Speakers from around the world converged at the Nedbank Corporate Property Finance sponsored inaugural SA REIT Conference in Sandton on 22 October 2014 to speak on corporate governance, funding trends and how to attract investors to REITs.

Property shares appear to be settling around 15% below their level of late last year, disconnecting from the recovery in the overall JSE

Catalyst continues to favour funds that exhibit high-quality and sustainable income streams; excellent disclosure and transparency; and management with a proven ability to perform

JSE-listed property funds - managed portfolios of shopping centres, offices and industrial property - show no sign of peaking, as some analysts started warning over a year ago that they would. Their combined market capitalisation has doubled to R46-billion in five years, and should reach R50-billion this year.

Big funds red in tooth and claw have appetite and muscle to swallow their peers

Teeny cap Spearhead, the R240m property loan stock company, has outperformed JSE-listed peers