Property Investor Europe

European property adds glimmer of gold - PIE 178

PIE Edition 178, out today, takes on a slightly different taste. European real estate has acquired a gleam of gold. Many institutions have cast caution to the wind and are adding to property portfolios fast - partly because it's the best-yielding asset class, and partly for its hedge qualities against future uncertainties, like precious metals

Property Investor Europe with new website www.pie-mag.com, adds staff

From today PIE can be found at a new internet address - www.pie-mag.com. It reflects PIE's growing global readership in 93 nations. PIE also welcomes three new staff: News Editor Marie-Noëlle Biemer in Frankfurt, and in UK, Subscriptions Manager Nivea Brown and Director of Platform Distribution Mace Carnochan. (The old PFE website will redirects for a while).

New DTZ value index shows hot global real estate

The new DTZ Fair Value Index for property takes uses as its base sovereign bond yields, particularly Bunds, to capture returns investors demand in a 'risk free' environment. The global index for last quarter returned 62 - a hot market - while Europe was just below the threshold of 50 and thus cold.

New Almacantar firm eyes post-crisis opportunities

Almacantar, the new firm founded by property executives Neil Jones and Mike Hussey, will use its expertise to focus on creating income post-crisis, mainly in in London and Paris. An investment interruption and more 'unwilling owners' implies wider supply is available.

La Défense towers move ahead again as market thaws

Development of new towers at the La Défense business quarter in Paris is moving forward again after the financial crisis, says Raphaël Catonnet, deputy MD at EPAD and EPASA. A new impetus has emerged after many foresaw a looming shortage in 2011 and 2012.

IVG's Squaire at Frankfurt Airport: Workplace at Europe's centre

The renaming of The Squaire, the ocean-liner-shaped 140,000 sq.m. edifice next to Frankfurt Airport has brought a fresh wind to lettings, and owner IVG is fielding rising enquiries, says MD Christoph Nebl. The key to the its attraction lies in mobility.

Growing from centre as capital moves from core CEE

International law firm Salans, well known in private equity real estate in emerging markets, is spreading its wings from its traditional CEE stronghold, and its Real Estate Group now covers over 20 cities, says its Co-Chairman, Eric Rosedale. "We wanted to be the law firm of choice for .. institutional investors in markets with consistently high rates of growth," he says.

French new home sales back to pre-crisis levels

French new home sales rose in second quarter by 7.6%, taking them back to pre-crisis levels at 29,990 units. Sales were boosted ahead of a cut in the government-backed interest-free loans from July and the continued Scellier tax incentive for buy-to-let housing, said HSBC France economist Mathilde Lemoine.

Moscow office vacancies drop sharply - JLL

Vacancy rates in Moscow's office sector dropped to 15% in second quarter from 19.6% at the end of 2009, buoyed by demand for quality space, Jones Lang LaSalle reports. It expects the supply pipeline to slow, while absorption will continue to grow: after a first slight upward correction in vacancies, figures should then consistently decrease

Real estate funds seen part of solution to pension challenge

Non-listed real estate funds should have a stronger voice in the debate over pension funding, says Hans Copier, Netherlands Country Manager for ING Real Estate Investment Management, in a PIE Guest Column. "For a major investment asset class .. I don't think we're appearing on institutional investor radar screens as often as we should be," he says.

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