How Foreign Investment Is Faring In LA

Foreign investors are exercising caution these days. Though LA has long been known as a hub for foreign investment, lenders are leaning toward the conservative side.

Hoonie Kang with wife, Grace, and daughter, Ellie, in LA
Courtesy of Hoonie KangHoonie Kang with wife, Grace, and daughter, Ellie, in LA

"They are being more conservative with their underwriting assumptions, more selective on the types of properties they will lend on," Kearny Real Estate Co. partner Hoonie Kang said.

This has proven to be beneficial for Kearny Real Estate since lenders are more focused on the quality of sponsorship, according to Kang.

"We are proud of our reputation and track record," he said. "In our 24-year history, we have paid off all of our loans in full."

Given how late we are in the current cycle, Kang said Kearny is reviewing its investment philosophy, but this is mitigated to a large degree by how Kearny identifies potential acquisitions. The firm has never been a macro market buyer.

"We take a rifle shot approach to identify individual opportunities where the stars and the moons align," Kang said.

Hear from Kang and other expert panelists at the Bisnow Capital Markets and Foreign Investment event at 7:30 a.m. March 16 at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel in DTLA.

Continue reading this story with a free account

Log in or register
Sign up for more articles like this
Subscribe to Bisnow's Los Angeles Newsletters
Related Stories

TPG, ACORE Raise Billions For Opportunistic CRE Funds

Newmark Cuts Earnings Outlook Despite Record Third Quarter

Battered Mortgage REIT Suspends Dividend To Preserve Cash

Blackstone Mortgage Trust Reports Unexpected Q3 Net Loss

'Distress Is Finally Trading': Investors Chasing Big Discounts On Boston Office

Tyko Capital Sets New Record For Florida's Largest Construction Loan

Deutsche Bank's Asset Manager Needs To Sell To Meet Redemptions. Here's What It Owns

JLL's Q3 Revenue Surges Amid Strong Leasing, Capital Markets Activity

Fed's Pause Gives CRE Little Relief As Yields, Midterms Freeze Deals

Prologis To Develop 3.8M SF Industrial Park On Former Casino Site

Epicenter Landcorp Buys Culver City Flex Industrial Building For $11M

GID, StepStone Complete $985M Secondary Deal For Industrial Portfolio