BERLIN-Retail warehouses and shopping centers are likely to remain the most popular asset in the segment for investors this year, with Germany as the top investment destination in Europe, according to German listed fund issuing house Hahn. Some 77% of investors expect rising deal volumes, up from 53% in 2010, and 63% want to buy core assets while 43% seek core-plus.

In a survey, Hahn found that about 60% of investors are planning moderate or strong portfolio growth, while only 17% are ready to sell. Some 83% want to focus on retail warehouse acquisitions, up by 7% from 2010, 56% on malls, down 1% - followed by high street assets at 50% and department stores with 22%. Some 95% of investors appreciate the stability of the German market and 53% believe prices for warehouses will rise, and some 46% believe the same of malls.

Investors see consumption patterns and demographic changes as most important factors in the next years, followed by construction restrictions, surface development and retail competition. Climate protection issues have grown sharply in awareness.