CRE Investors' India Bet About to Pay Off

The world’s largest real estate investor has kicked off a trend that’s being picked up in the CRE world. Blackstone Group LP has led a wave of investors in Indian commercial property. Blackstone representatives said that there has been rental growth in almost all markets, and tenants are seeing a huge uptake in what they do and therefore taking large spaces in India.

Blackstone, which has a Mumbai office, is one of several prominent investors increasing their office assets in the Indian economy. Xander Group Inc. and APG Asset Management NV of the Netherlands are following suit. After investing $1 billion in commercial real estate across India, Blackstone holds the title of largest landlord in the country among private-equity investors.

CRE experts are projecting that demand for India’s Class A office space will climb in 2014. They also forecast the strongest demand in major cities like New Delhi, the country’s capital, and Mumbai.

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