Core Viewpoint - Overseas capital investment in Japanese real estate, particularly office buildings, has surged, reaching a record high of over 1 trillion yen in the first half of 2025, doubling the amount from the same period last year, driven by expectations of inflation and rising rents [2][6]. Group 1: Investment Trends - In the first half of 2025, the acquisition amount for office buildings reached over 1 trillion yen, marking a historical peak [2]. - Notable transactions include Blackstone's acquisition of "Tokyo Garden Terrace Kioicho" for approximately 400 billion yen, the largest foreign investment in Japanese real estate to date [4]. - Gaw Capital Partners purchased "Tokyu Plaza Ginza" for about 150 billion yen, indicating continued interest in high-value assets [4]. Group 2: Market Conditions - The consumer price index (CPI) in July showed a 3.1% increase year-on-year, maintaining above 3% for eight consecutive months, which is expected to exert upward pressure on real estate rents [6]. - The yield gap for office buildings in central Tokyo is estimated at 1.9%, higher than New York (1.7%) and London (1.2%), making Japanese real estate attractive globally [6]. Group 3: Corporate Actions - Companies are increasingly selling off real estate assets to enhance asset efficiency, with active shareholder proposals for real estate sales on the rise [6]. - Nissan is considering selling its Yokohama headquarters, with expected proceeds close to 100 billion yen, as part of a strategy to raise funds for future investments [7]. - Sapporo Holdings has decided to divest its real estate business, including prime properties in central Tokyo, attracting market attention [7]. Group 4: Future Outlook - The trend of high levels of overseas investment is likely to continue, supporting stable real estate prices in the short term [7]. - The average listing price for second-hand homes in Tokyo reached a record high of 10.477 million yen in July, reflecting a 1.4% month-on-month increase [7].

Group 1 - The core point of the article is that the EU housing market is experiencing significant price increases, with a year-on-year rise of 5.7% in house prices and a 3.2% increase in rental prices compared to the same period in 2024 [1] Group 2 - In the first quarter of 2025, the EU's house prices showed a notable increase, indicating a robust demand in the housing sector [1] - Rental prices have also seen a rise, reflecting ongoing trends in the real estate market [1]