W7 PRESENTS : REAL ESTATE NEWS FROM THE 7 CONTINENTS

One Planet. Seven Continents. One Weekly Property Report.

By Publisher Ray Carmen

Africa — The Rise of Secondary Cities

Africa’s property story is increasingly moving beyond the traditional giants of Lagos, Nairobi, Johannesburg and Cairo. A growing number of secondary cities are being planned and promoted across the continent, driven by population growth, urbanisation, housing demand and infrastructure investment. Recent reporting notes that more than 40 new secondary-city projects have been announced across Africa over the past decade, showing how governments and developers are looking beyond overcrowded megacities.

For investors, the African story is no longer only about luxury towers. It is about housing, new towns, retail, transport links and long-term urban growth.

Asia — Branded Residences and Prime City Demand

Asia continues to be one of the world’s most active property regions. Thailand’s branded residences market has reportedly passed THB 205 billion in value, with Phuket and Bangkok remaining key luxury hotspots.

Across Asia-Pacific, investment has also shown resilience. Savills reported that Asia-Pacific real estate investment rose 19.2% year on year in Q1 2026, despite wider geopolitical and economic uncertainty.

Tokyo remains one of the standout prime residential markets, with reports highlighting major price growth linked to limited supply, low interest rates and strong regional demand.

Europe — London Offices and Prime Property Recovery

Europe’s real estate market is showing signs of selective recovery. In London, Barclays’ £750 million purchase of its Canary Wharf headquarters was reported as Europe’s largest office sale in nearly four years, giving a confidence boost to a district affected by remote-working trends.

CBRE’s 2026 European outlook says the market has entered a new cycle, though with elevated long-term interest rates and a greater focus on income, asset quality and active management.

Luxury housing remains uneven but active, with European prime markets such as Prague showing strong performance while London has faced pressure.

North America — A Slower Housing Market, Strong Celebrity Property Interest

In the United States, the housing market remains cautious. J.P. Morgan’s 2026 outlook expects house prices to stall at around 0% this year, while sales gradually improve.

At the same time, celebrity and trophy homes continue to attract attention. Katherine Heigl has listed her Utah estate for $10.6 million, while Taylor Swift’s U.S. property portfolio has been reported at around $157 million, underlining the continued fascination with celebrity real estate.

South America — Commercial Real Estate Growth

South America’s commercial real estate market continues to expand, supported by urban growth, logistics, offices, retail and mixed-use development. Mordor Intelligence estimates the South American commercial real estate market at about USD 345.22 billion in 2026, with projected growth to USD 485.3 billion by 2031.

The wider Latin American real estate market is also forecast to grow strongly through the next decade, reflecting rising demand for homes, commercial space and investment assets across major regional economies.

Oceania — Australia’s Two-Speed Property Market

Oceania’s property story is led by Australia and New Zealand. In Australia, the gap between house and apartment prices has reportedly reached a record high, with detached houses rising much faster than units over the past five years.

CBRE’s Pacific Market Outlook also points to tighter property choice across Australia and New Zealand, partly because fewer new developments are entering the supply pipeline.

In New Zealand, the housing market has softened, with Westpac reporting that April 2026 sales fell about 3% on a seasonally adjusted basis.

Antarctica — The Final Frontier

Antarctica remains the continent where nature is still the only landlord.

There is no traditional property market, no luxury apartments and no private residential boom. Instead, Antarctica’s built environment is about science, conservation and survival. In June 2026, the British Antarctic Survey reported major construction upgrades at Rothera Research Station, designed to support future polar science.

At the same time, scientists continue to warn that the future of the Antarctic Peninsula depends heavily on global climate choices made today.

Antarctica closes the W7 property report with a reminder: while the world builds, buys and invests, one continent still asks humanity to protect before it develops.

W7 Closing Line

CONTINENT BY CONTINENT • COUNTRY BY COUNTRY • HOME BY HOME

From Africa’s new cities to Asia’s branded residences, from Europe’s office revival to North America’s celebrity estates, from South America’s commercial growth to Oceania’s housing divide, WORLD OF 7 follows the property story of the planet.

And at the end of the world, Antarctica reminds us that the greatest estate of all is the Earth itself.