The Real Estate Sector Remains Cautiously Optimistic

Report from EXPO REAL in Munich

More than 40,000 participants from 75 countries and regions, 1,778 exhibitors from 34 countries, countless discussions and intense debates: EXPO REAL once again impressively demonstrated that the real estate industry continues to look ahead despite challenging economic conditions. The international real estate and investment trade fair took place from October 7–9, 2024, at the Munich exhibition center.

Stefan Rummel, CEO of Messe München, summarized:
“**The exceptionally positive and stable attendance at this year’s EXPO REAL highlights the fair’s importance for the real estate industry. Despite the ongoing difficult economic situation, there is a sense of cautious confidence. With the Transform & Beyond area and the Sustainable Construction Hub, EXPO REAL offered a platform for essential topics.

At both the conference sessions and exhibitor stands, issues such as the construction of existing buildings, digitalization, and sustainability were in sharp focus. Based on this, I am confident that the industry will successfully navigate this phase.**”

Miki Yokoyama, Managing Director of Aurum Impact Invest, added:
“At this year’s EXPO REAL, naturally, significant attention was given to economic questions around profitability and demand. While Germany’s economic outlook remains challenging, the sentiment is cautiously optimistic. We live in an era of exponential technological change. We must shape tomorrow’s construction while providing the right incentives today for a sustainable future. Capital alone is not enough for real change. This determination to actively and positively shape the future was strongly felt at EXPO REAL.”

EXPO REAL: A Platform for Ideas and Exchange

Market players increasingly understand that the current challenges can only be overcome through new approaches and collaboration. Ansgar Roese, Managing Director of Frankfurt Economic Development, confirmed:
“EXPO REAL is the perfect marketplace for new ideas and exchanges. At a time when addressing new market demands is crucial, it provides the ideal framework for discussing current trends and issues while also fostering new partnerships. This was once again impressively demonstrated this year!”

Valuable Insights and Inspiration: Transform & Beyond

The new Transform & Beyond area at EXPO REAL, with its clear focus on key future and transformation topics, exceeded expectations and struck a chord with the real estate community. Participants confirmed:
“EXPO REAL has once again proven to be the central real estate platform for forward-looking ideas and solutions,” explained Sebastian Jung, Head of Digital Transformation and Innovation at Nassauische Heimstätte Wohnungs- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft.
He added:
“The numerous presentations and discussions, especially in the Transform & Beyond area, provided valuable insights and inspiration for addressing current challenges. EXPO REAL shone a spotlight on relevant themes such as digitalization, sustainability, and innovation while presenting practical solutions.”

Fabian Hellbusch, Head of Marketing and Communications at Union Investment Real Estate, observed:
“We’ve hit the bottom. While this doesn’t apply everywhere, in the core segment it is certainly true, where property prices are no longer falling. What we need now are live events and experimental formats that boldly focus on the opportunities of the emerging market cycle and inspire players to develop new ways of thinking and solutions. With its ‘Transform & Beyond’ transformation area, EXPO REAL offered a smart initial response to the demand gap and showcased its own versatility.”

Future Topics: Affordable Housing and Utilization Concepts

EXPO REAL also tackled some of the most urgent and current issues. Jan-Hendrik Goldbeck, Managing Partner of Goldbeck, said:
“As expected, profitability and demand were even more prominent at this year’s EXPO REAL than in previous years. Recently, the mood in Europe and the German economy has worsened further. It is now crucial to make sustainability affordable through innovation, to develop cost-efficient housing solutions, and to create future-oriented utilization concepts. These forward-looking topics and questions rightly took center stage at EXPO REAL. It is up to us to shape this future.”

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