Commercial property investors from overseas could be set to tie up more money in the central London office market.

According to Knight Frank, the investment market in the region was largely made up of investors from the UK a decade ago. Indeed, it said that while a small number of German and American investors had moved into offices in central London, Britons "dominated" the market at this time.

However, the organisation believes this is no longer the case, with foreign investors now outnumbering those from the UK in the heart of the capital.

Stephen Clifton, investment partner at Knight Frank, commented: "Foreign capital from across the globe is the majority, with much of the investment coming from emerging markets and the mineral economies."

Mr Clifton believes this trend will continue throughout 2012, with investors from overseas choosing to secure an even broader range of assets. As a result, there could be more foreign money transfers to the UK over the next few months.

"Up until now the overseas money has targeted trophy assets, but I expect them to diversify their portfolios this year," Mr Clifton commented.

This, he said, would result in them taking on riskier investment options, such as purchasing sites or "joint venturing" with developers from the UK.

An influx of foreign investors next year could represent a boost to the central London office market after a 27 per cent drop in the take-up rate was recorded in 2011.

However, the continuing influx of major technology companies has led to Knight Frank remaining confident in the market's prospects for the coming year. Nokia, Apple, Facebook and Google were just some of the large brands establishing a stronger presence in London during 2011.

Demand from firms in the tech industry doubled throughout this period, which Knight Frank said was significant considering the fact there was an economic slowdown at the time.
 

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Investors who are planning to transfer money online to invest in commercial property have been pointed towards northern Europe.

According to Savills, conditions in this region are relatively favourable when compared to those in the south of the continent. Germany was flagged up as one good option for investors to consider, while prospective buyers were also encouraged to take a look at France and the Scandinavian nations.

Mat Oakley, director of commercial research at Savills, said they offer "reasonably solid rental growth prospects" over the next few years.

This, he stated, marks a contrast to the state of affairs in the "sovereign debt imperiled countries" in southern Europe. He noted some northern nations are experiencing a "gentle" recovery in demand for commercial property at the moment, with growth in rents being fuelled by "significant undersupplies" of available spaces.

"To say that the whole of Europe is facing falling rental growth would be completely wrong," Mr Oakley commented.

Commercial property investors were also encouraged to consider looking beyond European shores for possible options.

Mr Oakley noted that the "major US metro markets are undoubtedly recovering at the moment", with rents picking up in places outside Manhattan. This is despite the fact consumer confidence remains fairly low in the country, as many are questioning the government's "ability to deal with its own sovereign debt problems".

He added that the "equity-rich and relatively debt stable countries of the Pacific Rim" may also offer particularly good prospects to commercial property investors.

This comes after the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors noted that the ongoing financial crisis is negatively impacting on the commercial property market in much of Europe. While Germany was identified as one good performer between October and December 2011, the continent in general was said to be losing ground on other markets across the world.

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Commercial property investors may have to look further afield if they are planning an international money transfer to purchase office space.

According to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics), rental values are expected to rise in Brazil over the next few months. This, it said, is because demand for commercial property is exceeding the level of supply.

Rics believes this is a sign that the Brazilian economy is demonstrating plenty of resilience amid the continuing global financial crisis. As a result, it could be a safe bet for investors who are looking to tie their money up in commercial property.

The South American country already looks set to see a surge in the amount of international attention over the next few years. Brazil is staging the Fifa World Cup in 2014, while the Olympic Games come to Rio de Janeiro two years later.

This means that the country's biggest cities are undergoing considerable infrastructure upgrades, thereby making them a good long-term proposition for both individual investors and businesses that are looking to expand overseas.

Conditions in Brazil appear to contrast sharply with those in Europe, which Rics said is losing ground on other parts of the world. Indeed, the organisation said the commercial property markets in the continent "struggled to keep pace" with those in places such as Brazil during 2011.

"Real estate in some parts of the world continues to provide significant opportunities," said Simon Rubinsohn, chief economist at Rics.

"In particular, sentiment remains generally upbeat in many of the faster growing economies, even if they are likely to grow a little bit more slowly in the coming year."

China was identified as another market where optimism is especially high right now, while commercial property rents are also expected to go up in Canada and Russia during 2012.

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Spain has long been established as a very popular country with people from the UK. British holidaymakers have headed to its sunshine resorts for many years, while its lifestyle attractions have made it a hotspot for those who want to relocate overseas.

And if the observations of Spanish Property Insight are to be believed, its appeal is showing no signs of diminishing just yet.

According to Mark Stucklin, head of the organisation, Spain is now a "buyer's market", particularly in those areas where demand is especially high.

This, he said, is because people who are arranging a money transfer in order to purchase a property in the country have lots of quality real estate from which to choose. As a result, they can afford to be "picky and fussy" about the options on the table before making commitments.

