Real Estate Sector Attracts Investors to Indonesia’s Capital

China’s real estate market has been booming for quite some time, but new speculations are now pointing investors towards more southern regions.

A real estate forecast by PriceWaterhouseCooper and Urban Land Institute has revealed that Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta, will be the top place to purchase property in 2013, with the market surpassing even Hong Kong, Singapore and Sydney.

International investors have taken an interest in the region thanks to Indonesia’s remarkable economic turnaround over the past several years.

The survey says:

“Interest rates and inflation are under control, and while GDP is growing at around 6.5% annually, foreign direct investment is increasing at a much higher rate- 39% in the first half of this year. Driven by increased demand from foreigners and locals alike, office rents shot up 29% year-on-year in the third quarter, according to DTZ.”

The city’s growth and rising demand have bumped Jakarta up ten spots since its 2011 ranking. However, PwC warns that the market still has its risks. Inexpensive bank loans are a rarity, and it can be difficult to find a trustworthy partner. Disputed land may also pose a challenge.