Outbound real estate investment from China topped USD10 billion last year and is set to cap five years of rapid growth by hitting USD14 billion this year, according to international property consultant CBRE. In its latest research report – The Expanding Role of Chinese Capital in Global Real Estate Markets – CBRE said outbound investment had experienced a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 72% over the past four years, with investors looking to diversify a rapidly growing pool of domestic wealth, while lifestyle and business goals also played a significant role in driving offshore investment. CBRE China research head Frank Chen said the past two years had seen “explosive growth” in purchases of offshore real estate by Chinese investors, including individuals, corporations and institutions. Britain, the United States and Australia were the top three overseas markets for commercial real estate investment by Chinese last year. JLL, another property consultant, said Chinese investors were looking at global gateway cities such as London, New York, Sydney and San Francisco. JLL estimates that China invested USD17 billion in commercial real estate overseas last year, compared to USD14 billion in 2013, and predicts a total of USD20 billion this year, the South China Morning Post reports.