According to Cushman & Wakefield, the total amount invested in commercial real estate will exceed €2.8 billion in 2018 in the Czech Republic. The market has been the most active in the fourth quarter when approximately a half of the total annual volume of investments has been transacted. Czech investors have invested almost €2 billion, accounting for 65% of investments in the Czech Republic. Of the total investment volume, 60% has been invested in Prague and the rest in the regions. The year’s biggest transaction is the sale of CTP’s three industrial parks to Deka Immobilien, a leading German investor, for €460 million.

The Imagine office complex in Łódź is entering its final phase of development. Buildings A and B feature the symbolic topping out, which means that the highest construction point has been reached. The investment carried out by Avestus Real Estate at the intersection of Piłsudskiego and Śmigłego-Rydza avenues in Łódź will be ready to receive tenants in Q3 2019.

Wrocław is the third largest state-of-the-art office market in Poland (after Warsaw and Kraków) and one of the fastest developing office locations in the country. JLL summarized the current situation on the Wrocław office market.

Marian Fridrich joins Cushman & Wakefield as Partner and Deputy Head of Slovakia. From next year, he will be responsible for the overall business development and management of the Capital Markets Group department at Cushman & Wakefield in Slovakia.

GalCap Europe, an investment and asset manager active in Austria and the CEE region, has entered Poland with the acquisition of two historic boutique office buildings in Warsaw, Wilcza 46 and Mokotowska 33/35.

Belgian developer WDP has signed a €45 million deal for the development and lease of 77,000 sqm of logistics warehouse space for the Romanian arm of French retailer Auchan.

Danish facility management company ISS plans to divest its operations in thirteen countries worldwide, including the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia and Romania.

Panattoni Europe opened Panattoni Park Białystok, featuring in excess of 41,000 sqm of Class A logistics and industrial space. The park is a multi-tenant facility suitable for a range of industries – from logistics to production. The complex is currently 60% leased.

The City of Warsaw and JLL will implement a pilot program aimed at increasing the attractiveness of the Warsaw City Centre in the eyes of potential tenants and customers. The changes will be introduced starting with Marszałkowska and Aleje Jerozolimskie Streets.

The European property sector is expected to grow and bring new opportunities, despite continued downside risks, according to CBRE’s 2019 EMEA Market Outlook report.