Sam Sahn, managing partner and portfolio manager at Hazelview Investments, joined the REIT Report podcast to discuss the opportunity set within public real estate. He pointed to an uptick in investor interest in REITs after a number of years of negative sentiment, and noted that fundamentals are strong across most property types.
“We are seeing today more inbound phone calls from potential investors that are interested in increasing exposure to REITs and real estate in general…they've been out of the sector for the past five to six years, or they've been underweight, and they're looking to increase that allocation,” Sahn said. “They're looking for asset classes that give them cash flow stability. They're looking for income. They're looking for diversification, liquidity, all of which REITs provide,” he added.
As for performance, Sahn noted that U.S. REITs are “starting to regain their footing” in 2026, while Japan and Hong Kong continue to show strength in global markets. “As we look at the world today and over the next 12 months, we're seeing more opportunities in the U.S. than we have over the last several years,” he added.
Sahn also pointed out that 10-year trailing returns for REITs in the U.S., Europe, and Asia are all at cyclical lows. “Going forward, all signs point to those trailing 10-year returns improving and improving in a way where we start to generate what used to be high single digit, low double digit returns, and that's our expectations for 2026 and beyond.”