Colliers Report May Bolster Chinese Billionaire Couple's Soho Buyback Plan

While the housing market languishes, investment activity in commercial property continues to be red hot, with a $500-million deal for Standard Life’s real estate portfolio the latest on the horizon. By some definitions, this could make 2012 the best year ever for commercial property sales — a year in which the Bank of Nova Scotia sold its head office for a record-breaking $1.27-billion.

The Pragmatic Capitalist submits: There has been much chatter in recent week’s regarding China’s potential bubble economy.

Chinese property tycoon Zhang Xin is making a play for the historic General Motors building in New York, just as she's coming under scrutiny at home and makes at least one brazen call for China to embrace democracy.

Zaha Hadid's wild architecture became extremely popular in China two years ago after she designed the Guangzhou Opera House in the Guangdong Province.

Kevin Grewal submits: As the U.S. economy continues to show signs of improvement and corporate America is slowly starting to increase headcount, a ray of light may shine on the commercial real estate sector supporting the iShares Dow Jones U.S.

John Lounsbury submits:Bloomberg News today reports on 50% vacancy in Beijing commercial real estate. This is up from a 22% vacancy rate in the third quarter last year. From the article: