Investment in the living sector will rival volumes deployed into traditional commercial real estate asset classes, including office, over the next decade as capital allocations shift and portfolios further diversify.
According to JLL, by 2030, one-third of all global direct investment into real estate will occur in the living sector, rising from 25% in 2020 and 14% in 2010.
The sector’s share of capital flows will continue to be supported by favorable demographic, economic and capital markets tailwinds which will drive expansion in established markets and accelerate growth in emerging markets in Asia Pacific and Europe.
Analysis published in JLL’s growth opportunities in living research report shows that capital flows into the sector have accelerated over the past five years. Capital flows are most concentrated in the conventional multifamily or build-to-rent segments of the markets, as investors increasingly recognise the favorable return profile, growth opportunities and leasing fundamentals offered by these specific living assets.
In 2020, approximately $200 bn in global capital was deployed into the living sector by investors globally, and with rising urbanization and other factors including housing affordability, the appetite of investors is anticipated to increase.
Sean Coghlan, global director, capital markets research, JLL, said: 'Competition for living product has intensified globally, and there are no signs that investor appetite for this evolving asset class will abate.
'Recognising the cash-flow stability and operational resilience of the living sector, particularly through cycles and periods of economic uncertainty, investors and developers have aggressively entered and expanded their position in the market and will seek to expand beyond established institutional markets.'
The opportunities for the living sector are dependent on key demographic trends, economic fundamentals and local regulations, says JLL, all of which have driven the development of mature sectors in geographies like the United States, Germany, the Netherlands and the UK.
Although only a handful of markets are presently considered mature, sectoral prominence is intensifying in economically strong countries like Australia and Canada, whereas ownership consolidation is evident in smaller European countries and abundant opportunities persist in difficult-to-enter geographies.
However, analysis by JLL shows risk and return potential are not evenly distributed, with markets where supply and demand imbalances are most severe offering the greatest opportunity for sector permeation and growth, but with more challenges for investors than mature markets.
According to JLL, a range of demand drivers and considerations underscore the opportunity in sector and market potential of developing living sectors in markets. These include unbanisation trends, demographic fundamentals, and aspects such as housing affordability and local regulations.
Adam Challis, executive director, research and strategy, EMEA, JLL, said: 'The shift in living investment allocations has been truly extraordinary and one that can benefit societies around the world as we see rental stock quality and quantity improvements, alongside professional scaled up management.
'With the sector continuing to mature and broaden into new geographies, buyer and lender pools are deepening and diversifying. We will continue to see diversifying capital flows leading to heightened levels of competition for on-market product and pushing investors into previously nascent living markets across Europe.'
The living sector’s consistent returns and leasing performance allowed it to become the most liquid commercial real estate sector in the United States, and it is now challenging the office sector’s position globally investment-wise. In the previous economic cycle, compounded annual growth in investment volumes reached 17%, notably higher than office and retail.
