How to buy a share of your office
International Property Securities Exchange will enable owners of individual commercial properties to float their buildings on a regulated market.
It may soon be possible to buy shares in your own office. International Property Securities Exchange (IPSX) will enable owners of individual commercial properties to float their buildings on a regulated market, in much the same way that other exchanges do at the moment for equity or debt, says Tom Knowles in The Daily Telegraph.
Those listing their properties on the exchange will be property owners whose buildings have a market value of more than £30m. As with a listed company, the building will need to have a board of directors, and all the associated management in place. IPSX's exchange is designed to allow property owners to unlock equity in what is a fairly illiquid asset, while retaining control of the building.
Both institutional and retail investors will be able to buy shares in listed buildings, and there will be no minimum investment. IPSX also plans to offer a second venue allowing the trading of offshore real-estate investment trusts.
Subscribe to MoneyWeek
Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE

Sign up to Money Morning
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
The London-based company recently won the financial backing of commercial property investment specialists Tritax, following on from an investment by British Land in July of this year. The exchange will be "a welcome and timely innovation in the industry", says Mark Shaw, chairman of Tritax.
It sounds like an interesting idea particularly given the recent problems experienced by investors trapped in open-ended commercial property funds but it remains to be seen how securitising the buildings will work in practice. We'll be keeping an eye on trading costs and liquidity in particular. IPSX is applying for fully regulated exchange status and hopes to open for trading early next year.
Sign up for MoneyWeek's newsletters
Get the latest financial news, insights and expert analysis from our award-winning MoneyWeek team, to help you understand what really matters when it comes to your finances.
Sarah is MoneyWeek's investment editor. She graduated from the University of Southampton with a BA in English and History, before going on to complete a graduate diploma in law at the College of Law in Guildford. She joined MoneyWeek in 2014 and writes on funds, personal finance, pensions and property.
-
New Chase bonus deal takes savings rate to 4.75% – is it worth it?
Chase’s latest savings deal propels it into second place in the best-buy tables, but there are some pitfalls to look out for
By Katie Williams Published
-
Review: Trasierra – a yoga retreat in the Spanish hills
Flora Connell joins a yoga retreat at Trasierra, in the Sierra Morena mountains north of Seville
By Flora Connell Published