Western Europe real estate ''to prove popular in 2010''

Commercial property markets in a number of western European regions are likely to perform more strongly than their southern counterparts next year, according to one retail estate researcher.

Matthew Richardson of Fidelity Real Estate Investment Management believes that countries including France, Germany and the UK should prove to be popular.

The Nordic nations may also become areas of focus for some investors, he added, along with the Benelux region.

However, as the firm''s head of research, he also added: "Central and eastern Europe, southern Europe and the Baltic states remain too risky until a suitably attractive premium is re-established to tempt investors."

Mr Richardson went on to note that investors may look towards real estate properties next year because of factors such as "increased risk appetite".

Meanwhile, IPD figures have recently revealed that November of this year witnessed a 2.4 growth in capital within the UK''s commercial property market.