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Industries

Living

A full-lifecycle platform for maximum value
woman inside apartment
 

The living sector is evolving fast, shaped by a rapid evolution in demographic trends, lifestyle demands and investor appetite.

The Living sector includes residential assets like purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA), build-to-rent (BTR), co-living and retirement living. In India, rapid urbanization and changing household structures are shifting how capital views residential real estate. Policy reforms are also lowering barriers for entry. Meanwhile, demographic shifts from a large student population and an ageing middle class are creating lasting demand. Our teams use deep market knowledge to help clients find opportunities, manage risk, and build strong portfolios that perform over time. 

What Sets Us Apart

Full Lifecycle Expertise

We advise on every stage of a Living asset's life in India, from site selection and design to management and sale. This end-to-end perspective ensures all decisions align with long-term return objectives, providing a holistic approach to your investment from day one.

Living Sector Specialists

Our teams have dedicated expertise across PBSA, build-to-rent, retirement living, and co-living. In a nuanced market, this sector-specific knowledge is not just a differentiator; it is essential for providing credible, effective advisory services.

Data-Led, Human-Centered

We blend proprietary research and market intelligence with a focus on resident experience. As occupier expectations rise, our balance of analytical rigor and human insight helps clients build assets that attract and retain residents for long-term success.

Invested in Performance

From underwriting to exit, we bring performance-minded thinking to every instruction. Our advisory is grounded in the economics behind each decision, giving clients the clarity to deploy capital with confidence and achieve their financial goals.

Sustainability in Practice

ESG is central to how institutional capital evaluates Living assets. We help clients integrate sustainability into design, development, and operations, ensuring portfolios remain attractive to occupiers, investors, and lenders long-term.

Services

Our Services

Valuation & Advisory


We offer institutional-grade valuations for Living assets in India. Our team delivers data-backed analysis for PBSA, BTR, and retirement living, giving clients the clarity needed for confident investment, lending, and reporting decisions.

Learn more about our valuations services


Capital Markets


Our team excels in structuring and executing transactions in the Living sector. We advise on equity placement, debt financing, and asset sales, connecting clients with our global network of investors, lenders, and developers to secure optimal terms.

Learn more about our capital markets services


Strategic Advisory & Consulting


We guide clients through the investment lifecycle. Our advice covers market entry, site selection, and portfolio optimisation. We help developers, investors, and operators formulate strategies that mitigate risk and capitalise on opportunities.

Learn more about our strategic consulting services


Project & Development Services


We help clients achieve their Living real estate goals by integrating expertise across project management, building consultancy, cost consultancy, building engineering, and sustainability. Our specialists provide end-to-end support, from design to construction, ensuring value-driven, risk-managed solutions.

Learn more about our project & development services


Research & Market Intelligence


In a new market, data is key. Our research team offers market intelligence, demand-supply analysis, and insights across all Living sub-sectors. We equip clients with the information needed to underwrite investments and benchmark performance.

Specialisation

Industry Expertise

Build-to-Rent (BTR)


As urban rental demand grows, BTR is a compelling asset class. We advise on market entry, site feasibility, and operational strategy. Our data-backed approach supports the full investment cycle, ensuring assets capture sustained rental growth.


Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA)


A large student population drives demand for quality housing. We help clients navigate this sector by advising on site identification, demand analysis, and capital strategy, enabling them to secure a first-mover advantage.


Retirement Living


A growing senior demographic creates a significant opportunity. We guide clients on market positioning, feasibility, and service design, helping them create successful communities that cater to the lifestyle and wellness needs of retirees.


Co-Living


Co-living is a mainstream solution for young professionals seeking community and convenience. We advise on asset design, pricing, and operational models to maximise occupancy and ancillary revenue, creating vibrant, profitable assets.


Affordable & Social Housing


We work with public and private stakeholders to deliver affordable housing projects in India. Our advisory focuses on creating sustainable investment frameworks and optimising development schemes.

