Japan is the top target for cross-border real estate investment in Asia Pacific for fifth consecutive year, with investors focusing on Tokyo, Osaka, and other major regional cities, according to CBRE’s 2024 Asia Pacific Investor Intentions Survey.
Singapore and Australia closely follow as attractive destinations for investment, as investors are drawn to developed, transparent and liquid markets. India is the preferred emerging market in Asia Pacific, with Mumbai and Delhi capturing the interest of long-term investors seeking to expand their real estate exposure in the world’s fastest growing economy.
Investors in the Asia Pacific region are maintaining consistent plans to acquire real estate compared to last year, with high-net worth and private investors expected to be the most active buyers, followed by institutional investors. Notably, investors in Australia, Singapore, and Hong Kong SAR display the strongest intentions to sell. In 2024, investors in Asia Pacific are favoring value-added strategies to achieve attractive returns, particularly focusing on distressed assets, as well as debt solutions to meet their investment objectives.
“Given the potential easing of the rate hike cycle, investors are closely monitoring further price adjustments needed for investment volumes to pick up in the next 6-12 months,” said Greg Hyland, Head of Capital Markets, Asia Pacific for CBRE. “We anticipate an acceleration of investment activity in the second half of the year.”
More than 60% of investors are actively seeking discounts for value-added offices in decentralized locations, anticipating price drops and increased tenant demand to validate current pricing assumptions. Australia, Hong Kong SAR, and mainland China are projected to experience further office repricing. Additionally, despite the stabilization of the retail sector in 2023, more than half of investors anticipate securing additional discounts for shopping malls and high street shops.
“While industrial and office sectors remain popular among Asia Pacific investors, interest in these asset types has been declining since 2021,” said Dr. Henry Chin, Global Head of Investor Thought Leadership & Head of Research, Asia Pacific for CBRE. “There is a strong uptick in interest in the residential sector, particularly for multifamily properties, as investors are drawn to the cyclical and structural opportunities in this market.”
