Stronger economic growth, the availability of debt capital and a more positive outlook from investors are expected to drive global capital flows in 2017, with $1.7 trillion of dry powder available to deploy in real estate this year, according to the CBRE Global Investor Intentions Survey 2017.

The survey results reveal the sum total of planned capital expenditures in real estate by investors is $1.7 trillion. The majority of investors indicate their buying activity will increase or remain the same compared with 2016. Those investors planning to spend more (40 percent) outnumber those planning to spend less (16 percent), indicating a continuing positive attitude toward real estate as an asset class.

“This time last year, investors were reeling from the volatility in world stock markets; now they are seeing equities reach record highs, and economic sentiment is positive,” said Chris Ludeman, global president of CBRE Capital Markets, in a statement. “Althou