The deterioration in confidence in the commercial real estate investment market has softened in the first quarter of this year, according to the findings of Jones Lang LaSalle's real estate investor confidence sentiment survey.

The deterioration in confidence in the commercial real estate investment market has softened in the first quarter of this year, according to the findings of Jones Lang LaSalle's real estate investor confidence sentiment survey.

The survey, which was started at the beginning of 2008, canvasses the views of nearly 300 principals and lenders in the UK commercial real estate investment sector. Paul Guest, head of European Research at Jones Lang LaSalle said: 'Overall investors' sentiment improved during this quarter. The net balance in confidence rose substantially from -43% in Q4 2008 to -22% in Q1 2009. Nearly half the sample saw no change in their outlook - a result that suggests respondents are not expecting the market to get any worse.'