(MENAFNEditorial)
The Association of Foreign Investors in Real Estate (AFIRE) recently released their annual survey which ranks countries and major cities where foreign investors plan to place investments. For the second consecutive year the U.S. tops the list for foreign investment with 90 percent of respondents planning to either maintain or increase their current U.S. portfolios. The survey also showed that the U.S. was voted as the most stable and secure country for investment as well as offering the best opportunity for capital appreciation.
"With a stable and transparent market and an economy that appears to be steadily improving without the fits and starts experienced in other regions the U.S. has become the first stop for foreign real estate investors" said AFIRE Chairman Thomas Arnold.
Houston TX ranked third on a list of U.S. cities in which foreign investors are seeking to invest according to the AFIRE survey. The Greenspoint District located on Houston's north side also benefits greatly from foreign investment. Several foreign companies have already chosen to locate in the Greenspoint District including Schlumberger Hapag-Lloyd QuEST Global Services and Mazak. Additional investments are expected in the future.
The Greenspoint District also has developed strong relationships with officials in several foreign markets including the United Kingdom Japan Germany the Netherlands Switzerland China Brazil India Russia Israel and Turkey. District staff regularly participate in trade missions host international receptions and conduct meetings in the District offices as well as facilitate Greenspoint District tours.
The survey identified the top five emerging countries for foreign investment this year as: Brazil (last year ranked as No. 2) China (last year ranked as No. 1) Mexico (stayed steady at No. 3 for the second year in a row) Chile and finally Poland (both tied at No. 6 last year). AFIRE predicts that China will lead the world as the largest source of capital in U.S. projects by 2016.
"With the continued creation of wealth in China it is not surprising that they along with other nationalities are voting with their ‘dollars'" Arnold said.
When comparing property types for investment industrial space ranked second among investors' preferred property type and office as third. This is good news for the Greenspoint District which offers myriad industrial spaces for companies in the manufacturing industry as well as office spaces for companies in the logistics healthcare finance real estate insurance and headquarters industries.
The Greenspoint District has identified several key market sectors based on the strengths and opportunities the area has to offer. These sectors include: energy; logistics; health care; finance insurance and real estate; professional services; manufacturing; management; technology and headquarters.
Greenspoint is home to more than 100 energy-related companies included ExxonMobil Shell Schlumberger Halliburton and Baker Hughes. QuEST Global a world-wide engineering services provider recently opened a new 8500 square foot engineering center to meet the rising demands for engineering services in the oil and gas industry.
The Greenspoint District's convenient location with easy access to multiple transportation corridors lends itself to being a perfect location for companies in the logistics industry. Within a one-day drive time Greenspoint businesses can connect with more than 60 million people in the mid-south United States and northeastern states of Mexico. Hapag-Lloyd Ceva DHL Moran and GAC are just a few companies who use a Greenspoint District location as an easy access point for moving product around the world.
The area is picking up momentum in the health care sector as availability and convenience become deciding factors for health care site selection. In August 2013 Texas Children's Health Plan opened its largest clinic outside of the Medical Center with the Texas Children's Health Plan's The Center for Children and Women at Greenspoint. UT Physicians also will be opening a new clinic in the area in the coming months. Other healthcare-related companies that call Greenspoint home are HealthHelp Pinnacle and Epic Medstaff.
Greenspoint District also has seen an increase in the number of food distribution companies locating here again citing the area's location and proximity to major thoroughfares as a main advantage. Sysco Food Services is the anchor tenant at Pinto Business Park with a 600000-square-foot office and distribution center. In addition Houston's third largest employer Grocers Supply is currently constructing a 1.2 million-square-foot facility at Pinto. They plan to consolidate some operations including their produce warehouse meat facility and banana warehouse. The company also will eventually relocate their headquarters to the new facility.
The Greenspoint District sits at the crossroads of the region's fiber optic infrastructure making it an ideal location for technology companies. Last April Data Foundry broke ground on a new 350000-square-foot data center in Greenspoint. Houston 2 data center will be a purpose-built data center fit with 60 megawatts of power capability. Technology and professional companies such as Jones & Carter Fibertown Level 3 and Aster also benefit from a Greenspoint location.
The District also is home to several companies in the finance insurance and real estate sectors including CitiFinancial CIBC World Markets and Hartford Lloyd's.
Read the full Texas Business Report (From the March/April 2015 issue) at: http://businessfacilities.com/2015/04/8-things-that-make-texas-an-economic-development-champion/
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