AGP Executive Report

Middle East Investment: Emaar has unveiled plans for $16 billion in Syrian property investment, while UAE officials say infrastructure and economic integration are drawing international capital. Data Centre Development: Australia’s Stockland and EdgeConneX plan hyperscale campuses in Sydney and Melbourne, expanding the property group’s reach into digital infrastructure. Housing Resilience: The UN is urging investment in disaster-resistant homes, citing $228 billion in annual housing damage worldwide. Housing Affordability: Protests over high costs and mass tourism are adding pressure on Spain’s government to address its housing crisis. Cross-Border Capital: Foreign investment in Romanian real estate has reached €22.1 billion, while Cyprus has brought property under a new screening framework for foreign investments.

London Housing: Aldar-owned London Square plans 9,000 homes across 30 sites over five years, including 3,575 affordable homes and 1,538 rentals. A Conservative mayoral hopeful has separately proposed subsidised homes for London’s key workers. India Investment: Norwest is putting Rs 300 crore into Mumbai developer Sila, which plans new residential and commercial projects. Blackstone is also targeting $100 billion in India investments by 2030. US Development: Toll Brothers and Brookfield Residential are preparing a lakeside community of homes and townhouses near Seattle, with sales expected to start in 2027. Global Property Capital: Foreign investment in Romanian real estate has reached €22.1 billion, while a JLL report finds transaction volumes rose 64% in highly transparent markets. Climate Risk: Natural disasters cause an estimated $228 billion in housing damage worldwide each year, underscoring the growing cost of building resilience.

Foreign-Buyer Rules: The Canary Islands has asked Spain and the EU to allow temporary limits on home purchases by foreign non-residents to ease housing pressure. The proposal is not yet in force and would be paired with efforts to expand affordable housing. Dubai’s Building Boom: Sheikh Mohammed says AED2.1 trillion ($572 billion) in projects are under way, including AED1.1 trillion for real estate through 2030. India Investment: Blackstone plans to double its India investment to $100 billion within five years; the country’s office market also recorded 42.9 million square feet of absorption. Seoul Housing: The city plans to break ground on 16,000 redevelopment homes by year-end. Property Finance: AirTrunk has postponed its planned Singapore listing amid rising rates, renewing questions about funding for data-centre expansion. Australian Policy: Labor has reduced the land-tax burden on foreign investors in a bid to encourage housing investment.

Dubai Development: Sheikh Mohammed says nearly Dh2.1 trillion in projects are underway across housing, transport, aviation and infrastructure, as leaders map the emirate’s next growth phase. Nairobi Skyline: A 27-storey mixed-use tower with 396 homes and retail and office space is planned for Kibra, adding to the capital’s high-rise development. Caribbean Branded Homes: Nikki Beach Resort & Spa Antigua has started piling work on a $400 million-plus project with 134 branded residences and 82 hotel rooms; opening is expected in 2030. CRE Finance: BlackRock-related trust plans $1.1 billion in commercial mortgage-backed bonds secured by loans on 21 properties, including multifamily, industrial and hotel assets. Rates and Housing: Fed Governor Christopher Waller says rising U.S. Treasury yields are cooling demand in interest-sensitive sectors, including housing, as financial conditions tighten.

Foreign Investment: Real estate drew €22.1 billion in direct foreign investment in Romania by the end of 2025, accounting for 16.4% of the total and ranking second among sectors. India Market: Kolte-Patil reported record quarterly sales bookings of ₹1,019 crore, up 52% year over year, even as it noted softer near-term demand across the broader market. Cross-Border Capital: Greece plans to quintuple its purchase tax for foreign property buyers, while Aditya Birla Sun Life AMC and BGO are targeting a $1 billion real estate portfolio. Housing Pressure: US home sales under contract fell to a 12-year low, and rising housing costs are forcing households to cut spending on essentials.

Foreign-Buyer Rules: Greece plans to raise the property purchase tax for buyers from outside the EU from 3% to 15% in July 2027, a move that could cool foreign investment. Dubai, by contrast, allows retirees aged 55 and over to qualify for a visa through property ownership worth at least AED1 million. Housing Pressure: Housing costs remain a flashpoint, with protests in Spain and Lagos’s housing shortfall reported at 3.3 million homes. Nigeria’s federal and state officials are calling for lower mortgage rates and longer repayment periods to improve access. Market Signals: The Philippine property slump is expected to extend into 2027, while private-equity investment in Indian real estate rose 23% to $2.7 billion in the first half of 2026. India’s branded-residences market is also forecast to expand sharply, driven by urban demand.

