26 May 2026

Korea Post has planned a shift in its investment strategy, focusing on AI data centres and residential real estate in developed markets such as the U.S. and Europe. The move comes as its traditional postal business continues to face rising losses from mail and parcel operations. The organisation, which manages over USD 104 billion in savings and insurance funds, is also exploring secondary real estate funds and mid-risk investment products to improve returns. While maintaining a largely conservative portfolio, it is gradually increasing exposure to higher-yield global assets amid market uncertainty.Read more

26 May 2026

Germany’s housing construction sector saw a sharp slowdown last year, with residential completions falling to their lowest level since 2012. Data released by the country’s statistics office showed that completed residential units declined 18% year-on-year to 206,600 units, marking the second straight annual drop. Rising construction costs, elevated borrowing rates and lengthy approval processes continued to affect new housing activity across the country. Industry experts have called for faster deregulation and policy support, while the government said building permits had started improving and financial support for lower-income housing projects had reached record levels.Read more

26 May 2026

Sri Lanka’s stock market ended higher at the close of the latest trading session, supported by gains in real estate, utilities and industrial stocks. The CSE All-Share Index rose 0.43% to settle at 21,929.64, although the benchmark still recorded a weekly decline of 4.3% amid broader market pressure. SMB Finance PLC and Renuka City Hotels PLC emerged as the top gainers during the session. Market turnover and trading volumes also saw a marginal increase compared to the previous session. While foreign investors continued to remain net sellers, domestic investors maintained buying activity, helping support overall market sentiment.Read more

25 May 2026

• Spain’s Supreme Court has struck down the national registry created for short-term tourist rental properties listed on platforms such as Airbnb.
• The court ruled that the central government did not have the authority to impose a nationwide registry alongside existing regional systems.
• The registry had required property owners to obtain a registration number before advertising tourist accommodation online.
• Spain has been tightening rules on holiday rentals amid concerns over housing affordability, rising rents and over-tourism in major cities.
• While cancelling the registry, the court upheld the requirement for online rental platforms to continue sharing property data with authorities.Read more

25 May 2026

Episurf Medical has announced the acquisition of a real estate portfolio from Lilium in a deal valued at SEK 660 million. The portfolio is expected to add annual rental income of SEK 49 million and net operating income (NOI) of SEK 41 million to Episurf Medical’s business. The transaction is likely to be completed in the third quarter of 2026 and will be financed through a mix of a SEK 264 million share issue, a SEK 198 million convertible loan and bank funding. The acquisition marks a notable expansion of the company’s asset base and recurring income stream.Read more

25 May 2026

Swedish Logistic Property has signed a long-term lease agreement for a new logistics property in Jonkoping, strengthening its industrial and warehousing portfolio in Sweden. The company said the project will involve the development of a facility spanning around 21,600 square metres with a total estimated investment of SEK 231 million. The property has been secured under a 10-year lease arrangement and is expected to generate an annual rental value of SEK 16.5 million. The project is also expected to improve the company’s net rental income by nearly SEK 9.5 million.Read more

25 May 2026

Putprop Ltd has entered into an agreement with Bluhire Proprietary for the sale of its Montana Park property for R29 million. The transaction was disclosed through a regulatory filing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange during the past week. The move forms part of Putprop’s ongoing portfolio management strategy as property companies continue to evaluate asset performance and capital allocation amid changing market conditions. The company has not yet disclosed further operational details related to the property or timelines linked to the completion of the transaction.Read more

25 May 2026

US-based real estate investment trusts AvalonBay Communities and Equity Residential are reportedly nearing a merger agreement that could create one of the largest apartment housing REITs in the United States. According to media reports, AvalonBay shareholders may receive 2.793 shares of Equity Residential common stock for every AvalonBay share held, with AvalonBay investors expected to own slightly over 51% of the merged entity. The combined company is also expected to declare an initial annual dividend of USD 2.81 per share. Together, both companies manage more than 180,000 apartment units across the US housing market.Read more

25 May 2026

Home Invest Belgium reported EPRA earnings of EUR 4.32 million for the first quarter of 2026, supported by high occupancy levels and a largely residential portfolio. The company said the fair value of its real estate portfolio stood at EUR 969.15 million at the end of March 2026. Residential assets continued to dominate its holdings, accounting for 91.7% of investment properties available for rent. The occupancy rate remained strong at 98.3% during the quarter. Looking ahead, the company expects EPRA earnings per share for 2026 to rise to EUR 1.23 or remain stable compared to EUR 1.21 recorded in 2025.Read more

25 May 2026

Mortgage rates in the United States moved higher in the past week, with the average 30-year fixed home loan rate rising to 6.56%, according to data released by the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA). The increase came as rising oil prices, uncertainty around the Iran conflict and concerns over inflation pushed U.S. Treasury yields upward. Home loan demand weakened during the same period, with mortgage applications falling to a five-week low. Markets are also closely watching the upcoming leadership change at the Federal Reserve, although investors largely expect interest rates to remain elevated amid continuing inflation concerns.Read more