After a slight drop last year, fundraising activity is back in high gear this year. During the third quarter 2018, 32 private equity real estate funds recorded final closings, raising a total of $36.2 billion, according to Institutional Real Estate, Inc.’s FundTracker database. While technically not a record amount for a third-quarter fundraising volume — $36.6 billion was raised in third quarter 2008 — there’s a strong possibility the third quarter 2018 total will increase in the coming weeks as a few more fund closings are reported — and then the new record will be official.

Pairing the healthy third-quarter total with the highest first-quarter volume on record — $34.5 billion — helps bring the year-to-date total to $97.7 billion, a figure that is well positioned to push the annual total to the highest mark since the global financial crisis. While 2018 may not challenge the all-time fundraising record of $134.9 billion set in 2008, it is sure to surpass the cu