Residential real estate has maintained its position as the most attractive sector for real estate investment in Europe, according to global real estate services provider CBRE's European Investor Intentions Survey 2026, as investor confidence continues to grow and expectations for transaction activity rise. For the second time in a row, Living leads the ranking. The asset class continues to benefit from strong structural demand, limited supply and favourable long-term fundamentals, putting it ahead of logistics and office for both domestic and cross-border investment. The entire results of the survey can be found on the CBRE website.
Investor confidence rises – 2026 as a key year for market recovery
"Increased investor confidence in European real estate reflects stabilizing prices and broader availability of debt capital. As the price expectations of buyers and sellers continue to converge, 2026 is likely to be a crucial year for the recovery of the market," says Dr. Jan Linsin, Head of Research at CBRE in Germany.
"Residential real estate continues to be a clear focus of investment strategies, while capital is increasingly focused on markets with solid fundamentals and long-term growth potential," says Filip Hejnal, Head of Equity Placement at CBRE in Germany.
The survey also shows an improvement in market sentiment, with investors citing falling financing costs and attractive entry prices as key tailwinds for investments. Almost nine out of ten investors (89 percent) expect their buying activities to increase or remain stable in 2026, while 83 percent expect sales activity to also increase or remain at current levels.
