2024 delivered a record-breaking year in terms of absorption and sustainable supply. Leasing volumes hit historic highs, green-certified spaces gained overwhelming tenant preference, and development activity concentrated in markets with infrastructure depth and regulatory readiness. Additionally, it also laid down a blueprint for what investors must now focus on, in 2025. But to assess where commercial real estate is headed in 2025, it is essential to begin with the underlying patterns that defined the last calendar year.
2024 Commercial Real Estate Performance: Scale, Structure, and Signals for What’s Next
India’s office market achieved its highest-ever gross absorption in 2024, recording 79 million sq. ft. of leasing activity, a 16% year-on-year increase (CBRE Q4 2024). This expansion was led by Global Capability Centres, BFSI institutions, and technology majors, each demonstrating a preference for Grade-A and future-ready commercial assets.
What set this leasing cycle apart was not just the volume, but the structure of the demand. Key trends included:
These shifts in leasing behaviour highlight more than market momentum, they indicate a set of qualitative filters now shaping both occupier and investor decisions. For 2025, recognising these benchmarks is essential to understanding where capital is consolidating and why certain assets are outperforming.
India’s commercial office sectors performance is being driven by a multitude of factors. As capital becomes more discerning, three critical filters have emerged at the centre of commercial real estate decision-making: sustainability, grade relevance, and micro-market precision.
In Q4 2024, over 50% of new office completions were green-certified, with 80–85% of future pipeline expected to follow this trend (CBRE Q4 2024, ET Realty). Furthermore, more than 70% of leasing activity took place in green-certified buildings, underscoring ESG compliance as a central occupier requirement.
This transition not only reflects a regulatory obligation, but also a core strategic priority for global tenants. Corporate sustainability goals and green-certified infrastructure is now non-negotiable. Developers are adjusting accordingly, embedding compliance, energy efficiency, and smart design from the outset.
India’s commercial leasing landscape in 2024 was dominated by the surge in demand for Grade-A office assets. Gross leasing activity across the top six cities reached 47 million sq. ft. by Q3, representing a 23% year-on-year increase, and by year-end, Grade-A absorption was projected to cross 60 million sq. ft., the highest in India’s history (Economic Times).
But even within the Grade-A category, a deeper shift is underway. The market is now favouring “relevant-grade” buildings, assets that go beyond minimum classification standards to deliver digital integration, ESG compliance, wellness infrastructure, and future-proof layouts.
Alongside sustainability and grade, micro-market selection is emerging as a third determinant of asset performance. Institutional capital is not spreading widely, it is going deep, favouring established corridors with infrastructure depth, high occupier density, and regulatory clarity.
This targeted deployment is most evident in Pune, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad. These cities accounted for 67% of India’s total new office completions in 2024, contributing to a cumulative 52.3 million sq. ft. of new supply (CBRE Q4 2024). Within these cities, select submarkets have consistently absorbed the bulk of institutional leasing activity due to their alignment with occupier priorities, operational resilience, and compliance infrastructure.
Among these, Pune, and more specifically, Kharadi NX, has evolved from a promising node to a strategic investment destination, setting a new institutional standard in micro-market performance.
With robust infrastructure, a strong tenant base, and high-grade development activity, Pune ranked among the top three cities for leasing and new completions in 2024. Within this landscape, Kharadi NX has also transitioned from a growth node to a fully institutionalised commercial corridor. It now offers the core fundamentals that investors seek: connectivity, tenant concentration, and scalable asset formats designed for long-hold performance.
Key drivers fuelling Kharadi NX’s ascent include:
One of the key developments include Omicron Business Landmarks, a project that exemplifies the market’s direction. It features high-efficiency office formats, integrated ESG infrastructure, and strategic connectivity, making it well-positioned to attract long-term, high-value tenants.
And we at SQUAREA, specialise in identifying such institutional-grade commercial assets across India’s most resilient and performance-led markets. Whether your objective is income yield or long-hold appreciation, our expert team will align your strategy with developments that meet international benchmarks and domestic regulatory confidence. Write to us at hello@squarea.io or call +91 90 9641 9641 to capitalise on this opportunity strategically!
Real estate has always been a sector shaped by information asymmetry. For Indian HNIs and UHNIs, choosing the right investment has often meant relying on intuition, fragmented data, or market sentiment. Today, this landscape is changing. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping how investors identify opportunities, manage assets, and forecast returns, turning vast and complex datasets into actionable insights.
