Thought Leadership

Summary:

As occupiers rethink their workplace strategies, the region is seeing a clear shift towards quality, innovation, and flexibility. From the rise of ESG-aligned buildings to the emergence of specialized demand clusters, tenants are no longer just leasing space, they are shaping it. 

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Grade-A Growth: Grade-A office stock in APAC has nearly doubled to 2.3 billion sq ft. over the past decade.
• Core Market Drivers: 2/3rd of demand has been driven by 17 cities across India, SEA and China mainland.
• Top 3 drivers of demand across SEA: IT-BPM, Engineering & manufacturing and BFSI are the top 3 driver of demand for office space across South-East Asia.

Summary: The co-living landscape has evolved significantly since our initial publication, transitioning from a niche accommodation solution to a recognised asset class that attracts diverse investors and serves an expanding resident base.

As the sector matures, we address emerging considerations around sustainable growth, regulatory frameworks and market resilience. Our expanded 2025 survey engaged over 30 domestic and international stakeholders to capture current sentiment and develop forward-looking insights into this rapidly developing market.

This report synthesises anonymous feedback from across the industry to deliver a comprehensive view of Singapore’s transforming co-living sector, offering valuable context for both established players and those exploring new opportunities in this dynamic space.

Summary: CBRE’s latest Asia Pacific Leasing Market Sentiment Index reveals that overall leasing sentiment improved across most markets and sectors in Q3 2025:

Office: Occupier sentiment is strengthening as trade tensions ease and office attendance mandates tighten. All markets except for mainland China are reporting an increase in tenant enquiries and inspections. Overall expansionary sentiment is being driven by India and North Asia markets. Aligning with CBRE’s 2025 APAC Office Occupier Survey, more tenants are demanding well-located offices with a superior amenity offering.

Retail: Improving clarity around global trade policy is instilling retailers with greater confidence, triggering more enquiries and site inspections across most markets, except for Singapore. Stronger demand in India and Korea is providing a foundation for landlords to raise rental expectations. However, rising operating costs are prompting retailers to review portfolios and assess whether to relocate underperforming stores.

Industrial & Logistics: Enquiries and site inspections are gaining traction amid the stabilising trade outlook, setting the stage for a potential recovery. Growth markets including India and Southeast Asia remain resilient, while sentiment in Japan and Korea is strengthening on the back of easing supply-side pressure. Despite the uptick in demand, prospects for rental growth remain limited as tenants retain stronger leverage than landlords in negotiations.

Co-produced by Vistra Fund Solutions and APREA

The APAC real assets market is full of potential, but also operational, tax, and regulatory friction. This exclusive report reveals where the biggest opportunities lie, what’s holding investors back, and how leading firms are navigating the complexity.

Inside the Friction Index 2025:

• Which APAC markets and asset classes are attracting institutional capital
• Where investors face the highest levels of friction and why
• How leaders use outsourcing, AI, and tech to gain a competitive edge
• The trends redefining real assets: ESG, AI, and regulatory shifts

India is undergoing a dramatic demographic shift that presents both unprecedented opportunities and significant challenges for the senior living sector. The country’s senior population is projected to more than double from 156.7 million in 2024 to 347 million by 2050, representing 21% of the total population. This transformation is driving substantial growth in the senior living market, which is currently valued at INR 15,500 crore (USD 1.8 billion) and expected to expand to INR 64,500 crore (USD 7.7 billion) by 2030.

Despite this promising growth trajectory, the market remains severely undersupplied and in its early stages. With only 1.3% penetration compared to mature markets like the US and Australia that exceed 6%, India’s senior living sector has vast untapped potential. The current supply of approximately 20,000 units falls dramatically short of the estimated demand of 2.27 million households by 2030, highlighting the enormous opportunity for developers, operators, and investors in this rapidly evolving sector.

Summary: Colliers’ Global Capital Flows Report (September 2025) highlights cautious but steady growth in real estate investment activity worldwide, with Asia Pacific maintaining a leading role despite global headwinds.

Key highlights include:

• Singapore, Japan, and Hong Kong ranked among the top 10 global sources of cross-border capital.
• Japan and Australia remain top global capital destinations, reflecting sustained investor confidence.
• Office and retail sectors are leading the regional recovery, with office assets reclaiming the top spot in transaction volumes.
• Land-led development continues to dominate, with seven of the top 10 global destinations located in APAC.

Real estate investments during H1 2025 were largely driven by domestic investors in most Asia Pacific markets, while offshore interest persisted in key hubs such as Australia, India, Singapore and Hong Kong.

The region’s investment outlook is expected to remain steady and resilient through 2025 and into 2026, supported by a lower interest rate environment, moderating inflation and sustained economic growth across key markets.

Key insights:

• Office remains the asset class of choice, with retail gaining pace.
• South Korea, Japan and Australia drove nearly two-thirds of investment volumes.
• Growing appetite for alternative asset classes such as data centres, life sciences and student housing.
• Growing confidence of local investors, underscoring resilience across the region.

As workplace patterns continue to change, occupiers in Asia Pacific are accelerating the return to office and elevating the workplace experience.

CBRE’s 2025 Asia Pacific Office Occupier Survey, with insights from nearly 300 corporate real estate executives, highlights:

• Workplace effectiveness: Insufficient small rooms (48%) and lack of vibrancy (35%) remain top challenges. Adjusting workstation sizes and desk-sharing ratios can help improve efficiency.
• Tighter attendance protocols: 82% of occupiers now impose consequences for non-compliance (+16 percentage points y-o-y), with office utilisation improving in 2025.
• Core and quality preference: Smaller companies display the strongest appetite for growth. 65% of occupiers planning to move prefer CBD cores, but most availability is in non-core areas.