Capital Markets

PRIVATE REAL ESTATE CONTINUES TO DELIVER FOR INVESTORS

Investors surveyed in June for the Preqin Investor Outlook: Alternative Assets, H2 2017 reported high levels of satisfaction with private real estate returns. The majority (95%) of respondents reported that the performance of their private real estate portfolios had met or exceeded their expectations over the past 12 months, and 91% felt that they had met or succeeded over the past three years. It is clear that investors have a generally favourable view of the asset class, with 44% reporting a positive perception of real estate, compared with just 14% that have a negative perception.

Global real estate performed exceptionally well in 2017, with volumes up sharply and values ahead. Yields compressed 12 basis points on average, while prime rents rose +1.7% and investment volumes jumped +13.2% in USD terms, ahead of even our own above consensus forecast.

While the momentum this seemed to be feeding into 2018 has been shaken by heightened fears of a trade war as well as renewed stock market volatility thanks to inflation risks, the existing balance of pricing, supply, and demand point to a further healthy year. Indeed, while stock is hard to find we are forecasting a small gain in global volumes thanks to more development, an increase in profit taking, and a release of stock via corporate activity.