The titanic alternative assets giant's latest move will help bridge a gap between lenders and still-challenged property owners, says debt strategies head.

Blackstone (BX) closed on an $8B commercial real estate debt fund this week, matching a record for the type of vehicle and providing some optimism for a rebound in the sector, according to a media report.

Blackstone has raised $8 billion in its most recent real estate debt fund, the world's largest alternative asset manager said on Friday, a sign that the property sector is seeing a recovery after a couple of tumultuous years.