Bricks and mortar and beyond: in a time of worldwide economic uncertainty, some investors are searching for safer options for their capital. Property has an inherently safe image and offers expanding and diversifying opportunities for investment. It is firmly on the agenda - Real Estate Investment - Industry Overview

Japan, Inc.,  May, 2003  by Gavin Blair

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Two further kinds of investment instruments available are Mortgage-Backed Securities (MBS) and Asset-Backed Securities (ABS). MBS are made up of loans to businesses or homebuyers, allowing smaller banks to lend mortgages to customers even if they don't have the assets to cover them. The principal and interest from the individual mortgages are then used to pay principal and interest on the MBS. An ABS is similar in nature but backed by non-property assets such as credit-cards, consumer finance loans or leases, et cetera.

Those wishing to increase their knowledge of real estate investment, including the investment vehicles briefly introduced above and many more, should be sure to attend the Fourth Annual Summit on Japanese Asset & Mortgage Securitization, to be held on May 13 and 14 at the Royal Park Hotel in Tokyo. Presented by the Information Management Network (IMN), it will be a high caliber event bringing together leading executives, researchers, investors, issuers and other market participants from their respective fields. Sponsors and speakers will represent international and Japanese law firms, banks, rating agencies, financial service companies and media organizations. Topics will include the ABS/MBS markets in the US, Europe, Japan and Asia, securitization and real estate in Japan, credit derivatives, hotel investment opportunities, CDO class investments, the rating of non-performing loans, REITS and commercial and residential mortgage securitization. These events have in recent years drawn around 500 participants, making them invaluable networking opportunities in addition to presenting sterling content. For further information, visit IMN's Web site (www.imn.org/a455/jim).

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