1. Europe: Geopolitics dominate world’s largest real estate conference
The effects of unchartered geopolitical change on many global property markets, in what remains a fragile investment climate, dominated many discussions as industry leaders wrapped up the world’s largest real estate conference in Cannes, France.
Among key takeaways from the three-day MIPIM was a consensus that Europe could actually gain favor from property investors if a trade war breaks out with the United States. The gathering’s larger-than-usual contingent of high-profile political figures from across Europe signaled efforts by new leaders to win over the private sector to get housing and infrastructure built.
2. India: Hotel industry matures as more companies go public
India’s hospitality industry is quickly maturing amid a recent flurry of initial public offerings and stock listings by the nation’s hotel chains, after more than a decade in which such transactions were few and far between.
“Historically, most Indian hotel chains relied on private equity or debt funding for their expansion, but as the industry grows, the need for diverse funding options has become evident,” said Nandivardhan Jain, CEO at business consulting firm Noesis Capital Advisors. Recent new stock listings included those by Juniper Hotels, Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels, Ventive Hospitality and ITC Hotels; with an IPO pipeline of large firms such as Brigade Hotel Ventures and Schloss Bangalore.
3. France: North American investors play growing role in region
North American investors returned to French real estate in droves in 2024, placing €3.1 billion into the market and marking a 150% jump from 2023, according to a new report from brokerage Newmark.
Researchers said North American firms accounted for 42% of all foreign investment in France in 2024, and they are expected to play a leading role in France and more widely Europe in 2025, with potentially more assets coming to market in an improved financing climate. France was the third-most popular European market for North American investors during the past 15 years, behind Germany and the United Kingdom.
4. Germany: Housing construction shows signs of rebound
Government agencies approved construction of 18,000 homes throughout Germany during January, an increase of 6.9% from a year earlier and signaling the end of a long downturn in building permits, according to data from the Federal Statistical Office.
January marked the second straight month of year-over-year increases in permitted residential units, after December’s 5.1% annual rise and steady declines since April 2022. “However, the slightly positive trend should not obscure the fact that we are still at the lowest level in the last 10 years,” said the Federation of the German Construction Industry, a prominent trade group, citing factors including a recent rise in construction financing rates.
5. Canada: Realtor group says trade tariffs weigh on home sales
The threat of a trade war and effects of U.S. tariffs are affecting existing home sales, with the association representing Canada’s Realtors citing those issues in February’s 10.4% drop from a year ago for sales of all housing categories in the country, including condos and townhouses. The Canadian Real Estate Association said declines took hold on U.S. President Donald Trump’s first day in office.
“The moment tariffs were first announced on January 20, a gap opened between home sales recorded this year and last,” said Shaun Cathcart, senior economist for the trade group, in a commentary noting February’s home sales were also down 9.8% from January. The tariff war has heated up since Trump imposed 25% tariffs on Canadian products, with both countries threatening punitive measures, and the battle has also influenced the Bank of Canada’s move to lower interest rates twice in 2025.
6. US: Forever 21 adds to store closings amid global competition
Fast-fashion pioneer Forever 21’s shutdown of its roughly 350 stores will bring U.S. retail closings to over 4,000 so far this year, more than half the number for all 2024, as chains are impacted by foreign competitors such as Shein and Temu.
The U.S. operator of Los Angeles-based Forever 21, a mall mainstay, is seeking Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, marking its second such filing since 2019. But this time, the chain’s current operator, F21 OpCo, plans to wind down the business and close its store portfolio of 354 locations.
This report was compiled from CoStar’s news publications in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, France and Germany.