Ben Burston

Chief Economist, Research & Consulting

SydneyAU

I am the Chief Economist and Head of Research & Consulting at Knight Frank Australia. I oversee our research program spanning all states and sectors nationally and am a lead spokesperson for the firm on property market conditions and outlook.

My key focus is providing our clients and our people with the research and innovative thinking they need to achieve exceptional results. I identify emerging trends in the market and the wider economy that will influence future performance and unlock new opportunities over the short and long term and communicate these in a way that is accessible, insightful, and impactful.

With many years of experience in Australia and overseas as a macroeconomist and property research professional, I bring a deep understanding of real estate investment trends and their underlying drivers across all the major asset classes. This expertise enables me to deliver the broad perspective and deep insight that our clients and our people need to drive success and ensure they are future-ready.

I work pro-actively and collaboratively with our global and local research teams to offer our clients the best possible advice, drawing together our collective expertise to achieve exceptional outcomes in the true spirit of partnership.

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Research Reports

Adelaide Office Market Report

The report provides an overview of the Adelaide office market including the CBD and CBD Fringe precincts.

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Leading Indicators

Key economic and financial metrics impacting property markets.

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Australian Industrial Review

A quarterly summary of trends and insights from all major Australian Industrial markets.

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Canberra Office Market

This report provides an overview of the Canberra Office market.

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North Shore Office Market

This report highlights current and forecast conditions in the North Shore office market (comprising the precincts of North Sydney, St Leonards, Chatswood and Macquarie Park-North Ryde).

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Melbourne CBD Office Market

This report highlights current market conditions in the Melbourne CBD office market.

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Sydney CBD Office Market

This report gives an overview of current market trends in the Sydney CBD office market.

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Adelaide Industrial State of the Market

An overview of the market conditions and demand drivers in the Adelaide Industrial market.

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Brisbane Fringe State of the Market

This report provides an overview of conditions in the Brisbane Fringe office market.

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Australian Horizon Report

Exclusive insights into our predictions and outlook for the property market heading into 2025.

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Australian Office Indicators

Breakdown of the key office markets across Australia, and capturing upcoming trends.

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Perth CBD Office Market

This report provides an overview of current and forecast conditions in the Perth CBD office market.

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Brisbane CBD Office Market

This report provides an overview of current and forecast conditions in the Brisbane CBD office market.

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Sydney Industrial Precincts Report

This report provides a precinct-by-precinct quarterly update of the Sydney industrial market.

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Sydney City Fringe Office Market

Examination of the investment and occupier markets in the suburbs of the City Fringe.

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Active Capital The Report

Active Capital gives a unique insight into the dynamics of the real estate capital markets around the world.

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Wollongong Insight 2023

This Research Insight examines market conditions in Wollongong (to the south of Sydney).

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Melbourne Fringe Office Market

This report highlights conditions in the Melbourne Fringe market and what is driving its emergence.

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Breaking the shackles: the rise of BTR

After a long wait, Australia's build-to-rent (BTR) sector is finally emerging due to rising demand, supply shortages, and increased interest from local and global investors. This report provides insights into the current state and future…

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Parramatta Office Market

This report provides an overview of the Parramatta office market.

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Outlook Report

Navigating the Path to Performance. Top ten insights and exploration of the major themes driving the property market in Australia.

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Blog Posts

Tenants to shift into action on ESG.

Net Zero targets are clearly now on the agenda.

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Capital Markets: Back to the Future

Yields rise to reflect the higher cost of funding, but the impact will be mild compared to past episodes.

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Life Sciences: Discovery to Commercialisation

Australia punches above its weight in terms of life sciences discoveries, but more needs to be done to bridge the gap to commercialisation.

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Industrial: Adapting to the Supply Crunch

After expansion comes a period of optimisation to ensure efficiency and resilience.

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Office: The Rise of the Experiential Workplace

Evolving expectations: experience is the new amenity.

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Australia Underpinned by Low Real Interest Rates

Reflecting investors’ sustained appetite for commercial property assets, how will investment volume pan out for Australia in 2022 following the pandemic-impacted fall in 2020?

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Canary in the coalmine? The bond yield spike and implications for property

After a sustained period below 1%, the ten-year bond yield has jumped up sharply in recent months begging the question as to what this means for property.

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The Property Perspective Episode 20 | 2021 Outlook Report - A Correction Like No Other.

In the latest episode of our podcast, The Property Perspective, Ben Burston, Partner, Chief Economist and Michael Schuh, Partner, Joint Head of Valuation & Advisory Victoria discuss Michael's article from our 2021 Outlook Report - A…

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The Property Perspective Episode 14 | 2021 Outlook - Reshaping Cities

In episode 15 of our podcast, Ben Burston, Partner, Chief Economist, Research & Consulting, is joined by Mark Grayson, Director, and Amy Vaughan, Principal Strategic Planner, of our NSW Town Planning team, to focus on some of the aspects…

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Office market investment to be driven by overseas buyers in 2021

Our 2021 Outlook Report has found overseas investors will drive Australia’s office market, increasing their share from 60% to 75% of buyers, particularly due to a greater acceptance of lower returns than domestic buyers

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Strong industrial property performance to continue

Our 2021 Outlook Report is out now. 

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Navigating the next investment cycle

Active Capital 2020 is out now.

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65% of deals in Australia’s capital markets have progressed or completed since March

The Australian Capital Market Insight August 2020 is out now.

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What does the negative interest rate debate reveal about the outlook?

Three separate developments over the past week have given important signals as to the likely path of long-term interest rates here and overseas, but the implications for property are mixed.

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The Australian dollar rebound and what it means for property

After a wild ride over the past two months, the Australian dollar is back roughly where it began in late February. The journey has been a notable feature of financial market volatility triggered by the spreading of COVID-19 and the…

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From unloved cousin to favourite uncle

With COVID-19 acting as an accelerant to structural changes that were already underway, industrial and logistics property stands to outperform through the crisis.

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The flight to quality

As the grip of weakening economic conditions takes hold, one of the effects will be a reassessment of priorities and a shift in attitudes toward risk. It will drive a renewed search for prime property, with reference to both quality of…

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Reduced liquidity and leasing market uncertainty headline the immediate market impacts

The economic sudden stop caused by the virus is having a number of immediate impacts on the property market. 

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Sudden stop creates watershed moment for the RBA

The coronavirus pandemic constitutes an economic ‘sudden stop’ that has motivated an extraordinary response from the RBA, which will impact asset prices for years to come.

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2020 Outlook: Office markets observation

After a strong run of performance, led by Sydney and Melbourne, can the office market keep up the pace in 2020?

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Through the looking glass to 2020

Our inaugural 2020 Outlook Report is out now. 

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