€27b in European property loans originated in H1 2014

The lending market in Europe has grown substantially in the past two years, with the number of active lenders up 47 percent since first quarter 2012, according to Cushman & Wakefield. The firm notes in its latest European Real Estate Lending Update that €27.3 billion ($36.6 billion) in loans was originated in Europe in the first half of 2014.

In addition, alternative lenders — insurance companies, property companies, and private equity and debt funds — now represent 40 percent of the lending total, up from 16 percent in first quarter 2012.

While the majority of lending — 60 percent of European loans in the first half of 2014 — are concentrated in the core markets of France, Germany and the United Kingdom, interest in peripheral European markets such as Italy, Portugal and Spain is growing, Cushman & Wakefield reports.

While new lending is on an