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Our private equity capabilities

Our platforms in the U.S. and Europe provide a range of investment capabilities from traditional core strategies to opportunistic property development and redevelopment.

  • We are experienced in all areas of the private equity real estate market, including acquisitions, dispositions, asset management, and development.
  • We source and close a significant number of investments with strategies tailored to each client mandate. Our investors are comprised of a diverse array of defined benefit plans, defined contribution plans, high net worth and foreign clients.
  • Leasing is a key strength and we have executed more than 32,000 leases across over 570 million square feet since 2001.
  • In Europe we have deep experience across sectors benefiting from structural tailwinds such as logistics development, data centers, hotels, and care homes.
  • Our integrated investment process is driven by proprietary research and modeling of both the real estate market and the overall economy, demographics, local sub-markets, and property level considerations.

The opportunity for private equity real estate investors

Today's environment presents a compelling opportunity for private equity real estate investors. With most of the recent value correction behind us – barring a significant economic downturn – there is potential to invest at more attractive entry points. In a market still shaped by uncertainty, strategies that emphasize consistent income generation are particularly well-positioned. Commercial real estate has demonstrated remarkable resilience over time, delivering positive annual returns in 41 of the past 47 years, driven primarily by stable, income-based performance.

Historical performance—NCREIF annual returns

U.S. percentage, 1978-2025

Historical performance for NCREIF annual returns by percentage in the U.S. from 1978-2024 in graph form

Source: NCREIF NFI-ODCE, Principal Real Estate, Q1 2025.
1 Savings and Loan Crisis, 1991-1992
2 Global Financial Crisis, 2008-2009
3 The Great Tightening, 2023-2024

*Represents 2025 Q1 trailing four-quarter annual return .

Explore our featured private equity real estate strategies.

Our 360° view of global real estate gives us the insight needed to help you identify strategies that can offer compelling performance.
Data Centers
Diversify your portfolio and enhance potential for risk-adjusted returns by accessing an exciting sector experiencing unprecedented growth as a result of digital transformation and global demand for data.
U.S. Core Private Equity Real Estate
Deploying a research-based allocation framework with in-depth coverage of more than 40 U.S. metropolitan real estate markets to invest in a diversified pool of high-quality, well-leased U.S. commercial real estate properties, including a long-standing allocation to alternative growing pool of niche property sectors.
U.S. Core-Plus Private Equity Real Estate
Combining the income-generating attributes of stabilized assets with higher, risk-adjusted returns available from value-added and development opportunities.
European Hotels
Targeting areas of distress in the European hotel sector to unlock and create value.

A broad range of real estate investment solutions.

Our experienced investment teams provide comprehensive, specialized, and sustainable capabilities across all four quadrants of commercial real estate—public equity, private equity, public debt, and private debt—as well as infrastructure investing. Whatever real estate strategy or combination of strategies you believe is right for your objectives, we can help.

Core, Value-add, and Opportunistic Strategies
Commercial Mortgages and High Yield Debt
Listed Infrastructure Securities
Listed REIT Securities
Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities
Private Debt Origination

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Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Real estate investment options are subject to risks associated with credit, liquidity, interest rate fluctuation, adverse general and local economic conditions, and decreases in real estate values and occupancy rates.

Principal Real Estate is a trade name of Principal Real Estate Investors, LLC, an affiliate of Principal Global Investors.