LOS ANGELES—Chinese insurers are the newest players in the United States real estate market, according to Michael Van Konynenburg, president of Eastdil Secured. Van Konynenburg gave the economic update at Allen Matkins' recent View from the Top conference in Beverly Hills.

Van Konynenburg used a chart to rank the activity of Chinese insurers, showing China Life, Ping An Life, CPIC and Anabang Life as the biggest players, but there is a long list of smaller insurers starting to play in the market as well. “The scale is significant. They are going to be an enormous player in U.S. market,” he said in his speech. Manhattan is currently the largest recipient of Chinese capital, while Los Angeles is number two.

Global search for yield

The Chinese insurers are the latest investment pool to arrive in the U.S. as part of the global search for yield because U.S. is still a relative value compared to other countries, although Van Konynenburg noted that Germany is also attracting foreign capital. “There is a global search for yield,” he explained. “We are trying to understand the impact of negative rates. It puts strain on the bank, and seriously impacts global pension fund returns. You are seeing demand for people to find ways to put money to work to get a return. This is a world that is very challenged for returns.”

As a result, Asian investors are not only focused on commercial real estate investments but are also investing in corporate bonds. Van Konynenburg said that investors are trying to decide if it is the time to own real assets or financial assets in the global hunt for yield. While investors have different opinions, Japanese and Chinese buyers are buying corporate bonds in addition to real estate assets.