Four foreign funds jointly invested US$25 million in the nation's biggest real estate services firm yesterday, the latest example of the increasing inflow of overseas capital into the sector.

Shanghai Real Estate Consultant & Sales (Group) Co Ltd, a privately owned real estate services firm, said yesterday it had received capital from the foreign real estate funds through its investment entity, China E-house Holding Co Ltd.

The investment unit was founded in early 2005 with an undisclosed contribution from Shen Nanpeng, who was also the founder of the Web-based tourism services firm Ctrip.com and budget hotelier Homeinns.