India Overtakes China for Foreign Real Estate Investment: $5.5 Billion in Nine Months, Says Savills

India is now the top destination in Asia for foreign money going into real estate. According to the Savills Capital Signals: Asia Pacific Capital Markets Q4 2026 report, released on 12 November 2026, India attracted $5.5 billion of cross-border real estate investment in January–September 2026, about 50% more than the $3.7 billion that went into mainland China. Moneycontrol, NDTV Profit and BW Businessworld reported the figures. Most of this money goes into offices, data centres and land rather than homes, but it shapes the job hubs that drive housing demand in cities like Gurugram. Here are the numbers and what they mean for home and office buyers in NCR.

What the Savills report says

Moneycontrol reports that India overtook China as the preferred destination for cross-border real estate investment in Asia, helped by growing interest from global institutional investors in commercial property, particularly data centres and development land. Data centres attracted $3.9 billion, nearly twice the capital that went into offices, as operators, infrastructure investors and hyperscalers expand; the report cites development commitments by AirTrunk and EQT. BW Businessworld adds that development land is still the largest single investment category in India.

Savills India CEO Anurag Mathur said that strong occupier demand, healthy rental growth and competitive yields are supporting investor confidence, and that India is expected to play an increasingly important role in the Asia-Pacific investment landscape, according to Moneycontrol. The report also points to urbanisation: about 36% of Indians live in cities, and roughly 12 million people are added to urban areas every year.

The wider Asia-Pacific picture

Across Asia-Pacific, real estate investment approached $200 billion in the first nine months of 2026, up 27% year on year. Data centres grew fastest at +79%, followed by retail at +36%, while office, industrial and hotel deals each rose around 22%. Apartments were the only major segment to fall, by 12%, BW Businessworld reports. Savills also cautioned that investor interest in China could revive as valuations become more attractive, despite oversupply concerns, Moneycontrol notes.

Why it matters for Gurugram and NCR

The report is about India as a whole and does not break the figures down by city. Still, the logic is simple: foreign capital follows tenants, and tenants follow talent. Gurugram is one of the country's largest office markets, and new Grade A offices and data centres bring jobs, which in turn support rental and resale demand in the residential sectors around them. Office yields of 7.75–8% and rents rising 7–8% a year, as Savills reports, also explain why more individual investors are looking at commercial property alongside homes.

What it means for buyers

• Homes near office hubs benefit from job growth. Compare established addresses like DLF Park Place and DLF The Dahlias on Golf Course Road.
• Commercial is a different asset. Yields, lease terms and tenant quality matter more than headlines; see options such as SPJ Vedatam and Trump Towers.
• Institutional yields are not retail yields. The 7.75–8% figure is for Grade A office assets bought by large investors; a single shop or office unit can earn more or less.
• Growth corridors need a longer view. Along Golf Course Extension Road and Dwarka Expressway, check delivery records and RERA dates.

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This article summarises a third-party research report as published by news outlets, for general awareness. It is not investment, financial or tax advice. Figures are in US dollars as reported and may be revised; past trends do not guarantee future returns. Consult a qualified advisor before investing.