JLL bets on Italian resi sector in partnership with Abitare Co

JLL has entered into a commercial partnership with Abitare Co, an Italian real estate agency, to respond to international investors’ growing demand for integrated residential services.

The two companies will cooperate on the entire value chain of residential real estate, combining the range of services they offer including capital markets and build-to-sell agency services, guidelines for product design, technological support, marketing and business intelligence services.

The idea is to give institutional investors a one-stop shop that will cover the whole of Italy, from the main cities like Milan and Rome to secondary towns and tourist destinations.

“With this partnership we will enter the B2C market in Italy, in line with JLL’s global strategy for the development of BTS residential services, through the creation of dedicated local teams and shared structures by region,” said Barbara Cominelli, CEO, JLL Italia. “This is an extremely innovative solution for the Italian residential market, as it creates a system of specific know-how and expertise and international networks, offering real added value for both sets of customers.”

The demand for services in the residential sector by institutional investors is growing significantly, she said, and “JLL is happy to have identified the right partner to best respond to new market needs”.

JLL will be able to provide the support of its international network and the proprietary global B2C platform, will identify potential buyers and investors and will facilitate sharing of investment opportunities also to retail and HNWI customers.

Abitare Co will offer a platform of services related to market analysis, the feasibility of the real estate project and technical design aspects, focusing on innovation in service delivery and the development of advanced technologies. 

According to JLL research data, the residential sector is definitely on institutional investors’ radar, especially build-to-sell and build-to-rent. With a volume of around €470 million invested in H1 2022, more than doubled compared to H1 2021, it now accounts for around 8% of total capital markets investments. There is also growing interest in development and conversion initiatives from other intended uses to residential.

“Italy’s residential capital markets sector is of increasingly important strategic value,” said Giuseppe Crupi, CEO, Abitare Co. “Investor interest has grown enormously in the last decade and in the new-build sector there is huge demand for integrated services throughout the value chain. This partnership with JLL is the answer to this market demand.”