Offshore buyers tipped $3 billion into Australian commercial property in the first half of 2016 and this amount could surge as big-ticket portfolio deals close in the second half. 
The $300 million-plus Australia Post portfolio and the $700m-plus MAC Property portfolio are among the big ticket items likely to trade and corporate activity could drive further sales.
Investment by offshore groups - accounting for 29 per cent of transactions during the period - was actually down on the record 41 per cent share in the first half of 2015, CBRE's head of research, Australia, Stephen McNabb, said. He said that Australia had performed favourably compared with global markets.
"While offshore capital inflows to Australia were down by 18 per cent in the first half relative to the same period last year, this compares favourably to what we've seen globally, with cross border investment having declined by about 30 per cent over the same period," Mr McNabb said.
CBRE executive managing director, capital markets, Mark Granter said one constraint on activity in the first half had been a lack of buying opportunities, particularly in Melbourne.
The firm had witnessed strong demand, particularly from offshore groups, when it marketed assets, with Bank of China swooping on a Sussex Street tower in Sydney and a Morgan Stanley fund joining with Charter Hall to buy the city's 1 Shelley Street.
Local buyers accounted for $7.8bn of deals in the half, just 4 per cent down on last year. Mr Granter added that second half sales activity would be bolstered by large, pending industrial deals and upcoming floats, supporting the appetite for real estate and good cash flows.
On the industrial front, Blackstone has snared a $640m portfolio of Goodman Group assets, while Sime Darby and Growthpoint is tying down deals on smaller offerings.In total, $10.5bn in office, retail and industrial property priced over $5m changed hands across Australia in the first half, an 8 per cent dip on the period last year.