The outlook for the European commercial real estate market is one of the hottest topics in the financial markets following the sector’s record performance last year. Early in 2016, market trends were largely underwhelming. Investment in the sector fell year-on-year by 40 percent in the first quarter, according to Real Capital Analytics, partly as a result of Asian buyers stalling on deals, of Brexit fears casting a shadow, particularly in the United Kingdom, and of high concerns over potential rises in interest rates and a slowdown in global growth. However, with better economic and market news over the past few months, investors continue to be attracted by the still sound long-term fundamentals of the European commercial real estate market, which should ensure that it still offers robust opportunities this year.
Last year, the real estate sector registered a record performance. In Europe, investment peaked at €238.5 billion in 2015, a 25 percent year-on-year increase. Al