Foreign Property Investment in Italy Poised to Uptick in 2015

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Global real estate consultant Cushman & Wakefield reports commercial real estate investment volume in Italy during 2014 is expected to be in the range of 5 billion euros ($6.1 billion USD), including single asset and portfolio transactions for all commercial market sectors (office, retail, logistics and hospitality).
 
The provisional figures show more than 20% growth in comparison with the previous year and the trend is expected to continue in 2015, which is in line with the EMEA market, where volumes are forecast to increase 20% next year to circa 250 billion euro.
 
Foreign investors are the most active players and continue to show increasing interest in the Italian market, being focused either on core assets or added value opportunities.
 
The retail market continues to represent the dominant sector of activity, covering approximately 45% of the overall investment volume, followed by the office and the hospitality sectors.
 
In 2014 the Cushman & Wakefield Italian Capital Markets team successfully completed and advised on transactions close to 1 billion euro across all commercial sectors, strengthening their dominant position in the Capital Markets arena.
 
Retail has remained the investment asset of choice both high streets and shopping centres, as highlighted by the recent acquisition of the 8 Gallery shopping centre in Turin on behalf of GWM for circa 80 million euro.
 
Demand is strong for quality office investments and Cushman & Wakefield's sale of the iconic trophy office building in via Santa Margherita, Milan for a record pricing level, further enhanced the demand from International investors for core assets in Italy.
 
Joachim Sandberg, Managing Director Italy comments, "Cushman & Wakefield continues strengthening its position in the market place, not only in the Capital Markets sector, but across all Leasing, Property and Project Management, Valuation & Advisory services".
 
According to Stephen Screene, Head of Capital Markets Italy, "2014 has seen the confirmation of interest in the Italian real estate market on behalf of foreign investors and increasing international capital flows. This momentum will continue into 2015 and we are forecasting the return of core Italian investors to the market together with increased interest from the new wave of APAC buyers who are now firmly focused on Continental Europe".