Real estate is approaching a tipping point where investing in alternative asset classes across Europe is becoming the norm.

While they are still regarded as sometimes difficult to access, alternatives are growing in popularity and are seen as offering the best returns. Total real estate investment in Europe in Q2 2017 reached €74 billion, representing a 25 percent increase on the same period last year, according to CBRE, driven in part by the growth in the alternative property sector, which saw a 20 percent increase in volumes year-on-year as investors look to diversify their asset base.

In a changing real estate world, traditional offices and shopping centres are now classed among the riskiest assets, left behind by urbanisation and changing consumer habits. Political certainties are being eroded rapidly, returns are low and risk seems latent due to low yields and sluggish economic growth. Safe havens like London and other once sure-fire cities no longer hold that s