Savills : top picks for core, value-add and opportunistic investment in European real estate in 2021

The international real estate advisor also anticipates that convenience retail and last mile logistics assets in densely populated areas, and high specification logistics warehouses in markets with high or rising e-commerce penetration such as France, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, the Nordics and the UK, will continue to attract this group of investors. Multifamily assets in cities and regions with supply shortages such as the Randstad (Amsterdam, Rotterdam, the Hague and Utrecht) in the Netherlands, Stockholm, Paris, London and multiple German cities will also remain key for investors.

Savills top picks for value-add investors this year are logistics developments in undersupplied markets such as the Nordics and Spain, short-term income sectors such as flexible offices and student housing, which are likely to recover in the second half of this year, and multifamily developments in markets with rising demand for rental such as Southern and Eastern Europe. Overall, with a number of European countries having introduced stricter environmental building standards in recent years, another investment opportunity is the renovation of buildings to meet higher green standards.

Opportunistic investors may be able to repurpose secondary offices into residential assets, and purchase distressed hospitality assets in tourist destinations this year, according to the international real estate advisor. One of Savills top picks for alternatives in 2021 is science parks in core European university clusters in Denmark, France, Germany, Sweden and Switzerland. Others are healthcare, senior housing and care homes in countries with an ageing population and available product, such as Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands. Furthermore, data centres in markets with strong fundamentals and infrastructure, such as Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Paris, London and the Nordics are likely to remain attractive this year.

Marcus Lemli, CEO Savills Germany and Head of Investment Europe, says: 'Most investors are expected to focus on core / core+ product at least until later this year but we also expect to witness a new wave of capital targeting opportunities occurring off the back of any signs of distress. However, the 'middle ground', which is the value-add segment, has already seen some stagnation.

'Over the next months we should start to see owners gradually becoming more realistic about their holdings. As pricing becomes more transparent, this should encourage more sellers to bring product to the market, unlocking liquidity.'

Eri Mitsostergiou, Director European Research at Savills, adds: 'Investors who are ready to take on some risk may choose to commit to new developments, aiming to catch the cycle at its recovery phase. Developers are already seeking alternative funding as financing conditions remain tight.

'Fundamentals for new developments remain strong as supply remains tight and development activity is low. Average vacancy rates in Europe are still at record lows, at 6.3% for offices and 5.3% for logistics. The residential sector has been constrained by rising labour and construction costs, with the share of dwellings built after 2010 at only 3.7% across the continent, so this sector will continue to remain very attractive this year.'