Johor Investment: Malaysia’s new 5% tax rate for eligible Global Services Hub companies is expected to boost the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone’s appeal to regional businesses. Johor property prices are already up 7–9%, though investors still face a key risk. India’s Real Estate Capital: Bajaj Alts has raised ₹950 crore for its first commercial office fund, targeting ₹2,000 crore to develop Grade A assets with local partners. Brigade Enterprises expects FY27 pre-sales to climb 21% to ₹9,000 crore, supported by housing demand and new launches. Housing Market Risks: Cyprus faces a possible oversupply of homes aimed at foreign buyers in 2027–28, even as local residents struggle to afford housing. Sri Lanka’s central bank also flagged rising property prices alongside rapid credit growth and mounting household debt. Australia’s Supply Challenge: Housing Australia’s chief says more homes will require better alignment of planning, infrastructure and finance. International investors want clearer policy, project pipelines and risk management before committing more capital.

Jordan’s Foreign Buyers: Iraqis led overseas property investment, buying 416 homes worth about $100 million in the first nine months of 2026. Total foreign purchase values rose 17%, even as the number of properties bought slipped 1%. Abu Dhabi Logistics: JD.com’s property arm is partnering with KEZAD on a 150,000-square-metre logistics facility, due in 2028, reinforcing the emirate’s role as a regional trade hub. Mortgage Rates: US home loans are near 7.5%, with 8% rates now in view. Buyers are pulling back as rising bond yields threaten to deepen the housing slowdown. India Investment: Institutional real estate investment reached $5.9 billion in January–September, up 39% year over year, with data centres and offices drawing capital. Foreign Ownership Scrutiny: Thai police raided four Bangkok luxury estates in an alleged 6-billion-baht nominee network and arrested 11 foreign suspects. Housing Affordability: Spain’s housing crisis is intensifying, with protests over rising costs shaping the campaign ahead of a snap election.

Bangkok Property Crackdown: Thai police arrested 11 foreign suspects in raids on luxury estates, alleging 95 companies used Thai nominees to control 94 homes and plots worth more than 6 billion baht. Riyadh Investment: Global investors and developers are heading to the first Mipim Middle East, set for Oct. 20–21, as Saudi Arabia courts capital for major urban projects. Data Centre Debate: Google’s planned $15 billion facility in India has sparked local opposition over land loss and pressure on water and power supplies. Housing Pressure: Spain’s housing shortage is shaping an early election campaign, while India’s private-equity investment in real estate rose 23% to $2.7 billion in the first half. Temporary Housing: COP32 organisers are considering unfinished apartments in three Ethiopian cities as short-term accommodation for conference delegates.

Housing Affordability: Sydney buyers now need a pre-tax income near A$250,000 to afford a median house, up almost A$11,000 from last year, despite falling prices. Spain’s Housing Crisis: Housing protests are shaping the country’s snap election campaign, with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez pledging stronger tenant protections if his party wins. Property Oversight: Thai police raided four luxury housing estates in an investigation into an alleged 6-billion-baht foreign nominee network. Investment: Private-equity flows into Indian real estate rose 23% year on year to $2.7 billion in the first half of FY27, with domestic investors accounting for 48% of the total. Commercial Property: Net office leasing across India’s eight largest cities fell 20% in January–September, with supply constraints cited as a factor.

Investment: Domestic investors lifted Indian real estate inflows to $5.9 billion, with data centres and offices drawing private equity. But developers warn that project viability is under unprecedented pressure. Housing Affordability: India’s property boom is squeezing affordable homes, while Uganda’s 2.48-million-unit housing gap is pushing stakeholders to focus on delivery, financing and planning. Spain’s housing crisis is also fuelling protests. Market Stress: Vancouver’s court-ordered property listings are nearing a 20-year high, yet homes are failing to sell. Urban Change: Seoul’s Seongdong district is extending restrictions on large chains to protect Seongsu-dong’s independent shops as rising property prices reshape the neighbourhood. Resilient Housing: Wind tests on mobile homes point to ways to make lower-cost housing safer in extreme weather.

