Growing investor appetite for industrial assets, a supply gap on the Warsaw office market and Poland moving up global ratings - these are some of the real estate market highlights of 2018. All the indications are that in the months ahead the market’s focus will be on alternative asset classes and the likelihood of an economic slowdown. Real estate advisory firm Savills presents its preliminary summary of Poland’s commercial property market performance in 2018 and an outlook for the next twelve months.

Galeria Bronowice, managed by Ceetrus Poland, received the BREEAM-In-Use Certificate with the highest “Excellent” rating. The document confirms that the facility in Kraków is an environmentally-friendly building operating in accordance with the principles of sustainable development. Galeria Bronowice received this distinction in two categories, for building management and for the building itself.

Wing has sold the Angyal (Angel) office building, set adjacent to Boráros Square in Central Budapest, to French economy hotel chain B&B Hotels. The building will be converted to a hotel based on the two companies’ strategic agreement, and become B&B Hotels’ first hotel in Hungary, with Wing taking on development tasks. The first B&B Hotels location in Hungary set to open on 7,700 sqm.

During 2018 the total commercial real estate investment transaction volume passed the €1.8 billion level in Hungary, marking the third consecutive year of stable and strong investor appetite and the highest annual transaction volume since 200, according to JLL Hungary's latest numbers. Hungarian funds were the most active purchasers with a market share above 50%.

Globalworth Poland has closed the acquisition of two office buildings in Warsaw, Skylight and Lumen, from Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield.

The total value of commercial real estate investment transactions in Poland may exceed €6.3 billion for 2018, the best ever result for the country's market, JLL reports.

Hosted by RICS in Austria, the 6th Annual RICS CEE Event, held at the British Ambassador’s Residence in Vienna, aimed to answer a number of questions related to the future of the profession and presented how RICS, a solution leader in the real estate sector, helps professionals become well-equipped to meet challenges of the 21st century.

Profitability of the 22 construction groups listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange continued in the negative territory throughout Q3 2018. Moreover, the third quarter of the year was the second consecutive quarter in which profitability reported by property developers was on the decline, though it should be noted that their earnings were still fairly decent and at a sound level when compared to contractors. On the other hand, financial results delivered by manufacturers and suppliers of building materials and construction equipment were solid

Wing has acquired Siemens’ office complex on Gizella Road in Budapest. The complex offers a total GLA of 40,000 sqm in eight buildings, most of which is office space, in addition to areas with industrial and educations functions. The property also has the potential for further development.

The European Investment Bank (EIB) is lending €150 million to Warehouses De Pauw (WDP) to finance the construction of 43 warehouses, all located in Romania’s convergence regions. The new logistics facilities will be rented long-term, with a focus on establishing new logistics or light industrial operations. This will promote employment generation and the EU's supply chain security, resulting in particular from the rapidly growing e-commerce business platforms.