Real Estate Projected to Offer Good Returns, Study Finds

NEW YORK CITY-Recent volatility in the real estate market is a thing of the past, according to a forthcoming report by Lend Lease Real Estate Investments, headquartered here, and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. Over the next few years, returns are expected to be steady, with little chance that the market will slump, according to the survey of 150 real estate professionals.

The projection is based on low vacancy rates for major property classes, rising rents and a relatively controlled rate of construction. Even in the event of a recession, real estate should not be negatively impacted, according to Jonathan D. Miller, a principal at Lend Lease and author of the report, Emerging Trends in Real Estate 2001. Those responding to the survey foresee returns of 11% in 2001 for private real estate investments and 12% for REITs.