NEWS

Southern European Living Sector: Investment & Talent Opportunities in 2026

The living real estate sector across Italy and Spain has evolved into one of Europe’s most dynamic investment destinations, presenting compelling opportunities for real estate professionals and executives as we move through 2026.

Market Fundamentals

Total investment volumes reached nearly €10 billion in Italy and over €4.3 billion in Spain during 2024, with the living sector positioned as the preferred asset class for institutional investors. Spain’s real estate investment is forecast to grow with living assets attracting substantial part of that total investment. This momentum creates substantial demand for leadership talent across asset management, development, and operations.

Purpose-Built Student Accommodation: The Standout Opportunity

Italy’s student housing market remains severely undersupplied, with only 4% provision compared to a higher European average.  Government signals both public and private sector alignment, creating exceptional opportunities.

In Spain, major portfolio transactions have demonstrated institutional appetite for scale.

Build-to-Rent and Multifamily Growth

Spain’s BTR and Multifamily segments attract increasing investment, yet supply scarcity remains the defining characteristic.

This supply-demand imbalance creates opportunities for professionals who can navigate planning complexities, secure land, and deliver quality product.

Flex Living and Alternative Formats

Flex Living stock has nearly tripled since 2022, This segment encompasses student housing, co-living, and cohousing, delivering affordable, purpose-built concepts in reduced space, often on non-residential land.

The emerging nature of this product type demands leaders who can translate concepts from more mature markets whilst respecting local regulatory frameworks and cultural preferences.

International Capital Deployment

Major funds have committed hundreds of millions to Southern European platforms, representing their confidence in the region’s fundamentals. Indeed , global managers are re-entering markets after strategic exits years earlier.

This cross-border capital flow requires bilingual professionals who bridge cultural and operational expectations between Anglo-Saxon institutional investors and Mediterranean development realities.

The Talent Imperative

As platforms scale, the demand for senior operational talent, country managing directors, and heads of development intensifies. Successful platforms are making strategic leadership appointments including CEOs, CFOs, Chief Investment Officers, and country heads to support aggressive European expansion plans.

For real estate professionals seeking leadership roles in high-growth sectors, Southern Europe’s living space offers the rare combination of institutional backing, structural undersupply, and platform-building opportunities that define career-defining moves.

The fundamentals are compelling, the capital is committed, and the talent market remains candidate-short—particularly for executives who combine international experience with regional delivery expertise.