Just as the global economy was beginning to recover from its historic post-lockdown drop,
uncertainty surged with the enacting of tougher measures to slow the spread of new Covid-19 infections in many countries. However, a major turn in fighting the pandemic may have occurred with the announcement early this month by Pfizer and BioNtech regarding the likely efficacy of their vaccine candidate, which is currently in phase 3, the last stage before certification. For the moment, the latest projections are for a 4.4% global contraction in 2020, slightly better than expected, thanks to the strength of the recovery after the lockdown and during the third quarter. But pandemic uncertainties in the fourth quarter of 2020 could undermine the recovery in 2021 (projected at +5.2%).
With 160 billion euros invested in the first nine months in 2020 (-19% year-on-year), including 99 billion euros in the euro zone (-22%), the European commercial property market* did shrink but is still above its 10-year average. This shows that it remains attractive in the long term. Germany (41 billion euros, -2% year-on-year) is a resilient market; France (21 billion euros, -23%), the Netherlands and Belgium (15 billion euros, -25%) are still far above their 10-year average; and while Spain (6 billion euros, -51%) and Italy (5 billion euros, -34%) have dropped precipitously. On the whole, most prime office, residential and healthcare yields were stable between the second and third quarter 2020. Second-generation shopping centres and retail parks continued to widen but at a slower pace than previously. High street shops have been mostly spared, especially in prime locations of large metropolitan areas. Lastly, after a correction early in the pandemic and during the second quarter, hotel yields levelled off in the third quarter 2020.
* Commercial property means offices, retail shops, logistics, real-estate services
and residential property for institutional investors.
Source of quantified data: CBRE, RCA, Oxford Economics.
The team
With a university education in local economic development, Daniel While began his career as business establishment consultant to local authorities. In 2006, he joined the Institut de l’Epargne immobilière et Foncière as analyst, and specialised in the world of unlisted real estate funds (SCPIs and OPCIs for France).
He is co-author of the book Les OPCI published by Delmas (September 2008). He joined Primonial REIM in 2017, where he held the position of Development Director, then Research & Strategy Director from 2019.
Henry-Aurélien Natter joined Primonial REIM as Research Manager in January 2018. He has the mission of developing the analyses of the Research & Strategy Department on the real estate markets, the economy and capital in France and in Europe.
Henry-Aurélien Natter began his career at Les Echos Etudes (formerly Eurostaf), then at C&W (formerly DTZ), and lastly at BNP PRE, where he acquired solid and varied experience in real estate research, strategy and finance. He is qualified with an AES degree in Business Management, a Masters Decree in management and SME management, and an International Master in commerce and marketing.
After a successful internship in Primonial REIM France's Research and Strategy team, Adrien Isidore joined the team as an economist-statistician in late 2020. Adrien holds a Master's degree in Economics and Statistics from Panthéon-Assas.
Adrien Isidore decided to become an economist after an exchange program in Australia during which he worked in international research groups on various projects, giving him a taste for research. He also holds a bachelor's degree in economics and a university degree in mathematics and finance. His role is to propose innovative statistical tools and to write studies on different countries while providing support in the structuring of the department at the European level.
- Market review
Real Estate Convictions Europe : 2021 Overview
With €318 billion invested in 2021 (up +23% year-on-year), the return to growth in the European commercial real estate market was confirmed. Investors continued their strategy of buying ‘core’ buildings which were concentrated (62%) in office and residential real estate.
- Market review
Real estate convictions: 3rd quarter of 2021
With €175 billion invested over nine months in 2021 (up 7% year-on-year), the European commercial real estate market has seen a return to growth.
- Market review
Real estate convictions: Europe in the 2nd quarter of 2021
More than a year after the start of the Covid 19 pandemic, around EUR 115 billion were invested in commercial real estate in the first half of 2021, again confirming the relatively good resilience of this asset class.
et Firefox 