Canberra commercial real estate agents have, until recently, associated US-based General Electric with fat cheque books.

Since it entered the ACT market in 2003, when it bought the Defence Department-leased Campbell Park Offices for $90 million, GE Real Estate has snapped up a local property portfolio estimated at $220 million in the past five years, including nine properties last year from Canberra family property investors Liangis Investments for $81 million.

However, sources have confirmed the global financial crisis has forced the multinational to list its holdings for public and private sale, starting with Campbell Park.

A private Queensland trust is understood to be in the initial stages of negotiations for offices, which house more than 2000 Defence workers.

Dickson Chambers, a prime site in the Dickson shopping precinct, which GE acquired in the Liangis deal a year ago, will be put on public sale, while Juliana House near Woden Plaza is being offered off-market.

The Defence Department confirmed that BT had been marketing the site ''for quite some time''.

However, if the site was sold, none of its occupants would face eviction.

''Defence is aware that General Electric has been marketing the buildings for quite some time,'' the department said.

''Defence has a lease in place over the facilities until 2022 with an option for a further five years. The lease is a complex document which stipulates the responsibilities of both the lessor and lessee. The lessor is not restricted from selling the buildings.''

Calls to GE Real Estate were not returned this week.

Leading Canberra commercial property agents expect more sites will be offered for sale from various big business portfolios in the coming months.

Colliers International executive Paul Powderly said institutional clients were mobilising to turn assets into liquid funds which could translate into a boost for Canberra property development.

''The global financial crisis has raised serious liquidity issues and we are seeing these big companies moving to rebalance their portfolios by getting rid of assets,'' he said. ''But for private developers in Canberra this can be an ideal situation. The institutions are having to offer attractive terms and incentives and there is plenty of money within these private groups, despite the downturn. The vendors must meet the market a buyer's market.''

Mr Powderly pointed to strong sales within QE2 development in Civic, the Doma Group's Hotel Realm complex and the Molonglo Group's New Acton precinct as evidence the economic downturn had yet to hit development in Canberra.

''Because the yields are more attractive, the privates are doing great buying,'' he said. ''Recently, 24 units within the Realm site were sold within 10 days. There are buyers out there and good deals. Although we will see a continual slow down Canberra is unique in that we have a strong public sector, unemployment under 3 per cent, we are more insulated than most other parts of Australia.

Canberra property developers Molonglo Group have taken advantage of a buyer's market and bought Actew House for $17.5 million, considered by most a bargain.

A spokesman for the developers, who recently completed the upmarket ''lifestyle'' development New Acton, said they were happy with the sale.

''We definitely see a redevelopment opportunity and are very pleased with the price,'' he said. ''Actew had to match the market and it was a good opportunity for us.''