Team

Somy Thomas
Somy Thomas

Executive Managing Director - Capital Markets
Bengaluru, India


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Research

India Investment MarketBeat
MarketBeat • Investment / Capital Markets

India Capital MarketBeat

India's economy remained resilient through FY2025-26, with GDP growth of 7.7% despite rising inflation and global uncertainties. 
17/07/2026
Mumbai
Insights • Economy

2023 Mid-year review on the India Real Estate

The Indian real estate, contrary to the global mood, finds itself in a time which is exciting, dynamic, and full of possibilities. While the global recessionary climate is exerting some influence on the macroeconomic factors, overall, the economy is in a good spot with fiscal 2022-23 recording a robust 7.2% growth - the highest among major economies. 
Anshul Jain • 10/07/2023
Mumbai
Insights • Economy

India on the Cusp of Growth: Infrastructure Drivers in the Next Decade

India is at the cusp of growth with the infrastructure sector playing a significant role in economic advancement of the country. The government has been focusing on initiating policies to ensure the creation of world-class infrastructure in a timely manner.
18/01/2023
Integrated Townships of Chennai
Insights • Economy

Footprint of Chennai’s Future Business Districts and Resurgence of Integrated Townships

Rajiv Gandhi Salai evolved as one of the most sought-after destinations in Chennai to work and live with the amalgamation of lucrative investments; experiences of Walk-to-Work culture combined with the imminent infrastructure that connects south with the rest of Chennai.
Shweta Kuppan • 20/01/2022
Finest Investments Are Usually Well Timed
Insights • Investment / Capital Markets

Finest Investments Are Usually Well Timed

Indian realty has faced multiple headwinds in the past years, but none of those was as disruptive as the COVID-19 crisis. Many of the homebuyers’ preferences are now shifting towards homes which can accommodate a small office set-up and provide open spaces. 
14/06/2021
Mumbai real estate sector poised for a strong recovery
Insights • Investment / Capital Markets

Mumbai real estate sector poised for a strong recovery

Even amidst the current unfortunate turn of events and increasing toll of human lives, one city stands out for its inherent resilience and strength. Mumbai, the financial capital of the nation and a city with one of the highest population densities, has time and again shown its ability to bounce back from serious setbacks.
09/06/2021
Exclusive Interview with Money control - New REITs may be delayed
Insights • Investment / Capital Markets

Exclusive Interview with Money control - New REITs may be delayed, commercial leasing activity to remain flat in short term, says Anshul Jain of Cushman & Wakefield

Anshul Jain, Managing Director, India and South East Asia, says return-to-office plans will be on hold for some time, with vaccination determining the timeline. 
Anshul Jain • 18/05/2021
Chennai Market on the Path to Recovery Post the Covid Disruption
Insights • Investment / Capital Markets

2021: Chennai Market on the Path to Recovery Post the Covid Disruption

Over the past few decades, Chennai has gained in prominence as a key manufacturing/industrial city in India, hosting globally renowned automobile and electronics manufacturers.
10/03/2021
Bengaluru’s office sector strengthening its decade-old bond with institutional investors
Insights • Investment / Capital Markets

Bengaluru’s office sector strengthening its decade-old bond with institutional investors

Bengaluru, Asia Pacific’s second-largest Grade A office market by stock after Tokyo, remains numero uno in terms of office demand in the country as well as in APAC. 
03/03/2021
Indian real estate through the COVID lens
Insights • Investment / Capital Markets

Indian real estate through the COVID lens

India’s office markets were coming off a record year of leasing activity and new supply additions in 2019 (69.2 msf of gross leasing, 45 msf of net absorption and 51 msf of new supply) and the first two months of 2020 looked like an extension of the same momentum.
29/09/2020
Why is India manufacturing set to expand after COVID-19?
Insights • Investment / Capital Markets

Why is India manufacturing set to expand after COVID-19?

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought global manufacturing and supply chain realignment into sharp focus, with the outbreak accelerating a wide array of established trends. 
Anshul Jain • 09/09/2020

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The Living sector refers to residential assets held and operated as institutional investments, specifically PBSA, build-to-rent, and retirement living. Structural demand drivers including a large student population, rising urban rental demand, and a growing senior demographic are attracting institutional capital that previously focused on commercial assets. Supportive policy signals and improving planning frameworks are accelerating this shift. We help investors understand where credible opportunity exists in India.

We approach PBSA mandates by combining demand-side analysis, specifically university enrolment data and international student flows, with supply-side gap mapping across target cities. Our advisory covers site selection, feasibility, operational structuring, and capital strategy. We help clients establish credible frameworks and realistic underwriting assumptions that hold up under investor scrutiny.

BTR viability is being driven by a combination of factors: rising urban rental demand, policy reforms that provide clearer planning frameworks, and a generational shift toward renting as a preferred lifestyle choice. We help clients assess which micro-markets offer the strongest demand fundamentals. Our research capability gives clients a data-backed foundation for India.

We provide end-to-end advisory for retirement living projects, spanning market feasibility, product positioning, operational model design, and investment structuring. The sector is at an early stage, which means credible feasibility work is especially critical. We draw on our regional expertise to help developers design projects that satisfy the return requirements of institutional capital partners within India.

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