The global AI in real estate market, valued at USD 2.9 billion in 2024, is projected to expand to USD 41.5 billion by 2033, reflecting the scale of adoption across the industry (Artsmart AI). For Indian investors, where real estate remains a critical asset class, AI-powered tools are quickly becoming the differentiator between conventional decision-making and future-ready investing.
As adoption grows and capital flows in, it becomes important to measure the scale of the AI opportunities that are reshaping the sector.
The operational efficiencies that AI brings to real estate are significant. Studies show that approximately 37% of real estate tasks can be automated, especially in areas such as administrative support, property management, and maintenance, unlocking an estimated $34 billion in efficiencies (Morgan Stanley).
This is not just about automation but about redefining the economics of real estate. AI adoption is creating measurable value across subsectors:
As efficiency grows, the real edge will go to investors who use AI at the core of their strategy. The next step is moving from instinct to evidence in everyday decisions.
Historically, property investments were often made based on peer references. While experience has its place, AI now provides a scientific edge, allowing investors to navigate markets with sharper precision.
Here is how AI is transforming decision-making for Indian HNIs and UHNIs:
As investors move beyond traditional methods, the ability to combine human judgment with AI-led insights becomes a powerful formula for wealth preservation and growth. These shifts are most visible in India’s high-growth markets, where AI is already reshaping how assets are priced, leased, and managed.
The implications of AI go beyond operational efficiency. In India’s high-growth markets, AI is influencing both institutional and private investment strategies.
In a market as diverse and dynamic as India, this shift means investors can act with greater confidence, backed by data rather than speculation. And looking ahead, the role of AI even extends beyond efficiency to the way people live, work, and engage with built spaces.
While efficiency gains remain central, the broader impact of AI is its ability to redefine how people interact with real estate. Leading global advisory research indicates that AI will augment productivity, create new job opportunities, and reshape how spaces are used in sectors such as housing, healthcare, and retail.
For Indian investors, this means three key outcomes:
To translate these advantages into results, investors benefit from partners who operationalise AI across sourcing, diligence, and portfolio management.
At SQUAREA, we integrate AI-powered insights into every stage of the investment journey. From identifying undervalued assets to structuring portfolios and monitoring performance, our advisory ensures that clients benefit from the latest in data-driven decision-making. For tailored guidance and access to India’s most prestigious properties, reach out at hello@squarea.io or call +91 90 9641 9641.
Indian real estate is evolving beyond standalone towers and gated enclaves. For today’s discerning HNIs and UHNIs, the most attractive opportunities lie in developments that combine residential, commercial, retail, hospitality, and wellness elements into one integrated ecosystem. These mixed-use luxury projects bring together workspaces, homes, and leisure in a way that reflects global urban living trends.
The investment story is equally compelling. In Q1 2025, mixed-use real estate attracted USD 191 million in institutional inflows in India, compared with just USD 42 million in the same period earlier (Economic Times). Such momentum underscores how this asset class is moving from niche to mainstream. Before assessing growth numbers, however, it is important to understand what mixed-use luxury truly means and what creates its premium.
Mixed-use luxury developments go beyond simply consolidating various functions under a single roof. They are curated ecosystems where residential, commercial, retail, and hospitality assets work in synergy. Formats range from vertical towers with stacked uses to horizontal districts built around transit and cultural spaces.
What differentiates them in the luxury space is the attention to lifestyle and service. Branded residences with concierge access, hotel-grade hospitality, wellness clubs, and international dining elevate the standard of living while also creating enduring demand.
Several factors contribute to the premium these projects command:
With these fundamentals in place, mixed-use luxury developments stand uniquely positioned to outperform. The next step for investors is to assess why this segment offers such strong advantages compared with conventional assets.
For HNIs and UHNIs, the appeal of mixed-use luxury lies in both yield and resilience. While conventional urban residential assets typically generate 2.5-3.5% annual returns, hospitality-integrated or mixed-use projects often deliver 8-9%, especially when supported by professional leasing or short-term rental programmes. (Commercial Design India)
Beyond higher yields, these assets diversify income across residential, retail, office, and hospitality streams, reducing reliance on a single sector. Capital appreciation is stronger due to placemaking, brand partnerships, and infrastructure proximity, while liquidity is enhanced by a wide buyer base ranging from end-users to institutions.
Naturally, both private and institutional capital are increasing their exposure to this segment. The focus now is on where this growth is taking shape most prominently.
