Diane Sobin

MI Summit 2013 - London: Global Real Estate: A Tiered Market

Fiona D'Silva, David Evans, Jonathan Goldstein, Anthony Myers, Francine Lacqua, Kelly Hampal, Diane Sobin

Following the successful refinancing of Heron Tower with Starwood, industry leaders from Heron International and Blackstone assessed a global real estate landscape defined by divergent recovery cycles across the U.S., Europe, and Asia. The panel highlighted a significant shift toward direct investment strategies and non-bank lending as capital migrates to distressed European markets, while simultaneously warning of residential bubbles in London driven by foreign cash flows and geopolitical instability. Experts concluded that despite tightening spreads in prime UK assets, the sector faces distinct risks regarding jurisdictional complexity in Southern Europe and the long-term sustainability of high-valued London real estate amid changing work patterns.