Latest technological innovations may cut time and cost significantly in preparing real estate projects. Property Forum asked Béla Markovich, CEO of construction giant Mapei’s Hungarian subsidiary about the ways the company uses VR and AI to reach higher efficiency and about R+D activity to produce eco-friendly construction materials.

CA Immo has reported a solid operating performance for the 2023 business year. The results show, among other things, a significant increase in rental income (+8%) and high income from the sale of non-strategic properties (sales result of €179 million, FFO II +102%), which led to an increase in the operating result (EBITDA) of 115% compared to the previous year´s figure. Although the company had to record a market-driven non-cash revaluation loss of €532 million in 2023, the EBITDA of €322 million offsets a large part of the full-year revaluation loss, resulting in a consolidated net income of €–224.5 million for financial year 2023.

AFI Europe has just completed the interiors of sixty rental apartments in the second phase of the AFI Home Kolbenova project in Vysočany, Prague. They are available for immediate occupancy.

Romanian entrepreneurs Cristian and Teo Mercinoiu have bought a land plot near the Victoriei Square in central Bucharest, in a deal brokered by iO Partners.

VGP is starting the construction of new warehouses in its VGP Park Ústí nad Labem City. Building B is being prepared for the Czech logistics company RTR-Transport a logistika s.r.o.

Drees & Sommer, a European consulting company providing a single source of consultation and implementation services for the real estate, industrial, energy and infrastructure sectors has appointed Zdeněk Kovář as Managing Director for the Czech Republic.

The details of development financing of the new office complex by Corwin in Ljubljana have been revealed. The developer has succeeded in securing a €75.6 million loan for Vilharia, arranged by Erste Group, with Banka Sparkasse d. d., Slovenia and EXIMBANKA SR as participating lenders.

Sustainability will continue its massive growth, as stakeholders demand more action on environmental and social issues, and businesses and governments respond to stricter demands imposed by politics and climate pressures, finds a BuildGreen report.

UAE-based property developer Eagle Hills plans to build a completely new city centre in Budapest. Plans contain several highrise offices, residential and retail units, including the tallest tower in Europe.

According to the latest report by Newmark Polska, 2023 was one of the best years in the market’s history. It saw the second-highest new supply (3.7 million sqm) and the third-highest take-up (5.6 million sqm) and development pipeline (2.8 million sqm). Considerable warehouse availability levels brought a long-awaited stabilization of rental rates.