Institutional capital signals a decisive shift. Investment into mixed-use real estate in India surged in Q1 2025, and the segment’s share of total real estate investment is projected to reach 18-20% by the year’s end. (Economic Times) This reflects a structural reallocation of capital towards integrated formats.
The trend is visible at the city level too. Pune has recorded a 20-30% rise in mixed-use projects over the past five years, with Hinjewadi, Kharadi, Magarpatta, and Baner emerging as leading hotspots (Times of India). These hubs highlight how integrated developments can reshape micro-markets by creating new demand drivers and lifting values across asset categories.
Fuelling this growth are powerful demand catalysts - hybrid work patterns, the rise of 20-minute neighbourhoods, a rebound in tourism, and the growing pull of experiential retail. These forces make it evident that mixed-use luxury will keep expanding across India’s leading cities. With the growth story clear, the focus now shifts to how the future of this asset class will take shape.
The next five years will be decisive in defining how mixed-use luxury evolves across India. This cycle will focus on scale and the qualitative shifts that determine which projects keep investors interested.
For investors, the message is clear: early commitment to high-quality, professionally managed mixed-use luxury assets will unlock superior returns and long-term resilience.
At SQUAREA, we provide curated access to India’s most exclusive mixed-use luxury developments and guide investors through every stage of the journey, from evaluation to execution. For tailored advice and first access to upcoming opportunities, connect with us at hello@squarea.io or call +91 90 9641 9641.
In an era of global uncertainty, balancing growth with capital protection has become paramount. And, for India’s wealthy, investment choices extend beyond the traditional to those that deliver resilience, legacy, and tangible value. Recent data shows that around 60 per cent of India’s Uber Rich wealth remains parked in real estate and gold, highlighting the continued preference for physical assets over volatile financial markets. (Economic Times)
Against this backdrop, the debate around residential real estate vs equities is sharper than ever. The distinction lies not only in potential returns but in the sustainability, stability, and strategic function each asset contributes to an HNI or UHNI portfolio. This makes it essential to first understand why real estate continues to anchor HNI wealth before assessing equities in comparison.
The preference for property stems from its tangible, income-yielding, and inflation-hedging qualities. Unlike equities, residential real estate is both a lifestyle asset and an appreciating investment.
This explains why wealth creation through real estate remains central to HNI investment strategies India, with property often forming the largest asset class in their holdings. To understand the contrast, it is important to evaluate what equities bring to the table.
Equities, both domestic and global, remain a vital channel for growth-oriented investors. They provide higher liquidity, scalability, and exposure to innovation-led sectors.
This upside comes with cyclical volatility and exposure to macro shocks, making them less suited for those prioritising capital preservation. It is here that a direct comparison between real estate vs stock market returns becomes essential.
When directly compared, real estate and equities offer distinct outcomes depending on time horizon and risk appetite.
| Asset Class | Typical Annual Return | Volatility & Stability | For HNI Portfolios |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residential Real Estate | 8-10% expected annual price growth in key cities in the next 5 years (K Raheja) | Low. Values change gradually, providing steady, predictable gains | Excellent for diversifying risk and preserving wealth |
| Equities (Indian Stocks) | Nifty 50 delivers ~12–14% average annual returns (Finextra) | High. capable of rapid swings driven by macro events and sentiment | Great for long-term growth and liquidity, but subject to market cycles |
Thus, while equities can accelerate wealth in growth phases, property delivers sustainability and legacy value. This is precisely why Indian HNIs continue to favour real estate over other avenues.
HNI and UHNI portfolios in India reflect cultural preference and strategic choice. The Bernstein report underscores this: Out of USD 2.7 trillion in serviceable assets owned by India’s Uber Rich, around 60 per cent still remains in real estate and gold. (Economic Times)
This preference is not a dismissal of equities but an acknowledgement that alternative investments for HNIs, like real estate, offer stability during market turbulence. The next step is to consider how portfolios can be structured to benefit from both asset classes
For HNIs and UHNIs, the most effective approach is not choosing one asset over the other, but aligning allocations with long-term goals.
This blended strategy ensures resilience in downturns and growth in upswings, delivering sustainable wealth across generations. It underlines the fact that the real debate is not either-or, but how the two work best together.
At SQUAREA, we guide discerning investors in identifying prime opportunities where property not only preserves wealth but also compounds it. To explore bespoke strategies in India’s most prestigious markets, connect with us at hello@squarea.io or call +91 90 9641 9641.