With commercial property values spiraling downward, foreign investors are looking to inject capital into Manhattan’s premier buildings, but some experts say they’re too eager for their own good. There’s not enough product to go around, said columnist Lois Weiss, and foreigners are having trouble securing bids on properties, or even getting their calls returned. “Everyone shows up wanting to buy trophies on the cheap and thinks they’re going to steal the Empire State Building or the Chrysler Building,” said Will Silverman of Studley’s capital markets group. Nonetheless, many foreign investors are succeeding in their efforts, and benefiting from exchange rates to boot. Recently, Joseph Cayre partnered with Israeli IDB Associates in purchasing 452 Fifth Avenue from HSBC at $400 per foot, and another Israeli company, Gilmore and Optibase, is acquiring SL Green Realty’s 485 Lexington Avenue at $560 per foot. The Middle Eastern Safra family is in serious talks to buy a 49 percent interest in 299 Park Avenue from UBS, and the Italian Sorgente Group purchased a piece of the Flatiron Building this week. [Post, 1st item]
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TWEETS
- This week, @DouglasElliman dominates @trdny's "Top Residential Agents" list, scoring three of the top five spots. http://t.co/WuwFfoQI 10:26:54 PM May 25, 2012
- Here's some #NYC residential sales data before you head off to the #Hamptons via @trdny http://t.co/41pt08N4 08:54:27 PM May 25, 2012
- Marcia Gay Harden gets $2.8M for #Harlem townhouse listed by@cathytaub of @StriblingNYC http://t.co/pR718yY4 via @trdny 08:47:36 PM May 25, 2012
- Boymelgreen, Africa Israel settle with @AGSchneiderman over 20 Pine St. construction, but face new $20M suit http://t.co/wYyqrfBP via @trdny 08:16:42 PM May 25, 2012

