As global wealth goes mobile, real estate has emerged as the asset of choice with new-age investors reimagining real estate not merely as a safe haven but as a dynamic, passion-driven asset class, central to wealth-creation strategies.

Today, there’s a growing appetite for cross-border property investments with high net-worth individuals and family offices, actively deploying their portfolios across geographies. At the centre of this wealth creation, is a clear-cut strategy to leverage real estate which is seen as a long-term stable hybrid asset-blending emotion with economics and capital appreciation with lifestyle.

The exponential rise of UHNIs and billionaires across the globe including India, has been a major driving force behind the increasing deployment of global capital in real estate. The surge in private capital fundamentally altered the behavioural norms of the wealthy, with the traditional model of owning a single primary residence giving way to cross-border footprints, creating exponential demand for super-prime assets globally.

According to a latest KnightFrank India Wealth Report, India has the sixth largest population of ultra-high net worth individuals (UHNWIs) in the world, with Mumbai and Delhi having the highest number of UHNWIs. The country has 19877 UNWHIs with each having a wealth of USD 30 million (about INR 250 crore). Their population is estimated to grow by 27% to 26217 by 2031. Similarly, India has seen a substantial rise in the number of billionaires. Currently having 207 billionaires, it is ranked third in the world, behind China and the US. India’s billionaire count is set to rise by 51% to 313 by 2031, outpacing China and the US.

The growing global volatility over the past decade has posed challenges for the wealthy investors to choose safe and profitable investment destinations. In order to navigate the challenging landscape, they have been relying heavily on family offices across America, Europe and Asia Pacific.

The findings of the KnightFrank report point to the luxury segment outpacing the rest of the housing market in major global hubs. The sheer velocity of wealth creation ensures demand for luxury real estate remains more insulated from global shocks. There’s a rapid expansion in branded luxury residences. Buyers today demand more than turnkey luxury; they are willing to pay a premium for curated communities, assured top-tier service convenience, privacy and high-quality amenities.

Today, because of their increasing mobility, UHNWIs don’t want the hassle of managing large properties; they want turnkey perfection. This has boosted the demand for highly serviced residences. Middle-East & Asia are leading the pipeline for these highly personalised residences. Going forward, the branded luxury residences sector will have increasing influence on the wider luxury market.

Globally, while real estate remains a cornerstone of many portfolios, investment strategies are becoming more targeted and thematic. Data centres have emerged as one of the most attractive opportunities, driven by the rapid growth of AI, cloud computing and digital infrastructure. Billionaires and UHNWIs have interest in other alternate realty assets where income is supported by underlying demographic or economic trends. Student accommodation continues to appeal due to resilient demand from global education markets while logistics and distribution assets are benefiting from the continued expansion of e-commerce. Healthcare-linked real estate- senior housing, is also gaining attention due to the aging population. These sectors combine stable income with long-term growth potential, aligning well with patient capital and the ability to hold assets through multiple economic cycles.

According to Vivek Rathi, National Research Director, India, Knight Frank , office and warehousing leasing reached new highs in India, residential demand stayed firm and retail staged a clear comeback. As domestic capital is firmly entrenched in India, for global investors, this creates a relatively de-risked re-entry opportunity. Particularly, for those looking to partner locally and participate early in the next phase of the growth cycle, rather than wait for a full recovery to be priced in.

India’s rising share in global wealth is reinforcing prime housing demand. The growing demand for luxury real estate is witnessing prime residential prices continuously rising globally, including India. Knight Frank research report, in view of rising housing prices, residential space that can be bought with USD 1 million, has been continuously shrinking.over the past few years. In 2025, the purchasable apartment area with an investment of USD 1 million, was respectively 1033 sq ft, 2207 sq ft, 3843 sq ft in Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore. Globally, it was as low as 172 sq ft in Monaco, 248 sq ft in Hongkong, 301 sq ft in Singapore, 355 sq ft in London, 366 sq ft in NewYork, 398 sq ft in Tokyo and Paris.

In today’s digitally connected world, where wealth moves at the click of a button, real estate is gaining greater relevance and prominence in the ever-evolving investment ecosystem. Shishir Baijal, chairman & Managing Director, Knight Frank India says that India’s growing ultra-wealth population reflects its maturing, entrepreneurial economy, characterized by deeper capital pools , sophisticated markets, and global connectivity. There is a structural long-term shift towards a durable base of ultra wealth, anchored by digitalisation, listed equities, and family-owned businesses.

As Ultra high networth investors and family offices are increasingly deploying their capital to real estate markets across the globe, this bodes well for the sustained momentum to real estate.