The past decade saw property investment go global, as tax-exempt investors gained comfort with investments outside their own borders. The number of U.S. investors who commit capital to Asian real estate is still relatively small, but interest in the region has steadily increased over the years.

Tax-Exempt Real Estate Investment, an annual survey of North American plan sponsors conducted by Institutional Real Estate, Inc. and Kingsley Associates, has tracked an increase in cross- border investment during the past few years, especially investment by U.S. plan sponsors into the Asia Pacific region. The 2010 survey — conducted during fourth quarter 2009 — found investors re-engaging in the region, after last year’s mild pullback from international investments.

Institutional investors’ foray into Asia began en mass