More and more, we see investors opting for vacation homes in emerging economies, which means that developing nations are seeing a rise in homes that are built to serve globally mobile buyers. And there’s one region where the evolution has accelerated.
Emerging Asia is now at the centre of a global shift in capital, labour, and lifestyle migration. A decade ago, investors and manufacturers spoke cautiously about ‘China plus one’ strategies. Today, those strategies have matured into full-scale realignments—triggered by tariffs, supported by demographics, and sustained by long-term opportunity.
The result? A growing demand for high-quality homes, designed for global standards, but embedded in the local economic reality.
Recent research by S&P Global confirms what business leaders have long sensed: sectors like apparel, furniture, and toys have already relocated large portions of their supply chains out of China and into emerging Asia, often in less than a year. Vietnam, Pakistan, Cambodia, and Malaysia are absorbing increasing shares of U.S. imports, and that shift is no longer temporary.
These supply chain relocations aren’t just trade manoeuvres. They’re infrastructure stories. Every new factory is followed by demand for logistics hubs, services, and above all, housing.
Meanwhile, foreign direct investment into Southeast Asia has remained resilient, even as global FDI contracted for a second consecutive year. At the same time, countries like Pakistan are showing new signs of industrial momentum.
In July 2025, large-scale manufacturing output surged 8.9% year-on-year, the strongest monthly growth in over three years. Key sectors such as furniture (+87%), apparel (+25%), and transport (+46%) all posted major gains, reinforcing confidence across the region.
When a company sets up a new export hub, it needs more than machines. It needs talent, supervisors, technicians, and support staff. Over time, these are not just workers, they’re residents. In most of the top relocation markets, residential demand is rising faster than supply.
This is especially true for urban, vertical housing stock that meets international expectations around design, management, and community. These are not speculative projects built for turnover; they’re long-term assets that serve both local professionals and overseas owners alike.
The housing need is not limited to Southeast Asia. Across South Asia, including Pakistan, there is a documented shortage of both quantity and quality in urban housing, particularly in fast-growing cities. Recent independent research reveals that across 14 major cities, vertical housing remains under-supplied, especially at lifestyle or institutional standards.
While developers often cite domestic demand as the main driver, diaspora investment plays a quietly powerful role. In FY2025, remittances to Pakistan reached a record $38.3 billion, up 26.6% from the previous year. July alone saw $3.2 billion in inflows, led by the UAE, Saudi Arabia, the UK, and the US. This is home-bound capital.
Many of these overseas buyers are not simply investing in holiday homes. They’re investing in hands-free luxury real estate that can be remotely managed, rented professionally, and held for long-term appreciation. With British developers now building in Pakistan, now allowing foreigners to purchase real estate digitally, this trend is only strengthening.
Similar flows are visible in other emerging economies: currency-advantaged, security-conscious diaspora buyers are increasingly driving premium demand. And they’re looking for developers who can meet international expectations, digitally, professionally, and transparently.
All of this signals the emergence of a new type of real estate buyer: one who values accessibility, climate-conscious design, dollar-linked rental streams, and construction-linked payment plans.
The opportunity is clear, but so is the expectation. Institutional standards are no longer optional. Buyers expect video construction updates, independent facility management, rental oversight, and clarity on exit pathways. All of which are provided by us.
Properties developed by One Homes are built exclusively for overseas Pakistanis, each of them having brought industry firsts to Pakistan’s real estate market. To find out more about our construction-linked payment plan, our 84-point land check, or to tour our properties for sale in Islamabad, book a call with us today.