This year, inflation has become a top concern for investors. Institutional capital and major funds are planning ahead by shifting from a value-add or short-term hold investment strategy to a long-term hold business model.

"On a short-term hold, it is very difficult to make any meaningful money when the cap rates are so low. You are only going to see revenue increasing with inflation, you have to hold the property for a long time to see growth," Jahn Brodwin, a senior managing director in the real estate practice at FTI Consulting, tells GlobeSt.com.

At the center of the longer-term strategy is long-term debt, usually at 10 years. Because the value of the dollar decreases with inflation, investors with long term debt are paying the loan off with cheaper money. "If you can secure 10-year money with a fixed rate, when you are at year seven, eight and nine, you are paying back debt with cheap dollars," says Brodwin. "If you can lock in long-term low interest rates followed by a period of inflation, while rents are climbing at inflationary rates, your debt is staying flat."