PwC Europe property trends 2017: sharing economy a focus
A total of 97% of European industry leaders believe UK investment in real estate will fall, according to a survey by PwC and the Urban Land Institute, with more than half saying the dip will be "substantial". The survey, which looked ahead to 2017 and beyond, revealed Germany was considered the safest place to invest in bricks and mortar, with Nordic nations on the rise. More than 40% of respondents were considering "alternative" real estate sectors, while 55% said the sharing economy and greater transparency of data would also affect prices.

New market realities

The European real estate industry is experiencing a seismic shift in its centre of gravity – from real estate as a financial asset, to real estate as a product and more significantly, to real estate as a service.

While there is a general post-Brexit slump in sentiment towards the UK, investors continue to see value in real estate across many parts of Europe. However, return expectations are being scaled down, and the importance of active asset management as a means to access income is being talked up.

Emerging Trends in Real Estate®: Europe 2017 reveals an industry that is starting to look beyond traditional boundaries, perhaps realising it does not have all the answers at this point in time. But if real estate is to thrive in a fast-changing and uncertain world, its industry leaders will need to make bold decisions.