Mr Stucklin identified Alicante as one of these "consolidated areas", along with the Costa del Sol and the Costa Blanca.

He noted that they all have particularly good amenities and public services, which means property buyers from the UK will not have to compromise on their living standards if they wish to set up home in Spain permanently.

However, Mr Stucklin advised prospective buyers who are looking to transfer money to the country to research the market properly before committing to a purchase.

He said this is necessary because some of the properties that are currently on the market are overpriced, although he stressed there are some "really interesting" deals at the moment.

Mr Stucklin added that buildings that were built in second or third-rate areas at the height of Spain's housing boom are likely to struggle to attract high demand.

This comes after he said current exchange rates between the pound and the euro could make Spain an attractive option for British buyers to consider.

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With all the doom and gloom surrounding the continuing debt crisis in the eurozone, it is easy to forget that conditions vary wildly across this financial bloc.

Whereas countries such as Greece and Ireland may be teetering on the edge and receiving bailouts from the International Monetary Fund and the EU, other members are performing fairly strongly.

Germany, for, example, is probably one of the bright spots in the eurozone right now, which could help to explain why so many foreign investors have been looking there.

The commercial property market could offer a number of good opportunities for businesses and private investors who are planning to transfer money online to Germany.

Indeed, Savills recently reported that it expects transaction volumes in this particular market to pass the €20 billion mark this year. This, it said, is because properties such as office space are attracting lots of interest both domestically and from foreign buyers.

More than one in three transactions that took place last year involved offices, while retail properties were also very popular during 2011.

Matthias Pink, Savills Germany's head of research, said this is because retail investments are typically more stable than other purchases.

"Investors who continue to focus on secure investments appreciate this characteristic," he commented.

"Another reason is the stable and currently very good consumer sentiment in Germany."

Lars-Oliver Breuer, head of investment at Savills Germany, added that its forecast of transaction volumes exceeding €20 billion in 2012 is realistic, assuming the level of demand translates into actual purchases.

However, he acknowledged that making predictions for the coming year is difficult, considering there are many uncertainties at the moment.

"What will be crucial is whether the situation in the financial markets stabilises and if the eurozone succeeds in convincing investors of its stability," Mr Breuer said.

This comes after UK prime minister David Cameron, speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, called on European countries such as Germany to take "bold action" to resolve the financial crisis.

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Commercial property investors in the UK have been encouraged to consider purchasing stock in Scandinavia.

According to Knight Frank, investment prospects are particularly favourable in places such as Sweden and Norway at the moment. Finland and Denmark were also flagged up as good options, due to the "strength of their wider economies".

UK-based investors could therefore benefit from arranging a currency comparison so they can see which one of the Nordic nations offers the best value for money.

Darren Yates, a partner in Knight Frank's commercial research team, added that some good opportunities for commercial property buyers might also be found in eastern Europe.

Poland, for instance, was said to be a possible option as it offers "better yields" than many other countries and is "getting wealthier". Mr Yates also noted that the country has "emerged relatively well" from the global financial crisis, as it managed to avoid slipping into recession.

"It has had its elections, is politically stable, relatively high yielding and has a large, young and growing population," he continued.

Mr Yates added that Poland has lots of big cities that are capable of sustaining new developments.

He was speaking after Cushman & Wakefield revealed that between October and December 2011, investment volumes in the European commercial property market went up by 17.7 per cent. This, it said, is more than it had been anticipating.

But despite Mr Yates's recommendation, investment volumes in the Nordic countries did not go up significantly. Core markets such as Britain, France and Germany attracted the most interest in the final quarter of the year, accounting for nearly two-thirds of investment activity.

Michael Rhydderch, head of Cushman & Wakefield's European capital markets group, commented: "It is clear that there is a lot of nervousness out there and sheer uncertainty may hold back dealing volumes this year."

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Many overseas property buyers in the UK are turning their attention to the US, an expert has noted.

According to Liz Rowlinson, editor of A Place in the Sun Magazine, demand for real estate in the country is quite strong at the moment. Indeed, she noted that some of the best properties are attracting interest from a number of different buyers.

Ms Rowlinson described this as a "healthy sign" that shows many people in Britain believe this is a good time to invest in the US.

People who are planning to transfer money online in order to make a purchase were told Florida is currently one of the main hotspots of activity among British nationals.

"A lot of them buy in the larger Orlando area, but also the Gulf Coast is quite popular," Ms Rowlinson commented.

Daytona Beach, Sarasota, Tampa and Naples were also said to be receiving lots of interest from buyers in the UK.

