Several years ago, investing in Europe was too risky a notion for many North American investors — the region was embroiled in macroeconomic disasters that understandably put many managers off a trip across the pond.

Appetite for Europe appears to be increasing, however. Full-year 2017 real estate investment in Europe, the Middle East and Africa is expected to reach €242 billion ($303 billion) — a 10 percent increase from 2016, according to property services company JLL.

The estimate follows an increase in cross-border investment. The total value of U.K. deals by North America–based and other international investors increased significantly, to an aggregate €11.4 billion ($14.3 billion) in 2017, up 84 percent year-over-year.

This category of investors also increased its share of the total European market from €30 billion ($38 billion) in 2016 to €40 billion ($50 billion) in 2017 — 15 percent of total investment.

The uptick in activity among