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India is ranked 20th in the list of world's top real estate investment markets with investment volume of $3.4 billion in 2012, property consultant Cushman & Wakefield said in its latest report.
China was at the top position with investment of $304.1 billion, followed by US ($267.1 billion) and UK ($56.3 billion).
The consultant said the global property investment market grew by 6 per cent in 2012 to $929 billion and is expected to cross $1 trillion mark in 2013, the first time since 2007.
"India was (20th) among the top 20 real estate investment markets globally with investment volume of Rs 19,000 crore ($3466 million) recorded in 2012," C&W said in a statement.
The majority of the investment in India were through institutional sales (67 per cent) while remaining were through private equity (PE) investments (33 per cent).
"The market witnessed institutional sales (excluding apartments) of Rs 12,800 crore, concentrated in commercial development sites and office segment including stand-alone and pre-leased office buildings," it added.
Investments in institutional sales saw a decline of 37 per cent over last year, but private equity investment in India rose by 7 per cent in 2012 at Rs 6,200 crore.
Bengaluru saw the highest number and value of private equity investments at Rs 3,250 crore in 2012, posting more than double of investment over last year, followed by Mumbai with Rs 1,300 crore and NCR with Rs 700 crore investments.
"Investment in ready income generating/operational office assets have gained strength over the last few years due to lower risk and steady cash flows associated with this type of investment. With increase in number of high value transactions in this sector, the market is moving towards a mature phase," C&W South Asia Executive Managing Director Sanjay Dutt said.
According to C&W latest report 'International Investment Atlas', the global property investment market recorded a modest 6 per cent rise in activity during 2012 with volumes reaching $929 billion.
"In what was a difficult year in most markets, investment volumes rallied in Q4 signalling the beginning of real momentum and a return of confidence in the market which could see volumes this year increase 14 per cent to exceed $1 trillion mark for the first time since 2007," the report forecast.
