diff --git a/spring-data-commons-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/mapping/BasicPersistentProperty.java b/spring-data-commons-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/mapping/BasicPersistentProperty.java
index afc860d88..1db3f0e3f 100644
--- a/spring-data-commons-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/mapping/BasicPersistentProperty.java
+++ b/spring-data-commons-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/mapping/BasicPersistentProperty.java
@@ -153,6 +153,11 @@ public class BasicPersistentProperty implements PersistentProperty {
       return !MappingBeanHelper.isSimpleType(getType());
     }
   }
+  
+  @Override
+  public boolean isEntity() {
+    return isComplexType() && !isTransient() && !isCollection() && !isMap();
+  }
 
   @Override
   public Class<?> getComponentType() {
diff --git a/spring-data-commons-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/mapping/model/PersistentProperty.java b/spring-data-commons-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/mapping/model/PersistentProperty.java
index e6276c43a..55f876acf 100644
--- a/spring-data-commons-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/mapping/model/PersistentProperty.java
+++ b/spring-data-commons-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/mapping/model/PersistentProperty.java
@@ -54,6 +54,14 @@ public interface PersistentProperty {
 
   boolean isComplexType();
 
+  /**
+   * Returns whether the property has to be regarded as entity which means its type will be also be considered to be a
+   * {@link PersistentEntity}.
+   * 
+   * @return
+   */
+  boolean isEntity();
+
   Class<?> getComponentType();
 
   boolean isIdProperty();