Italian real estate funds are set to increase in value from EUR 19.36 bn in 2006 to EUR 24.2 bn by the end of 2007, according to the latest research report by Italy's research institute Scenari Immobiliari. This represents an increase of 25% year-on-year compared to 2006. Scenari Immobiliari is envisaging further growth of 11.5% in 2008. Property funds in Italy have seen their value rocket in the last few years from EUR 2.43 bn in 2001.

Italian real estate funds are set to increase in value from EUR 19.36 bn in 2006 to EUR 24.2 bn by the end of 2007, according to the latest research report by Italy's research institute Scenari Immobiliari. This represents an increase of 25% year-on-year compared to 2006. Scenari Immobiliari is envisaging further growth of 11.5% in 2008. Property funds in Italy have seen their value rocket in the last few years from EUR 2.43 bn in 2001.

Property funds focused on retail increased by 13% in volume in the first half of 2007, reaching EUR 8.5 bn. In H1 2007 retail funds registered an increase of 9% in raised equity over the same period in 2006. In 2007, retail funds acquired 36 properties with a value of EUR 600 mln, while selling 17 assets worth about EUR 200 mln, Scenari Immobiliari said.

Total fund debt in 2007 came to EUR 2.9 bn, up 26% on 2006's level. Scenari Immobiliari said that the funds are still trading at a discount in relation to net asset value (NAV), but this has decreased from 27% last year to 20% in 2007.