From crowdfunding to public listings, there are plenty of opportunities for the public to invest in the estate agent sector.

Online agent Purplebricks is due to list on the alternative investment market on 17 December with a market capitalisation of £240.3million having attracted funds from big asset managers such as Old Mutual and Artemis.

Even star fund manager Neil Woodford, who runs his own self-titled equity income fund, has put money into Purplebricks.

But traditional high street agents are still key parts of many top UK funds, showing the professional still see health in the sector.

Fund research house Trustnet has revealed some of the biggest funds investing in estate agent brands.

Aviva UK Smaller Companies

The Aviva Investors UK Smaller Companies fund invests predominantly in the bottom 10 per cent businesses on the UK main market.

The portfolio has £70million of assets under management.

It has exposure to FTSE All Share listed LSL Property Services, parent company of estate agent brands including Marsh & Parsons, and Reeds Rains.

The fund has returned 60.7 per cent over the past three years compared with 5.4 percent in the UK Smaller Companies sector.

Franklin Templeton European Growth

The Franklin Templeton European Growth fund holds shares in companies it feels will provide stable long term growth.

It manages £999million and dedicates 3.59 per cent to estate agent giant Countrywide, the tenth largest holding.

The fund has returned 18.6 per cent over three years, lagging the European sector, which has posted growth of 31.1 per cent.

PFS Chelverton UK Equity

The 7.8million PFS Chelverton UK Equity Growth Fund, launched just last year, invests in small and medium sized companies in the UK.

Foxtons, which recently slid out of the FTSE 250, is the eighth largest holding in the fund, making up 1.8 per cent of the portfolio.

The fund has returned 27.1 per cent in the past year, compared with 3.8 per cent in the UK All Companies sector.

Rathbone Global Opportunities Fund

The Rathbone Global Opportunities fund invests in small and medium sized companies from around the world

Its fifth largest holding is property portal Rightmove, representing 2.47 per cent.

The fund manages £129million and has returned 56.75 per cent, compared with 34.33 per cent in the Global sector over three years.