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- Balancing Foreign Investment with National Security Interests
- Taiwan Moves Up the FDI Ladder for Safe Investment Climate
- TRC Course Available in Five Languages
- Global Property Markets Grew, Strengthened in 2005
- Overseas Citizenship Program in India Is Opportunity for US Brokers
- International Real Estate Finance Yearbook
- Find or Be Found at ZoomInfo
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With a strong focus on national security, the U.S. policy on foreign direct investment (FDI) remains open and supportive of the free flow of capital across borders. Robert Kimmitt, U.S. deputy secretary of the Treasury, recently noted the inherent link between national security interests and a strong U.S. economy. A 2005 NAR research study reveled that inbound FDI increased 8.5% from 2003 to 2004 to $1.53 trillion, helping to keep mortgage interest rates low. In the first three quarters of 2005, FDI in the U.S. averaged an annual $118 billion. The latest data show that foreign companies operating in the U.S. employed more than 5.2 million Americans on higher-than-average wages. In addition, these companies have invested $30 billion in R&D, contributing to U.S. productivity gains. Monitoring national security against foreign investment is the job of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). CFIUS reviews acquisitions by foreign entities that present possible security concerns, e.g., the potential acquirer is government owned, controlled or financed. Only a small percentage of transactions call for review. Foreign investors contemplating transactions in the U.S. that may trigger a CFIUS review are encouraged to consult with the Treasury Dept. early on, minimizing delays that could impact the transaction. Read Robert's Kimmitt's full remarks, published in the Jan. 27 Financial Times.
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Taiwan has tied with Norway as the world's fifth-best country for safe foreign investments according to the U.S.-based Business Environment Risk Intelligence (BERI) market research company. Taiwan scored 72 points in BERI's 2005 investment climate risk evaluation survey, tieing with Norway at the fifth ranking in the world rating. REALTORS® with clients interested in Taiwan can download for free a 216-pg. report "Investing in Taiwan." The real estate analysis portion of report was compiled by DTZ. The Invest in Taiwan website offers a wide range of news and information, including an investor's FAQ. Leading the BERI survey was Switzerland, Singapore, Japan and Holland, all rated in the low-risk 1A category, which is highly recommended by BERI for foreign investors. BERI sells its in-depth country reports. For a lower-priced (based on data requested), International Country Risk Guide, go to CountryData.com, a service of the PRS Group.
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The new Transnational Referral Certification online training course is now available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and French. REALTORS® for whom English is a second language may now be trained in their native language on how to effectively do cross-border referrals, using the system provided by the International Consortium of Real Estate Associations (ICREA). As a member of ICREA, NAR makes this certification available to an U.S. REALTOR® for a one-time cost of $99. There is no annual fee or recertification requirement, and in the U.S., only REALTORS® can earn the TRC certification. Those successfully completing the course are included in an online database at WorldProperties.com where industry professionals and consumers from around the world can locate them. Learn more about the TRC, or register for the online course.
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Commercial property markets throughout the world continued to expand and strengthen in 2005, according to NAI Global (a network of independently owned commercial real estate brokerage firms), which has released its 2006 Global Market Report. The annual report features information on 208 international markets, including major markets and key secondary and tertiary markets in 40 nations. The report provides market highlights, trends, demographic and business profiles, rental rates, vacancy rates and land prices. The full report can be ordered for $695 per copy. While a significant investment, firms serving clients that include corporate facility managers and planners, developers and investors, may find it a good investment. Others can read an NAI press release which provides brief summaries of key world regions and select U.S. cities.
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In January, India's government launched an overseas citizenship program for Indians who emigrated after 1950--impacting 25 million people of Indian origin, many who left in search of jobs and education and became citizens of their adopted countries. The program is designed to encourage their investment in India, which is easier as citizens. It grants emigrants lifelong multiple entry visas, and also allows them to purchase and own land, homes, and buildings in India. Therein lies the opportunity for U.S. REALTORS®. There are 1 million ethnic Indias living in the U.S. (third largest population outside India, and the third largest U.S. immigrant group). The amount of cash sent back to India from the U.S. in 2005 was estimated at $20 billion, up from $13 billion in 2001. With the new program, this is likely to increase in 2006. REALTORS® working in areas with ethnic Indian communities may want to establish ties with members of the India Institute of Real Estate (NAR's alliance in India), and organize referral agreements to assist Indians in the U.S. looking to invest in their native land. Read more about the U.S. Indian population, or read additional details on the Overseas Citizenship program.
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The real estate investment market is increasingly global with more Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) investing cross border. Those assisting clients with REIT investments must be well-informed. The International Real Estate Finance Yearbook 2005/06 provides discussion and analysis of the global real estate finance market, written by leading experts from investment banks, law firms and consultants. It is published annually by Research and Markets, an international market research and data source. The company offers a free e-mail "New Arrivals" notification service, providing timely information on new reports and free summary research in 17 industry groups. The 2005/06 Yearbook sells for 140 euros (approx. US$168).
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Ever met someone at a conference and you remember their name, but not their company; or you know the company, but not their name. Perhaps you're looking for a specific "type" of professional. REALTORS® make hundreds of contacts each year, but it can be hard to manage them all. ZoomInfo can help. ZoomInfo is a summarization search engine, delivering information on over 27 million business professionals and two million companies. Although global in nature, results on sample searches were all English-language sites. The free-access part of ZoomInfo lets you get information about people in four main categories: employment history; board memberships; education; and certificates, awards and other qualifications. You can also add yourself to this site to be found. Subscribers can search available data tailored to their needs. For instance, if you're looking to find a senior marketing executive at a real estate firm in the New York region, who holds an MBA, the database will find people who fit those parameters. More focused than Google, the author of this newsletter had 31,000 entries at Google (many not business related or a name mis-match), but had only two at ZoomInfo., both very business-specific.
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Report compiled by NAR International Operations, narglobe@realtors.org.
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Intl. Web Site of the Month
Illinois Association of REALTORS®
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Upcoming Intl. Events
 | Panama Spectacular 2006 / March 13-17 / Playa Bonita, Panama |
| MIPIM Commercial Property Mktg. Show / March 14-17 / Cannes, France |
| SIMA2006 - Second Home Show / April 4-8 / Madrid, Spain |
| 2006 International Business Conference / April 27-28 / Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA |
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Featured CIPS Course
Spring comes early in California, site of an upcoming International Real Estate for Local Markets and CIPS Institute (Europe, Asia/Pacific, Middle East/Africa, Americas, and Finance), March 24-31, 2006, Newport Beach, CA / Sponsor: CIPS of California
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NAR Global Partners:
Learn more about our northern neighbors at the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA)general annual meeting, March 25 in Ottawa, Ontario. NAR President Tom Stevens will address the general meeting.
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