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Foreign investment in Singapore real estate surges in Q2, but small market may limit further gains

Investment sales jump almost 573% from year-ago period, marking the steepest increase in Asia-Pacific, says Knight Frank

Wong Chia Peck
Published Tue, Aug 19, 2025 · 07:05 PM
    • City Developments Ltd's sale of its 50.1% holding in the South Beach project for S$834.2 million to Malaysia's IOI Properties Group is the biggest deal announced in Singapore in the second quarter.
    • City Developments Ltd's sale of its 50.1% holding in the South Beach project for S$834.2 million to Malaysia's IOI Properties Group is the biggest deal announced in Singapore in the second quarter. PHOTO: BT FILE

    [SINGAPORE] Foreign investment in Singapore property jumped in the second quarter of this year to US$2.3 billion, 572.5 per cent higher than the US$342 million from the same period in 2024, led by mixed-use and industrial real estate, according to real estate consultancy Knight Frank. This was also the biggest increase in the Asia-Pacific (Apac).

    However, it is uncertain that this pace of growth will be sustained, said Christine Li, head of research for Apac at Knight Frank, to The Business Times.

    “Foreign investors always have an interest in Singapore’s assets, but the market proves challenging as Singapore does not have a large pool of institutional-grade assets available for acquisition, unlike some larger economies in the region. Asset owners also hold Singapore assets for (a) longer-term horizon,” she noted.

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