Hong Kong is the most expensive office market in the world.

According to CBRE, Hong Kong's central district remains the world's most expensive office market, surpassing London and Beijing. doha property finder

In central Hong Kong, the average annual occupancy cost for office space is US$235.23 per square foot, compared to $222.58 in London's West End and $195.07 in Beijing's Finance Street. Hong Kong had topped CBRE's semi-annual report for the third time in a row.

"Hong Kong Central's reputation as a leading global financial center continues to bolster its position as the most expensive office market," according to CBRE. "While financial institutions have become more cost-conscious, with some considering relocating to less expensive space outside the CBD, high-quality and premium space is still in demand, especially by mainland Chinese firms setting up offices in prestigious buildings in Hong Kong (Central)."

The other districts in the top five were Beijing's Jianguomen CBD and New Delhi's Connaught Place CBD. For the first time since early 2012, New York's Midtown Manhattan has re-entered the top ten markets, taking the tenth spot.

Jakarta has the highest percentage rise, with prices increasing 38.9% in the last year, followed by suburban Houston (21.2%), downtown Boston (15.4%), and downtown Houston (14.4%). (14.9 percent).

"While global occupancy cost growth has slowed, a scarcity of prime space in key core business centers has fuelled continuous upward movement in occupancy costs," said CBRE's global chief economist, Dr. Raymond Torto. "The most expensive office markets often attract regional headquarters of large multinational firms that need a prime location in a prestigious building with connections to major global and regional transit routes," says the study.

Asia-Pacific has 21 of the 50 most expensive markets, EMEA has 18, and the Americas has 11.

South Korea is acquiring foreign real estate.

According to a new study from Jones Lang LaSalle, international commercial real estate investment in South Korea increased 900 percent in the first quarter of 2013 compared to the same period last year.

According to the consultancy, South Koreans have invested $5 billion in foreign commercial properties, with another $2 billion in buildings currently on the market. In the first half of 2012, international property investments totaled $500 million.

The Korean investments included a shopping center in Australia and an office building in Chicago, and they were spread through major global property markets.

Until this year, foreign investment in South Korea had remained relatively stable for the previous five years.

According to Alistair Meadows, head of JLL's International Capital Group, Asia Pacific, "this spike in 2013 is attributed to massive capital inflows into funds and a small domestic market." "Recent economic and political uncertainties in the world have added to the appeal of cross-border investment, as tensions with North Korea and a major shift in Japanese monetary policy lead to 'capital flight.'"

According to JLL, South Korean investment volume exceeded conventional investors such as Canada, Singapore, and Norway in the first quarter. The increase reflects a change in investment trends, with more investors emphasizing joint ventures.

"This is especially common in South Korea, where institutions usually pool their capital to create larger pools of capital that are then controlled by a single asset manager," according to JLL.

The trend in Korea investments is expected to continue, according to JLL.

"While such a rapid rise in [Korea foreign investments] over such a short period of time is unprecedented, we don't expect this trend to slow down because local market conditions will continue to make international acquisitions an appealing choice for South Korean investors," said David Green-Morgan, JLL's director of global capital markets research. "Over the next five years, the big question will be which markets they seek."

The majority of South Korea's previous offshore investments were in corporate property worth $1 billion to $2 billion. According to JLL, the $1.2 billion purchase of the HSBC tower in London and the $620 million purchase of Aurora Place in Sydney signal the emergence of South Koreans as serious large-scale foreign investors.

South Korea's foreign investments could hit $10 billion by the end of the year, according to the company.