Mumbai and New Delhi have emerged as key investment destinations in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, ranking 5th and 8th in CBRE’s 2025 Asia-Pacific Investor Intentions Survey. The survey highlights a surge in cross-border real estate investment, with over half of respondents planning to increase their investments in 2025. Mumbai follows leading markets like Tokyo, Sydney, Singapore, and Ho Chi Minh City, while New Delhi shares the 8th spot with Seoul, Osaka, and Hanoi.

Foreign equity investments in India’s real estate sector hit an all-time high of $11.4 billion in 2024, marking a 54% year-on-year increase. Singapore, the United States, and Canada contributed over 25% of these investments, with Singapore leading at 36%. Investments from the UAE also witnessed significant growth, reflecting rising global interest in India’s commercial and residential real estate.

“India’s real estate sector has gained significant global traction, with foreign equity and domestic investments driving growth across asset classes,” said Anshuman Magazine, CEO of CBRE for India, South-East Asia, Middle East, and Africa. Investors mainly focus on office spaces, residential developments, industrial properties, and data centres, with Mumbai and New Delhi prime targets for value-added and opportunistic strategies.

The survey also underscores the growing importance of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives, with 56% of investors prioritising green building developments and 46% looking to retrofit existing properties. This trend aligns with India’s push for sustainable real estate and energy-efficient infrastructure.

Across the APAC region, Tokyo retained its position as the top city for cross-border investment for the sixth consecutive year, with Sydney and Singapore also attracting significant investor interest. Industrial properties remain the preferred asset class, followed by office spaces and data centres, reinforcing the demand for stable, high-yielding real estate assets.

Despite ongoing concerns around inflation and global economic uncertainties, CBRE anticipates investment momentum to accelerate in 2025, driven by falling debt costs and asset repricing. “REITs, institutional investors, and funds are focusing on core-plus and value-add opportunities to secure higher returns,” said Greg Hyland, CBRE’s Head of Capital Markets for Asia-Pacific.

As geopolitical risks and sustainability concerns shape investment strategies, emerging asset classes like renewable energy infrastructure and healthcare real estate—including life sciences and medical offices—are gaining traction. With global investor confidence in India rising, Mumbai and New Delhi are cementing their positions as leading real estate hubs in the APAC region.