Housing Politics: Spain’s housing crisis has become a defining election issue, with protests and stalled measures preceding a snap vote. In the UK, a major housebuilder has abandoned London projects, citing poor viability as industry warnings of a development crunch grow. Markets and Finance: Institutional investment in Indian real estate rose 39% to $5.9 billion in January–September. By contrast, Sydney’s housing downturn has spread to 97% of suburbs, while rising bond yields and a 7.4% US 30-year mortgage rate add pressure on buyers. Affordable Housing: West Africa’s ShafDB launched a 60-billion-CFA sustainable bond to finance affordable homes. In the US, a $57 million mixed-income housing project has broken ground in Oklahoma City. Property Outlook: Abu Dhabi’s LIVEX forum announced more than 50 agreements and initiatives, with over Dh150 billion in deals reported, focused on investment and liveability.

Foreign Ownership: Finland rejected six property purchase applications from buyers outside the EU and EEA, citing national-security concerns in one case and missing information in five. Market Pressure: Sydney home values fell in 97% of suburbs over the latest quarter, with nearly 125 areas losing more than A$90,000 on average. Dubai sales have also slumped as war pressures prices, while US 30-year mortgage rates hit 7.4%, adding to pressure on buyers. Rents and Affordability: Greek rents rose 3.8% nationwide this year; in Cyprus, renting a two-bedroom flat in Limassol can consume 91% of an average salary. Investment: Institutional investment in Indian real estate reached $5.9 billion in January–September, up 39% year over year. Brookfield bought a Rs4,300-crore logistics portfolio, while Brigade plans Rs40,000 crore of South India investment over three years, with 70% earmarked for housing. Housing Politics: Spain’s housing crisis has prompted a snap election after reform efforts stalled, with protests following the eviction of 87-year-old housing campaigner Maricarmen.

Housing Pressure: Spain’s housing crisis deepened after 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal died following her eviction, a case that galvanized protests and helped push the country toward a November snap election. Mortgage Costs: The average U.S. long-term mortgage rate rose for a seventh straight week, reaching its highest level in nearly three years. Investment: Institutional investment in Indian real estate climbed 39% to $5.9 billion in the first nine months of 2026. Cross-Border Rules: Canada is weighing whether to extend its foreign homebuyer ban before it expires at year-end; RE/MAX Canada’s president has called for the restriction to end. Market Standards: Abu Dhabi introduced mandatory broker training as real estate transactions in the emirate rose 112% year-on-year to AED117 billion in the first half. Data & Development: Land Use Labs launched tools to organize zoning information, while a planning appeal cleared the way for a 350-home development in England.

Spain’s Housing Crisis: The death of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal, evicted after a sharp rent increase, has intensified protests and helped push housing to the center of a snap election. Canada Policy: Ottawa is weighing what to do with its foreign homebuyer ban before it expires at year-end, as many younger Canadians remain priced out of ownership. Building Costs: New Zealand residential construction costs rose 1.7% in the third quarter, lifting annual growth to 4.8%—above the long-term average—as material, freight and fuel costs climbed. Housing Affordability: A global survey found 75% of respondents cut other spending to cover housing costs; one in three reduced food spending, while 13% delayed or skipped medical care. Investment: Brookfield is entering India’s industrial and logistics property market with a Rs 4,300-crore portfolio acquisition, as private-equity investment in Indian real estate rose 23% to $2.7 billion in the first half of FY27.

Dubai Property: War-related disruption has cut transaction volumes, but S&P says prices have so far corrected only moderately. Continued conflict and new supply could deepen declines in investor-focused apartments in 2027–28. India Logistics: Brookfield is entering India’s industrial and logistics market with a purchase of eight ESR parks spanning 10.5 million sq. ft., alongside plans to invest ₹4,300 crore. Borrowing Costs: India’s 25-basis-point rate hike could raise mortgage payments and weigh on festive home sales, though developers expect demand to hold up. Investment Flows: Nuveen secured A$1 billion for an Australian real estate debt strategy backed by CPP Investments and Temasek. Housing Pressure: Spain has called a snap election after housing reforms stalled and protests spread; in London, home prices are falling faster as the market remains subdued.