After a few sluggish years post-COVID and amid rate hikes, Irish REITs are quietly making a comeback. Improved fundamentals, high-quality tenants, and a pause in ECB rate increases are giving real estate investment trusts (REITs) fresh appeal in early 2025.
IRES REIT is up 11% since January and remains a leader in the residential space. Hibernia REIT is gaining interest as a commercial-focused player with solid tenant covenants. Even legacy Green REIT investment funds are yielding above 5%, making them attractive for income-seeking investors.
What’s changed? Inflation is cooling, vacancy rates are stable, and large institutional players are cautiously returning to the sector. With bond yields falling, REITs are back on the radar for those seeking yield without the hassle of managing property directly.
For private investors, REITs offer real estate exposure without stamp duty or legal fees. Liquidity is another plus — shares can be bought or sold like any listed stock.