Real estate debt versus equity: stick or twist?

May 2025

Dale Lattanzio, our Managing Partner at DRC Savills Investment Management shared his insights why real estate debt remains attractive to investors, highlighting its resilience, risk-adjusted returns, and strategic role amid ongoing market uncertainty and recovery with IPE Real Assets Virna Asara.

As the European real estate market moves toward recovery, many expected investors to shift away from debt and return to equity. However, the opposite trend is unfolding. Institutional investors continue to favor real estate debt, drawn by its defensive characteristics, stable income, and appealing risk-adjusted returns. Industry leaders highlight how real estate debt has evolved into a distinct and strategic asset class. Despite declining interest rates and signs of market stabilization, uncertainty remains high—prompting investors to prioritize capital protection and consistent yields. Refinancing activity, rather than new lending, continues to dominate the market as asset values adjust and funding gaps persist. This sustained interest in real estate debt reflects a broader shift in investment strategies, where debt is no longer just a safe haven but a core portfolio component.

Read more here.

CONTACT US

Josh Carson

Montfort Communications

+44 (0) 7736 233 039

savillsim@montfort.london

“The defensive characteristics of debt remain highly valued by investors in fluctuating markets - I don’t believe investors are adjusting their allocations.”

Important Information

1. IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Savills Investment Management LLP is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the United Kingdom under Firm Reference Number 615368. Registered office is 33 Margaret Street, London W1G 0JD. Property is not a financial Instrument as defined by the Market in Financial Instrument Directive under European regulation; consequently, the direct investment into and management of property is not regulated by the FCA.

The following terms and conditions must be read before entering the website.

2. TERMS & CONDITIONS

The content contained within this website has been prepared for institutional investors only. Information contained within this website should not be forwarded to any other investor type.

The dissemination of the information contained on this website is only allowed in countries where Savills Investment Management LLP and its subsidiaries have notified or received permission from the local supervisory authorities. If no such notification has been received then no such permission has been granted, and the information contained here may not be regarded as an offer to purchase investment units.

Nothing on the following pages shall be regarded or taken as financial advice. Therefore, access to the following pages is on condition that it is to receive information only and does not constitute an offer to enter into any contract or agreement nor is it a solicitation to buy or sell investments. Past performance is not necessarily a guide to future performance.

Please remember that past performance is not necessarily a guide to future performance. The value of an investment and the income from it can fall as well as rise as a result of market and currency fluctuations and investors may not get back the amount originally invested. Tax assumptions may change if the law changes, and independent advice should be sought. Property can be difficult to sell, and it may be difficult to realise your investment when you want to.

3. OTHER COUNTRIES

The information described within this website are not available in all countries, and nothing contained on this website constitutes an offer or solicitation to anyone in any jurisdiction where such an offer is not lawful or to anyone to whom it is unlawful to make such an offer or solicitation. By using this website you consent to the Terms and Conditions.

4. DISCLAIMER

Whilst reasonable care is taken to ensure that information contained on this website is accurate, we cannot guarantee its accuracy and we reserve the right to change the information on this website (including these terms and conditions) at any time without notice. You must check these terms and conditions for changes each time you intend to use this website.

Savills Investment Management LLP provides this website on an "as is" basis and makes no representations or warranties of any kind with respect to this website or the content contained on it (including any text, graphics, advertisements, links or other item) and disclaims all such representations and warranties. In addition, neither we nor any other contributor to this website make any representation or gives any warranty, condition, undertaking or term either express or implied as to the condition, quality, performance, accuracy, suitability, fitness for purpose, completeness, or freedom from viruses of the content contained on this website or that such content will be accurate, up-to-date, uninterrupted or error free.

5. INDEMNITY

YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU ARE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE USE TO WHICH YOU PUT THIS WEBSITE AND ALL THE RESULTS AND INFORMATION YOU OBTAIN FROM IT AND THAT ALL WARRANTIES, CONDITIONS, UNDERTAKINGS, REPRESENTATIONS AND TERMS WHETHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, STATUTORY OR OTHERWISE ARE HEREBY EXCLUDED TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW. HOWEVER, NOTHING IN THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS IS INTENDED TO LIMIT ANY LIABILITY THAT SAVILLS INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT MAY HAVE UNDER APPLICABLE LAWS AND REGULATION.

Save in respect of liability for death or personal injury arising out of negligence or for fraudulent misrepresentation, we and all contributors to this website hereby disclaim to the fullest extent permitted by law all liability for any loss or damage including any consequential or indirect loss or damage incurred by you, whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise, and arising out of or in relation to or in connection with your access to or use of or inability to use this website.

6. COPYRIGHT

The copyright on this website and its content belong to Savills Investment Management LLP. You may not make a permanent copy of or reproduce this website or any of its contents in any form. You may not reproduce or incorporate this website or any of its contents into any other website. You may only print or cache temporary copies of the content for your own personal non-commercial use. Savills Investment Management LLP welcomes links to this website from relevant third party websites. However, if requested in writing by Savills Investment Management LLP, links must be removed within 24 hours. Savills Investment Management and the Savills Investment Management logo are trademarks registered in the name of Savills Investment Management LLP in the UK and other parts of the world. Reproduction of these trademarks other than in order to view this website is prohibited. Nothing on this site should be construed as granting any licence or rights to use or distribute any site content without express written agreement.

7. INTERUPTIONS AND OMISSIONS IN THIS SERVICE

Whilst we take every care to ensure that the standard of this website remains high and to maintain the continuity of it, the internet is not always a stable medium and errors, omissions, interruptions of service and delays may occur at any time. As a result, we do not accept any ongoing obligation or responsibility to operate this website (or any particular part of it.

8. INVALIDITY

If any part of our terms and conditions is unenforceable (including any provision in which we exclude our liability to you) the enforceability of any other part of these conditions will not be affected.

9. LINKS

This website may contain links to third party websites over which Savills Investment Management LLP has no control. Savills Investment Management LLP assumes no responsibility for the content of third-party websites or for any losses which may arise out of use of a third party website. The presence of a link to a third party does not necessarily mean that Savills Investment Management LLP endorses that site or has any association with the proprietor of that website.

10. GOVERNING LAW

The terms and conditions related to your use of this website are governed exclusively by English law except for the information provided by Savills Investment Management SGR S.p.A. which is governed by Italian law.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, as to these terms and conditions and your use of this website, the information provided by Savills Investment Management Asia Ltd (Japan branch) is governed by Japanese law. All disputes relevant to the use of this website shall be subject to the agreed exclusive jurisdiction of Tokyo District Court as court of first instance.

11. DATA PROTECTION

Please refer to the data protection page to review the Savills Investment Management Privacy Policy.