Alternatives
Beyond bricks: Innovation is driving the future of real estate
While market turbulence will proceed into 2024, we believe select real estate opportunities will continue to present compelling investment opportunities. Real estate portfolios that allocate to alternative property types and are focused on large-scale trends could benefit from enhanced diversification and superior resiliency.
Generative artificial intelligence (AI)
Innovations have the potential to revolutionize underwriting, valuation, development, leasing, building operations and risk. AI intersects with real estate in multiple ways, from changing the number of employees in an office to enhancing operations systems like building heating and cooling systems. New buildings with state-of-the-art specifications will be an important part of the AI trend.
Battery/chip manufacturing
Demand for batteries and chips will create opportunities, particularly in former industrial cities. For example, Intel is investing in facilities in Columbus, Ohio, and Magdeburg and Dresden, Germany. Meanwhile, manufacturers of electric vehicles (EVs) and EV batteries are investing billions in cities like Spartanburg and Savannah in the Southeast U.S. and Billy-Berclau in the north of France.
Alternative property types
These market segments — such as health care and self-storage — typically rely less on economic growth and more on demographics, structural changes and technology. One of the biggest drags on real estate returns is the cost of maintaining a real estate asset. On average, these costs are lower for alternative sectors (13%) than for traditional real estate sectors (20%).
Transition to the low carbon economy
The structural factors toward the decarbonization of real estate continue to increase, with market bifurcation between brown and green buildings already observed in some European office markets. Net zero carbon market drivers are increasing demand for low carbon buildings and creating opportunity for new development and upgrading existing structures, which may lead to higher rents/income.
Aging populations
10% of the world population is more than 65 years old, with the expectation to add 800 million more seniors by 2050. Across the developed world, more than one-third of the population may require senior living solutions. Ample opportunities exist to build up an attractive portfolio of senior housing assets across global cities that may deliver strong risk-adjusted returns backed by structural tailwinds.
In this issue
Examining the benefits of interval funds. Tailored strategies may offer investors an illiquidity premium.
Charlotte, the queen city. Charlotte shows resilience and a dynamic market for business.
Shedding light on alternatives. We address investor concerns and questions.
Endnotes
The views and opinions expressed are for informational and educational purposes only as of the date of production/writing and may change without notice at any time based on numerous factors, such as market or other conditions, legal and regulatory developments, additional risks and uncertainties and may not come to pass. This material may contain “forward-looking” information that is not purely historical in nature.
Such information may include, among other things, projections, forecasts, estimates of market returns, and proposed or expected portfolio composition. Any changes to assumptions that may have been made in preparing this material could have a material impact on the information presented herein by way of example. Performance data shown represents past performance and does not predict or guarantee future results. Investing involves risk; principal loss is possible.
All information has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but its accuracy is not guaranteed. There is no representation or warranty as to the current accuracy, reliability or completeness of, nor liability for, decisions based on such information and it should not be relied on as such. For term definitions and index descriptions, please access the glossary on nuveen.com. Please note, it is not possible to invest directly in an index.
Important information on risk
All investments carry a certain degree of risk and there is no assurance that an investment will provide positive performance over any period of time. Equity investing involves risk. Investments are also subject to political, currency and regulatory risks. Diversification is a technique to help reduce risk. There is no guarantee that diversification will protect against a loss of income. Debt or fixed income securities are subject to market risk, credit risk, interest rate risk, call risk, derivatives risk, dollar roll transaction risk, and income risk. As interest rates rise, bond prices fall. Foreign investments involve additional risks, including currency fluctuation, political and economic instability, lack of liquidity, and differing legal and accounting standards. These risks are magnified in emerging markets.
As an asset class, real assets are less developed, more illiquid, and less transparent compared to traditional asset classes. Investments will be subject to risks generally associated with the ownership of real estate-related assets and foreign investing, including changes in economic conditions, currency values, environmental risks, the cost of and ability to obtain insurance, and risks related to leasing of properties. Real estate investments are subject to various risks, including fluctuations in property values, higher expenses or lower income than expected, and potential environmental problems and liability. Please consider all risks carefully prior to investing in any particular strategy. A portfolio’s concentration in the real estate sector makes it subject to greater risk and volatility than other portfolios that are more diversified and its value may be substantially affected by economic events in the real estate industry. International investing involves risks, including risks related to foreign currency, limited liquidity particularly where the underlying asset comprises real estate, less government regulation in some jurisdictions, and the possibility of substantial volatility due to adverse political, economic or other developments. As an asset class, agricultural investments are less developed, more illiquid, and less transparent compared to traditional asset classes. Agricultural investments will be subject to risks generally associated with the ownership of real estate-related assets, including changes in economic conditions, environmental risks, the cost of and ability to obtain insurance, and risks related to leasing of properties.
Investors should be aware that alternative investments including private equity and private debt are speculative, subject to substantial risks including the risks associated with limited liquidity, the use of leverage, short sales and concentrated investments and may involve complex tax structures and investment strategies. Alternative investments may be illiquid, there may be no liquid secondary market or ready purchasers for such securities, they may not be required to provide periodic pricing or valuation information to investors, there may be delays in distributing tax information to investors, they are not subject to the same regulatory requirements as other types of pooled investment vehicles, and they may be subject to high fees and expenses, which will reduce profits. Alternative investments are not appropriate for all investors and should not constitute an entire investment program. Investors may lose all or substantially all of the capital invested. The historical returns achieved by alternative asset vehicles is not a prediction of future performance or a guarantee of future results, and there can be no assurance that comparable returns will be achieved by any strategy.
Responsible investing incorporates Environmental Social Governance (ESG) factors that may affect exposure to issuers, sectors, industries, limiting the type and number of investment opportunities available, which could result in excluding investments that perform well. ESG integration incorporates financially relevant ESG factors into investment research in support of portfolio management for actively managed strategies. Financial relevancy of ESG factors varies by asset class and investment strategy. Applicability of ESG factors may differ across investment strategies. ESG factors are among many factors considered in evaluating an investment decision, and unless otherwise stated in the relevant offering memorandum or prospectus, do not alter the investment guidelines, strategy or objectives.
Nuveen, LLC provides investment services through its investment specialists.
This information does not constitute investment research as defined under MiFID.
