The office vacancy rate increased to 13.8% in the first quarter of 2024, representing a 0.4 pps growth quarter-on-quarter and 1.5 pps increase year-on-year. However, the net take-up showed a healthy 25% growth, the Budapest Research Forum (BRF) reports.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is supporting the development of residential housing in Poland by extending a loan of PLN 58.9 million (€13.7 million) to the Polish subsidiary of Nrep Nordic Strategies Fund IV. The EBRD’s loan, provided in Polish zloty, will finance Nrep’s first flexible living property in Poland under its brand Noli Studios. The signing follows an earlier commitment to Nrep of PLN 63.2 million, which supported the development of two residential-for-rent assets in Nrep’s portfolio in Poland, bringing 220 residential units to the Polish housing market.

Already 64% of Warsaw’s office buildings offer at least one retail or service unit, reveals Cushman & Wakefield. With new retail supply remaining low across Warsaw, retailers and service providers are increasingly looking for alternative locations. In addition, recent years have seen a significant shift in user preferences regarding the use of office space and types of services available in office buildings.

Mitiska REIM has announced the opening of a new food-anchored retail park in the Polish city of Świebodzin. Developed in partnership with Karuzela Holding, this is the tenth project undertaken by Mitiska REIM and Karuzela over the past five years, with five more developments planned to open over the next two years.

Since the start of 2024, there has been a slight recovery in the Bratislava market of new residential buildings. According to Bencont's report for Q1 2024, 285 apartments have been sold.

Romanian developer Genesis Property has purchased a 30,000 sqm land plot from Stizo Invest, for an undisclosed sum, in a transaction brokered by Colliers.

Tourism and the commercial real estate industry would both benefit from the existence of theme parks in CEE. Demand is real and exists, however, there are several challenges to address for both investors and developers. Property Forum asked Róbert Székely, Senior Hospitality and Leisure Advisor at Newmark VLK Hungary, to give an overview of the potential of such parks in our region.

PSN has completed the renovation of an apartment building from the 1930s. The BackYard Dejvice project in Prague has been targeted at the young generation and investors. The project is approved for use and is already sold out.

Real estate investments in Romania reached €205.75 million during Q1 2024, up 33% year-on-year, driven by the retail sector, shows a Fortim Trusted Advisors report.

CTP has expanded its Polish land bank by nearly half a million sqm. The company has purchased investment land in four strategic locations that provide the opportunity to build approximately 200,000 sqm of leasable space in the short term, with this land in Łódź, Toruń and the Warsaw agglomeration ready to start the development process. This land acquisition is part of CTP's strategy announced last year to invest €300 million in Poland to grow its warehouse portfolio - a key growth market for CTP.