For Boston real estate agents scanning for the next wave of demand, the most important market signal may not come through mortgage rates or listings — but from where multinational corporations decide to plant their flag.

Boston has been named the top U.S. city for foreign multinational business activity in the Financial Times–Nikkei Investing in America ranking, a survey that evaluates major cities across more than three dozen metrics that matter to international investors.

The study cites Boston’s concentration of universities, highly educated workforce, innovation economy and infrastructure strength as key drivers of its No. 1 position.

For real estate professionals, that result increasingly shows up in relocation traffic, rental demand and luxury purchases tied to corporate expansion.

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