Branded Residences Sector Booming

The branded residence sector is proving itself to be a ray of investment sunshine at present in an uncertain wider market, with 640 branded residential developments around the world, delivering nearly 100,000 homes, and the sector expected to double over the next five years, with 1,100 schemes likely to be on offer by 2027.

There are already branded resi developments on every continent except Antarctica, as brands continue to look for new locations to build portfolios.

In terms of current supply, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Cyprus, Qatar, and Costa Rica are seeing the biggest growth right now – of more than 300%, illustrating a clear trend for brand investment in the Middle East and Central and South America.

Looking ahead, the United States, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, and Mexico are predicted to add more than 30 schemes a-piece in the coming years – with over 70 slated for the US alone.

The top three world locations for branded resi are Dubai, South Florida, and New York, based on the number of completed and pipeline schemes. These areas have well-established luxury property markets and attract a range of domestic and international buyers both for business and cultural activity.

Big hotel groups continue to dominate the space. Marriott International has been the biggest parent operator since 2002, and continues to top the table. Accor has risen from fifth place in 2021 to third in 2022, building a considerable pipeline of new branded projects around the world that should bump the company up to second (behind Marriott) next year.

Non-US hotel brands, such as Emaar and Banyan Tree, are also emerging as major players as HNWI populations grow outside of North America and Europe.