Glossary & framework library

Asset class

Foundations

Reference

A category of real estate (residential, office, retail, industrial, hospitality, etc.) with distinct demand drivers.

Related terms

  • Capital market

    The market for the ownership of real estate as an investment, driven by interest rates and risk appetite.

  • Freehold

    Outright ownership of land and buildings for an indefinite period.

  • Highest and best use (HBU)

    The legally permissible, physically possible, financially feasible, and maximally productive use of a site.

  • Illiquidity

    The difficulty of converting real estate to cash quickly without a price concession.

  • Leasehold

    The right to use a property for a fixed term under a lease, after which it reverts to the freeholder.

  • Liquidity

    How quickly an asset can be sold near its fair value without a price concession; real estate is inherently illiquid, and thin, opaque emerging markets make it…

  • Location premium

    The additional value a property commands due to its position and access to amenities.

  • Owner-occupier

    A party that buys or leases property to use it themselves rather than as an investment.