In H1 2023, the total transaction volume in the CEE region decreased by 59% year-on-year. The current results in the property investment market may not appear very optimistic at the moment, but this is only a temporary situation, Avison Young reports.

Costin Nistor, Managing Director of Fortim Trusted Advisors, spoke to Property Forum about the real estate agency’s plans for 2023, the outlook for the regional real estate market and the growing role of the ESG agenda for the office and soon the residential sector.

The Prague office market proved its stability with a total modern office stock surpassing 3.85 million sqm by the end of Q2 2023. Despite no new office buildings being completed this quarter, ongoing construction projects are poised to add approximately 66,800 sqm of office space across seven projects by year-end. In tandem, the market is embracing the evolving demand for flexible workspace solutions, with four new flexible office centres inaugurated during this quarter, iO Partners reports.

In the second quarter of 2023, the total office stock in Bratislava represented 2.02 million sqm, unchanged from Q1 2023. 17% of total stock consists of class A+ office space, 38% of A class, and 45% of class B office space, reports the Bratislava Research Forum. 

Urbanity Real Estate Group has presented its first ESG report. The company's new system for evaluating sustainability data is intended to enable it not only to better monitor and manage its operations, but also to meet the requirements of new European legislation. Financial institutions and clients that use manufacturing campuses operated by Urbanity are also starting to require the data.

SaaS provider Velis Real Estate Tech has established a partnership with multi brand restaurant operator AmRest for the implementation of the Singu FM system in several markets.

Companies have leased close to 550,000 sqm of industrial and logistics spaces across Romania in the first half of 2023, with more than one third of the volume represented by pre-lease agreements, according to Cushman & Wakefield Echinox.

Industrial developer CTP recorded a net rental income of €268.3 million in the first half of 2023, which was up by 26.8% compared to the same period of last year, while the volume of new leases also rose.

Nrep, the ESG-focused real estate investor with €19 billion of assets under management, has purchased a controlling stake in Polish industrial developer 7R. Following the deal, Nrep will invest around €200 million of new equity in the company.

Synapsis Property Ventures plans to build a new type of hotel at the entrance to Železná studienka in the office zone next to ESET's headquarters in Bratislava. The plan has already received a positive investment decision from the City of Bratislava. The total cost of the construction is estimated by the developer to exceed €50 million. The project is co-financed by Tatra Banka.