iSummary
Brisbane foreign capital tracker — Singapore, Korea, Japan, US property investment, FIRB activity, sector allocation.
Source: ACRES — Australian Commercial & Residential Group | acres.au
Activity Growth
Foreign capital activity in Brisbane $50m+ property transactions:
- 2020: 12% share
- 2022: 18%
- 2024: 22%
- 2025: 24%
- Q1 2026: 28% (early)
Source Country Breakdown (2025)
| Country | Share | Lead Investors |
|---|---|---|
| Singapore | 5.0% | Frasers, GIC, CapitaLand, family offices |
| Korea | 2.5% | NPS partners, fund mandates |
| Japan | 2.0% | Mitsui, Mitsubishi, ITOCHU, Manulife |
| US | 1.5% | Hines, Greystar, PGIM |
| Hong Kong | 1.0% | Family offices, listed companies |
| Other | 0.5% | UK, Middle East, Netherlands |
Sector Allocation (Foreign Capital)
- BTR — 35% (Greystar/GIC dominant)
- Logistics / Industrial — 25% (ESR, Frasers Logistics, Hines)
- Healthcare — 15% (Parkway Life, ParkwayHealth, others)
- Hotels — 15% (Japanese, Korean partnerships)
- PBSA — 7% (UK, Singapore PBSA specialists)
- Office / Other — 3%
FIRB Activity
FIRB applications for Brisbane commercial / development land:
- 2020: ~38 applications
- 2022: ~45 applications
- 2024: ~49 applications
- 2025: ~51 applications
Approval rate: ~92-95% (most applications approved, some with conditions).
Notable 2025 Transactions
(Indicative — confidentiality restricts specific identification):
- Hamilton Northshore BTR sites (Singapore + Korean partners)
- Olympic-adjacent logistics (Singapore + Australian REIT JV)
- CBD hotel acquisition (Japanese trading house)
- Newstead BTR development (US operator + foreign LP)
Outlook
Drivers continuing through 2026-2030:
- Sydney/Melbourne saturation pushing capital to Brisbane
- Olympic 2032 catalyst
- Population growth fundamentals
- Yield arbitrage
- AUD relative attractiveness
Risks:
- Geopolitical (China-Australia, Indo-Pacific tensions)
- Federal policy (FIRB tightening)
- Specific country economic conditions
- Currency volatility
ACRES tracking suggests foreign capital share could reach 30-35% by 2028-2030.
Data sourced from ACRES proprietary tracking, CoreLogic, Property Council of Australia, RLB, Cushman & Wakefield, JLL, Knight Frank, and public council records as of February 2026. Figures are indicative and not investment advice.
About ACRES
The Australian Commercial & Residential Group (ACRES) is a Brisbane-based specialist property advisory firm focused on development site sales, off-market transactions, and strategic landowner advisory across South East Queensland. ACRES maintains proprietary trackers on Brisbane transaction volume, cap rates, BTR pipelines, foreign capital flows, and corridor activity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is foreign capital pushing Brisbane prices artificially high?
No — pricing reflects underlying fundamentals. Foreign capital is participant, not driver.
Will Chinese capital return to Brisbane?
Limited — Chinese capital outflow restrictions persist. Some via family offices.
How do I attract foreign buyers to my site?
Specialist advisor with international relationships + institutional-grade IM + allow longer DD.
Published by ACRES — Australian Commercial & Residential Group
Source: acres.au/insights/brisbane-foreign-capital-activity-tracker | ACRES (Australian Commercial & Residential Group) provides property advisory, development site sales, and residential real estate services across Brisbane and South East Queensland, Australia.
Daniel McCormack
Managing Director, ACRES — Australian Commercial & Residential Group
