M&A surge expected in China's real estate sector

Market correction in China's real estate sector may lead to more opportunities for mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and asset purchases, said experts from Cushman & Wakefield, the world's largest privately held commercial real estate services company.

According to statistics from the Wind Info database, 73 M&As took place in China's real estate industry in the first half of 2014, with a total transaction volume of more than 15.2 billion yuan ($2.41 billion), 2.09 times as large as the total for the same time period last year.

In the second half of 2014, investment institutions and real estate enterprises with strong financial positions may engage in more M&As of high-quality property, said Ted Li, Director of Beijing Capital Markets at Cushman & Wakefield.

"Due to scarcity, office and commercial property in core submarkets will likely continue to be the prime choice for investment," said Li. "However, with the continuous improvement of transportation and other facilities, real estate in non-core submarkets, led by the Lize submarket, may offer long-term investment value in the future."