WASHINGTON, DC-Move aside New York and London—Washington, DC is back! Well, at least back in terms of foreign investment in the area's commercial real estate industry. At the start of the year the Association of Foreign Investors of Real Estate found that Washington slipped in the rankings of global cities attracting foreign investment in their CRE sectors.

New statistics from Jones Lang LaSalle, though, suggest that the area has made up lost ground and then some with foreign investors in the months since. As JLL notes in a report to be released on Monday, "we just closed out the YTD sales numbers for the District and the numbers are quite astonishing with respect to interest from foreign capital. While the leasing markets remain in flux, core product in the city is drawing intense interest and pushing up pricing and down yields."

So far this year, foreign investment in the District of Columbia has increased to $1.9 billion, including portfolio and pending sales. This marks a year-over-year increase of 83.3 percent.

JLL also reports that single-asset acquisitions by foreign investors account for 75.4% of closed and pending sales activity in the District of Columbia, totaling $1.3 billion. "Comparably, 30% of buildings sold last year sold to foreign entities and historically since 2000, while foreign interest has always been strong for DC office product, only about 17% of buildings that sell, sell to foreign entities or partnerships….magnifying the 75% that much more."

The deals include the Alony Hetz and Norges transactions, which added $600 million alone to investment activity. Other properties coming into foreign ownership in 2013 include Washington Harbour (Korea), 1200 19th Street, NW (Kuwait), Commercial National Bank (German) and the Bond Building (Israel).

"Foreign investors definitely view DC as a safe haven market," Scott Homa, research director for JLL tells GlobeSt.com. "They recognize how durable DC is, especially its core assets."

The reasons for their interest in DC are just as durable, he adds. "The government business is not a highly cyclical one." Even despite the sequestration, the reduction in the government's real estate footprint and the general push for austerity, Homa says, "we are very optimistic about DC precisely because of its relationship to the government."

Fundamentals in the local markets support this optimism, JLL's Bill Prutting Jr., adds. "We are seeing trophy buildings command all time high rents and leasing trends are catching up to underwriting and sales."

Instant Insights /

Foreign Investment in DC's CRE Pops 83%

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