As the commercial real estate sector completes a second year of the global pandemic, it’s no surprise investor surveys report a continued interest in commercial real estate debt vehicles. Not a single investor wanted to reduce their exposure to debt, according to the 2020 INREV/ANREV/PREA survey covering commercial real estate debt vehicles. It also reported more investors were spreading their exposure by using a combination of debt funds across North America, Europe and Asia Pacific.

In a marketplace where managing risk has become increasingly important, that makes perfect sense. With uncertainty over the economic outlook remaining high, the appeal of private commercial real estate debt should continue to increase as investors pivot to investments that offer reliable cashflows and downside risk protection.

Performance features of commercial real estate debt

Our analysis shows private commercial real estate debt funds deliver solid and reliabl