The global property market is set for its strongest revival in four years, with investment turnover expected to cross the one trillion dollar mark in 2026. Savills World Research, in its latest Impacts outlook, says this will be a 15 percent jump from 2025 and the first time the trillion line is crossed since 2022. The bounce is being fuelled by returning investor confidence, rising demand for prime offices and steady activity across residential, retail and industrial spaces.
Savills expects the Europe–Middle East–Africa region to lead the pace of growth in 2026, with investment rising 22 percent to around 300 billion dollars. The Americas will still remain the biggest market overall. Turnover in the region is forecast at 570 billion dollars, largely driven by the United States, which alone will account for 530 billion dollars. Office markets in these regions will play an important role, with Savills estimating that about a quarter of global investment next year will come from office assets.
The broader picture is one of cautious optimism. Economic and fiscal uncertainties still worry investors, and Savills researchers say these pressures will influence every segment—from offices and warehouses to retail and housing. Yet the tone is more positive than it has been in years. Institutional capital is returning after sitting on the sidelines. Occupier demand is steady. And after several years of low activity, investors are finally picking up deals that were paused or delayed due to high interest rates and shifting market conditions.
This renewed energy is showing up clearly in the office sector. Close to 90 percent of Savills’ researchers across global markets expect prime office rents to rise in 2026. Two out of three say rents in their regions will grow by two percent or more. The demand is coming mainly from companies that want high-quality spaces with better amenities and stronger sustainability credentials. As take-up improves, Savills expects capital values of prime grade office buildings to rise as well, with 82 percent of its researchers forecasting an increase next year.
Other key segments are also gearing up for a better year. Residential, and industrial and logistics assets are expected to see sustained investor interest. Even retail—which has seen uneven performance across markets—shows signs of stabilising. Two-thirds of Savills researchers are forecasting rental growth in retail, while most of the rest expect rents to hold steady. The picture is mixed, especially between shopping centres, high-street retail and neighbourhood formats, but confidence is clearly improving.
Rasheed Hassan, who heads Savills’ Global Cross Border Investment team, says 2025 already marked a turning point. Investment turnover in the first three quarters of 2025 was up 10 percent compared to the same period in 2024. More importantly, the underlying signs point to recovery. Capital values have stabilised. Deal sizes are rising again. And debt is becoming favourable for returns as interest rates ease in major economies. Hassan believes these trends will strengthen further through 2026 as markets move into a more stable cycle.
Technology is shaping up to be another major force in next year’s global real estate story. Within Savills’ survey, tech jumped two places in the ranking of key market drivers and is now considered the second most influential factor after economic conditions. The rise is tied to the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence. AI is transforming how companies operate, and that shift will trickle into real estate—from the type of offices tenants want to how firms plan their workforce strategies. Savills notes that while residential assets may offer more resilience, almost every real estate segment will feel some form of AI-led change. At the same time, new opportunities will emerge in areas like data centres and PropTech, which are set to expand significantly.
The other themes that will shape 2026 include demographic shifts, evolving consumer behaviour, environmental priorities, policy changes and geopolitical risk. But demographic and behavioural changes remain particularly important, Savills says. Real estate exists to support how people live, work, shop and spend their time, and those habits are changing across age groups and regions. This makes operational know-how as important as financial strategy.
Paul Tostevin, Head of Savills World Research, says the overall outlook for 2026 is one of renewed optimism. He expects investment and occupier activity to grow across most regions and sectors, helped by falling interest rates, stronger capital availability and resilient demand. While investors must still navigate economic uncertainties, the shift toward stability is clear. After years of volatility, the global real estate market is preparing for a more measured, growth-focused cycle.
