The availability of a reliable underlying index is a necessary condition, but not sufficient for a derivatives market. A further challenge is to educate investors and potential market participants. Brokers in particular were embarking on education programs to encourage traditional property investors to look at trading derivatives. Besides the big players, smaller participants should get educated in the same way.

The idea of derivatives as instruments to gain exposure to property has not yet been fully accepted by real estate industry leaders. Growth in the property derivatives market must be led by an increased understanding and acceptance of reliable indices and instruments on them, as well as a better understanding of their potential benefits. Managers of property portfolios need to see that risk can be dealt with quickly and relatively cheaply, saving transaction time and costs. If a real estate portfolio manager wants to reduce property exposure temporarily, he or she must be aware that derivatives allow this to be done without selling a portfolio that the manager may not be able to get back.