Prospective investors who are looking at transferring funds to the country were advised that Florida is a diverse but family-friendly location. This is partly because there are plenty of leisure facilities in the region, including shopping malls, golf courses and theme parks.

Investors could therefore find themselves in a good position to cash in on the high demand for rental accommodation in Florida among holidaymakers.

"I have spoken to people who have just bought in Florida and they said it is a good time to buy," Ms Rowlinson added.

She was speaking after figures from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) revealed an increase in existing home sales in the US during December 2011. This is the third month in succession in which a surge was recorded by the group.

Lawrence Yun, chief economist at the NAR, said this indicates that the market is in a state of recovery.

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Foreign property buyers in Britain who are planning to make a purchase have been pointed towards the Brazilian market.

According to Housetech Developments, the South American nation offers great prospects for anyone who is buying for investment purposes.

This, it said, is partly because its economy is growing at a time when many other countries around the world are struggling to achieve growth.

As a result, arranging an international money transfer from the UK to Brazil in order to purchase a property could be lucrative for investors further down the line.

Waseem Saddique, chief executive of Housetech Developments, said the country's investment potential is being fuelled partly by the fact it is set to host two major international sporting events in the next few years.

Indeed, the Fifa World Cup is being staged in Brazil in 2014, while the 2016 Olympic Games will be put on in Rio de Janeiro. Mr Saddique said this means the need for new developments and housing across the country has risen to "staggering heights".

"Prospects are fantastic – prospects are great for people who are looking to invest," he commented.

"The economy is steaming ahead while others are being downgraded."

Mr Saddique added that the recent discovery of some "oil-rich areas of land" along the Brazilian coastline has also fuelled additional international interest in the country.

He said the country has now turned into a "prime hotspot" for real estate investors around the world. Buyers who want to keep up to date with ongoing developments in Brazil were encouraged to check the news page on housetechdevelopments.com.

This comes after the Association of Foreign Investors in Real Estate described Brazil as one of the top two locations in the world when it comes to capital appreciation potential, as it has overtaken China in the last year and now ranks only behind the US.

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More and more international property investors are choosing to transfer money to the UK in order to take advantage of favourable exchange rates.

According to London Central Portfolio, sterling remains fairly weak when compared with other major currencies around the world, including the renminbi in China. As a result, some overseas property buyers are seeing places such as central London as a particularly sound investment option.

The city was also identified as a good choice because it is much less volatile than other parts of the world.

"Many are looking for a safe haven asset class to take their money away from the turbulence of the eurozone and the Arab Spring," said Naomi Heaton, London Central Portfolio's chief executive.

She noted that others are reluctant to speculate in equities and are therefore opting to "accumulate through an asset-backed investment strategy". Ms Heaton said the fact interest rates in Britain are low is also helping to draw property investors to markets such as central London.

The cost of borrowing has been left on hold at 0.5 per cent by the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee since March 2009.

London Central Portfolio believes foreign buyers will account for the majority of those who purchase central London property during 2012. Ms Heaton said this is to be expected, because the number of wealthy investors around the world outweighs that in the UK alone.

"London Central is increasingly seen as a safe haven market which offers capital preservation with long-term upside potential," she added.

According to statistics from Savills, property values in the prime central London market went up by 14.1 per cent last year. This is nearly double the amount recorded in 2010, when values increased by 7.2 per cent.

Property values were boosted by a 1.1 per cent rise during the final three months of 2011.

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In today's globalised and connected world, it has become easier than ever to arrange an overseas money transfer to some exotic and far-flung destinations.

Similarly, the increased affordability of flying around the world has made these places far more accessible to consumers than they were in previous decades.

As a result, the world has become a much smaller place and people have become very willing to invest money in countries they would have probably overlooked years before. But with a global financial crisis impacting on consumer sentiment in many countries, the tide may be starting to turn.

According to mortgage specialist Conti, interest in purchasing overseas property remains particularly strong among people in the UK.

Indeed, director of the group Clare Nessling has said "plenty" of Britons are continuing to see what bargains are available in other countries so they can take advantage of them.

However, it seems the destinations they are looking at are becoming much less unusual than they were just a few years ago.

"The flurry of interest we saw in the far-flung emerging markets seems to have totally disintegrated," Ms Nessling commented.

"It's clear that investors are favouring the tried and trusted locations when it comes to overseas property."

Ms Nessling said second home buyers in Britain believe they could get better returns on their investment if they purchase a property in another country than they would at home.

Easy access to a destination was also flagged up as an important issue, along with opportunities to rent out their accommodation. She added that "security with price appreciation over the long term" is another determining factor to overseas property investors.

This comes shortly after Tim Morgan of Emerging Real Estate noted that Turkey has become one of the main investment hotspots in Europe among those who are looking to buy residential property.

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