Category: Foreign Investment & CRE

Florida Proposes Positive Clarification to Law Impacting Foreign Investments in Real Estate

Posted on by Scott Sherwood

Yesterday, the Florida Department of Commerce proposed a positive clarification to a recently enacted law impacting foreign real estate investment, with implications for similar laws in several other states. The clarification responds to a Roundtable request on Sept. 5 urging the Florida Real Estate Commission to consider specific concerns before implementing the new state law, which could impair capital formation and hinder the important role that legitimate foreign investment plays in U.S. real estate, the broader economy and job growth. (Roundtable letter, Sept. 5 and Roundtable Weekly, Sept. 8)

Section 203

  • The proposed rule published on Sept. 21 addresses the implementation of Florida Senate Bill 264 (SB 264), Section 203, signed into law on May 8. The new law aims to limit and regulate the sale and purchase of certain Florida real property by “foreign principals” from “foreign countries of concern.” The Florida Real Estate Commission will implement the new law. (SB 264 text).
  • Section 203 of the bill prohibits investment in real property near military installations and critical infrastructure.  Importantly, the de minimis exemption has been re-drafted, which (1) fixes earlier drafting errors to the Registered Investment Advisor exemption, and (2) introduces a new category of de minimis interests that categorically exempts passive indirect investment. (See highlighted areas in the Notice of Proposed Rule)
  • The proposed rule clarification remains subject to change during a 21-day public comment period and may include a formal hearing.

Section 204

  • Broader prohibitions in another area of SB 264—Section 204—generally preclude Chinese investors from acquiring “any interest” in any Florida real property anywhere in the state. Since the de minimis language and relevant statutory text are almost identical across Sections 203 and 204, The Roundtable is hopeful that similar language will be adopted during the rulemaking process for Section 204. 
  • The Sept. 5 letter from Roundtable President and CEO Jeffrey DeBoer, above, notes that approximately $1.5 trillion of U.S. commercial real estate debt will come due in the next three years. Foreign equity investments in U.S. assets are often an important source of capital as commercial real estate owners seek to restructure, refinance or sell their properties.

DeBoer urged the Commission to “carefully consider the impact of your agency’s interpretation and implementation efforts of this new law so that it does not prohibit major investments in the state, which are safe from control by foreign countries of concern and promote growth without sacrificing the security or economic interests of Florida.” (Roundtable letter, Sept. 5)

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Roundtable Urges Clarifications to Florida Law Restricting Certain Foreign Investments in Real Estate

Posted on by Scott Sherwood

On Sept. 5, The Real Estate Roundtable urged the Florida Real Estate Commission to clarify their implementation of a recently enacted law that could have negative consequences for foreign real estate investment in the state. Twenty states have enacted restrictions on foreign investors in real estate or agricultural land, eight states are considering similar measures, and other states are exploring the issue. (Roundtable letter)

Restrictions on Foreign Investment

  • Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law Florida Senate Bill 264 (SB 264) on May 8. The new law aims to limit and regulate the sale and purchase of certain Florida real property by[SS4]  “foreign principals” from “foreign countries of concern.” The Florida Real Estate Commission will implement the new law. (SB 264 text).
  • Foreign investment is a major source of capital funding for U.S. commercial real estate projects, leading to job creation and economic growth for communities nationwide. Real estate is a critical element of Florida’s economy, and the state is one of the most popular states for foreign investment. Property taxes contribute over 18% of Florida’s overall tax revenue.
  • The letter from Roundtable President and CEO Jeffrey DeBoer notes that approximately $1.5 trillion of U.S. commercial real estate debt will come due in the next three years. Foreign equity investments in U.S. assets are often an important source of capital as commercial real estate owners seek to restructure, refinance or sell their properties.

Roundtable Concerns

  • The Roundtable’s letter supports efforts to protect the nation’s economic, military, and civil security, as well as the integrity of commercial real estate investments. The letter also reflects Roundtable members’ concerns that the new law may have a chilling effect on foreign investment in Florida real property, hinder foreign investment in U.S. real estate by legitimate enterprises, and act as a barrier to capital formation by law-abiding entities.
  • The comments detail how SB 264 expands the scope of the law beyond its publicly stated intent, which could have negative repercussions for Florida real estate markets and capital formation. (Roundtable letter)
  • The Roundtable letter includes a request to clarify the definition of a “controlling interest” that impacts exceptions to the law based on an investor’s meaningful ownership or influence. (SB 264 text).
  • The letter also requests the Florida Commission to “carefully consider the impact of your agency’s interpretation and implementation efforts of this new law so that it does not prohibit major investments in the state, which are safe from control by foreign countries of concern and promote growth without sacrificing the security or economic interests of Florida.”

The Roundtable continues to raise concerns about measures that may impair capital formation and supports the important role that legitimate foreign investment plays in U.S. real estate, the broader economy and job growth.

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Global Investors in US CRE Report Positive Outlook, Growing Influence of ESG

Posted on by Trey Jackson

AFIRE 2022 investments graphic

Global investors plan to increase net investment this year in US commercial real estate, with a focus on multifamily, life science and industrial assets, according to the Association for International Real Estate Investors’ (AFIRE) 2022 Annual International Investor Survey Report. 

Positive Outlook 

  • AFIRE CEO Gunnar Branson said, “With the 2022 AFIRE International Investor Survey Report, we now have a clearer picture on the longer-term impact of the pandemic on real estate investment, with altered cultural attitudes and sustained strength in investment in secondary and tertiary US cities—led by Austin, Atlanta, Boston and Dallas.” 
  • The survey’s topline findings include:
     
    • Seventy-five percent of respondents expect their volume of investment activity and revenue growth to increase over the coming year.

    • Eighty-one percent of surveyed investors agree that the pandemic has now permanently altered cultural attitudes towards US consumption and live-work preferences.

    • Environmental change, housing, and market affordability are top social concerns for investors.

    • Austin, Atlanta, Boston, and Dallas rank top US cities for planned investment this year.

    • London is the only non-US city among the top five for global investment in 2022, followed by New York and Seattle. 

Market Sectors & ESG Influence 

AFIRE graphic on ESG

  • The AFIRE report shows 90% of survey respondents plan to increase investment in multifamily over the next three to five years, followed by life sciences (77%) and industrial (7 %).
  • The growing influence of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) criteria is also clear, with survey respondents reporting:

    • Carbon footprint reduction measures (90%) and actionable climate change strategies (89%) are rated as the most important ESG priorities for US real estate investments in the near future.

    • Diversity (74%) and talent attraction/ development (75%) follow environmental factors among ESG trends.

    • Almost nine in ten respondents recognize the future financial benefit of taking action now on ESG. Notably, more than half of respondents (55%) agree that they would accept a lower than-expected rate of return if it meant realizing other social or environmental benefits. 

The annual survey responses were collected in February from the AFIRE membership—which represents nearly 175 organizations from 23 countries, with approximately US$3 trillion assets under management—and the global institutional investor community.

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