
This appetite for funding in the U.K. presents a welcome opportunity for U.K. borrowers who are looking beyond their traditional funding conduits to the U.S. players for competitive finance.”
In addition to all the projects in the U.K., we’re also working on similar projects in Ireland and Australia.
While many companies are aware of GRS Group’s capabilities in the United States, we also have a growing presence in Europe. Our GRS | Capital & Provincial team can help investors with a variety of transactions in Europe, taking a hands-on approach to construction monitoring, property condition and environmental assessments. GRS | Secure Legal Title can also help U.S. investors navigate title insurance in the U.K. and Europe.