The generally superior income returns and long-term liability matching characteristics of real estate investment are a familiarly compelling proposition. And given the prolonged “lower-for-longer” environment, the fact that appetite for the asset class remains unshakably robust should come as little surprise.

Indeed, this year institutional investors and those investing through funds of funds are expected to allocate €64.6 billion of new capital to global real estate. INREV’s global Investment Intentions Survey for 2021 indicates that investors have not been perturbed by the COVID-19 pandemic. On the contrary, they have exhibited a strong appetite for near-term investments into real estate. Europe is a particularly popular destination, accounting for 52 percent of planned global capital allocations this year.

While findings from the survey reveal that the pandemic has not dampened enthusiasm, they also highlight a distinct difference in investment pref