Skip to main content

Apartments to top the charts with total returns of 9.5% p.a.

There are tentative signs of improvement in the investment market, but we continue to think refinancing requirements will weigh on transactions. We still think appraisal-based valuations need to adjust further and that cap rates will increase by another 50-60 bps by the end of 2025, with industrial seeing the largest rises as the most overvalued sector. As a result, industrial will only match office performance over 2025-28, with total returns of 5% p.a., below the other major sectors. We are more positive on the outlook for retail returns, at around 7.5% p.a. over the same period. But the major change to our forecasts this quarter is for apartments, where we think slowing completions from 2025 will support rent growth of nearly 4% p.a. in 2025-28. That drives our forecast of 9.5% p.a. total returns over the next four years, making it the best-performing sector.

Become a client to read more

This is premium content that requires an active Capital Economics subscription to view.

Already have an account?

You may already have access to this premium content as part of a paid subscription.

Sign in to read the content in full or get details of how you can access it

Register for free

Sign up for a free account to:

  • Unlock additional content
  • Register for Capital Economics events
  • Receive email updates and economist-curated newsletters
  • Request a free trial of our services


Get access