The latest poll findings by CBRE in its Asia Pacific Investor Intentions Survey 2015 show that investor sentiment is expected to remain strong this year, even though it has moderated compared with 2014. About 54% of those surveyed have indicated that they are planning to make more real-estate purchases. Most respondents demonstrated a significantly stronger appetite for prime core assets (43%), with wealth preservation being the prime motivation. China and Australia remain the top investment destinations in the region, with other mature markets such as Hong Kong, Singapore, New Zealand and South Korea moving up the rankings. Emerging markets such as India and Indonesia saw weaker interest, owing to concerns about the pace of political and economic reforms.

The office sector retained its status as the most preferred segment, followed by the industrial and logistics sector. Singaporeans remain one of the top most active outbound investors, followed by the Chinese.

This article appeared in the City & Country of Issue 669 (Mar 23) of The Edge Singapore.