UK house prices saw a slight decline in August, falling 0.1% month-on-month, according to Nationwide Building Society. Annual growth also slowed to 2.1%, the weakest rate since mid-last year. Rising mortgage costs and stretched affordability have constrained buyers, with first-time homeowners facing payments that take up 35% of their take-home pay. While the Bank of England reduced interest rates, inflation concerns may limit future cuts. Analysts caution that potential property tax changes in the upcoming budget could further dampen market sentiment. The housing market shows signs of slowing after last year's strong growth.Read more

CapitaLand Investment Limited is set to become the first foreign company to list a business park REIT on the Shanghai Stock Exchange, aiming to raise USD 294 million (INR 2,400 crore). The milestone is expected to open the door for more foreign participation in China's real estate market. Alongside, CapitaLand is monetising assets in India, with plans to sell a Chennai commercial property leased to Apple supplier Pegatron for about INR 600 crore. The sale is part of its capital recycling strategy to unlock value and reallocate funds toward new opportunities, reinforcing CapitaLand's focus on expanding its global real estate footprint.Read more

The only home ever owned by screen legend Marilyn Monroe is at the center of a legal and cultural battle as its new owners seek to demolish it. The Spanish Hacienda-style house in Los Angeles' Brentwood neighborhood, where Monroe died in 1962, was purchased in 2023 for USD 8.35 million. Shortly after the sale, preservationists successfully petitioned the city to designate the property a historic landmark, halting the demolition. This ruling is now being challenged in court by the owners, who claim the home has been extensively altered and no longer holds historical significance.Read more

JD Property, the infrastructure and asset management division of JD.Com, has teamed up with Partners Group and EZA Hill Property to create a Singapore-based real estate investment trust (REIT) valued at over USD 1 billion. The REIT is expected to be listed on the Singapore Exchange early next year and will include recently acquired logistics assets. The partners are working towards finalising the portfolio by October. The development highlights growing investor confidence in Singapore's REIT market, alongside increasing cross-border investment from Chinese and international capital.Read more

Aroundtown, one of Germany's largest listed landlords, posted a first-half profit of €578 million (USD 677 million), a sharp turnaround from a €330 million loss a year earlier, aided by a rebound in residential and commercial property prices. Profit had already tripled in the prior quarter, reinforcing recovery momentum, while like-for-like rental income grew 3% across its German and Dutch portfolio. Despite reaffirming its full-year guidance, shares slipped on investor profit-taking. The company also announced CFO Ben David will step down after 17 years, with deputy Jonas Tintelnot set to succeed him. Analysts called the results solid, reflecting resilience and stability.Read more

New sales of single-family homes in the US have declined, highlighting continued weakness in the housing market driven by affordability pressures and subdued consumer sentiment. Although the previous month's figures were revised upwards, persistently high mortgage rates, slow wage growth and abundant housing supply have kept demand weak. Builders are lowering prices to attract buyers, but economists suggest conditions will remain challenging, particularly with labour market softening and inventories hovering near levels last seen over a decade ago.Read more

The global luxury rental market is experiencing a modest recovery, with average rental growth reaching 3.5% in the second quarter of 2025, according to Knight Frank's Prime Global Rental Index. Indian investors are increasingly looking to stable gateway cities like London, New York, and Singapore as prime investment destinations. This renewed interest is driven by a combination of factors, including a shortfall in new construction, a global return-to-office trend, and consistent international demand. These cities have shown resilience and strong long-term growth, making them an attractive option for diversifying investment portfolios.Read more

Sellwin Traders is acquiring a 60 per cent stake in US infrastructure company Shivam Contracting Inc through an equity deal, issuing shares at a minimum of INR 18 each. The USD 6 million (around INR 52 crore) investment will support current and future US projects, with fund repatriation expected within two years. Concurrently, STL is expanding in the Gulf IT market by planning a controlling stake acquisition in Dubai-based GMIIT, targeting more than 51 per cent equity. These strategic moves aim to strengthen STL's international presence while securing operational control in high-growth sectors.Read more

Lowe's has confirmed an agreement to acquire Foundation Building Materials in a USD 8.8 billion deal, continuing its focus on professional builders and contractors. The distributor operates more than 370 outlets across North America and supplies around 40,000 pro customers. This follows Lowe's acquisition of Artisan Design Group earlier this year and reflects its broader "Total Home" strategy. With the new deal, Lowe's has raised its full-year sales outlook and reported stronger-than-expected quarterly earnings, signaling a deeper push into the professional construction segment.Read more

Geberit posted a decline in its second-quarter profit as weak construction activity in Europe continued to affect its performance. The Swiss building materials supplier reported a 2.3% fall in quarterly EBITDA, slightly below analyst estimates. Renovation demand, however, remained stable and now accounts for nearly 60% of sales. While new build activity slowed across Europe and demand in China's housing market weakened, business in India and the Gulf stayed firm. Geberit continues to expect around 4% growth in net sales in local currencies and an EBITDA margin close to 29% for 2025.Read more