“’Cuz they say two thousand zero zero party over, oops out of time. So tonight I’m gonna party like it’s nineteen ninety-nine …”

Prince may have had it right when he released his song “1999,” but do we still want to celebrate like it’s 1999?

The trends during the past few years have definitely been ones that relate to an improving economy. In the past several years, investors and managers alike have been increasingly investing more capital into real estate. The real estate asset class has grown in popularity as investors seek yield in a low yield environment.

Before the prediction of year-end 2014 fundraising totals commences, let’s take a look back over the past few years and see what trends have led us to today.

2012

Fundraising activity surged in the fourth quarter 2012 to $24.2 billion, the highest mark since third quarter 2008, when investment managers ra