Why could there potentially be a real case for global real estate?
Many investors are familiar with the appeal of holding real estate. With a generally low correlation to other asset classes, it can serve as an instant diversifier in a mixed-asset portfolio.
Historically, real estate has delivered strong relative performance across multiple cycles compared to other asset classes, and its relatively stable income potential, underpinned by long-term leases, makes it a compelling alternative to traditional fixed-income instruments.
Real estate investors around the world have tended to be domestically focused, but many are now investing across global real estate markets. Large institutional investors and sovereign wealth funds have been at the forefront of the shift to global real estate investment, driven by the generally stable income component and the potential for diversification benefits, risk reduction, and return enhancement.
During the current period of rising inflation, global real estate may become increasingly attractive. Direct and listed real estate assets have been mildly positively correlated to inflation since 2010, rather than the typically negative correlation seen in equities or bonds. Different asset classes will have different levels of investor risk.
These attributes lead us to conclude that adding real estate to a broader multi-asset portfolio could offer the potential to achieve diversification benefits without giving up investment returns.
Read our whitepaper to discover why real estate may offer such a compelling opportunity for investors.