Five years into the global economy’s recovery, interest rates remain low by historical standards. As such, investors’ hunt for yield is intensifying. Fixed-income returns are low, and stock market returns are volatile, pushing investors into alternatives such as real estate.

As the recovery in the global economy and real estate markets transitions into a broader cyclical upswing — with activity supported by improving underlying growth prospects, a favourable policy environment, lower energy prices and stronger US consumer spending — the weight of capital targeting property continues to increase and transaction volumes continue to grow.

Institutional Real Estate, Inc’s FundTracker database reflects five years of steadily-increasing amounts raised for real estate funds around the world, crowned by 2014’s $91.7 billion (€82.5 billion) — nearly twice the $46.8 billion (€42.1 billion) raised in 2010. In addition, global property deal flow rose by 9 percent