Decarbonisation roadmap, eco-certification in the residential sector, the future of the circular economy and other ecological trends in today’s construction world - these were some of the topics that we discussed in an interview with Iveta Králová, Chair of the Czech Green Building Council.

The latest Hungarian house price index for Q1 2023, which includes preliminary data, shows that the sharp fall in the number of sales transactions has not yet been followed by a similar decline in prices. The preliminary figures published by the Central Statistical Office (KSH) show prices stagnating in nominal terms: after a 2% drop in the previous quarter, prices have now risen by 2%, essentially returning to their Q3 2022 level. But what does this mean in relation to market fundamentals and what could be in store for the rest of the year?

In addition to the existing investment facility with an overall amount of €118 million, pbb Deutsche Pfandbriefbank has provided a €40 million credit facility to the open-ended fund Reico ČS Nemovitostní, the biggest mutual real estate fund on the Czech market, managed by Reico.

Hospitality company IHG Hotels & Resorts has marked the launch of its lifestyle brand in Romania through the singing of the Hotel Indigo Satu Mare. The new hotel will open in 2025 and will join IHG’s network in Romania which includes Intercontinental Athénée Palace Bucharest, Crowne Plaza Bucharest, and Holiday Inn Bucharest-Times. 

Retail management and development company Multi Corporation has named Andrea Boris Hipeco as European Head of Leasing. He will also take on the Leasing Director role at the company’s newly established French division. 

Panattoni has launched construction on its second centre in the administrative capital of Wielkopolska. City Logistics Poznań II is to arise on ul. Węgorka, where it will have easy access to the centre of town and be within the vicinity of the A2 junction with the S11. The investment costs will come to €17 million.

The Hungarian Parliament voted in favour of the law on the public construction and investment regime with 136 votes in favour, 49 against and 9 abstentions. The law, among other things, makes the use of BIM mandatory for projects at or above the EU public procurement threshold, requires greater control over design and construction than before, and puts the whole life cycle of public works on a new footing.

Romanian property developer Comnord Development will start in September the construction of a new luxury residential project in northern Bucharest, with a projected investment of €30 million. 

Zbigniew Korba, Partner and Attorney at Law at TaylorWessing has talked to Property Forum about sustainability-liked loans, current financing conditions and the incoming changes in the spatial planning and construction law in Poland.

In June 2023, only 7,120 residential properties changed hands in Hungary, according to the the monthly Transaction Number Estimate (DH-TB) of Duna House Group. This is a very low number again, so even though May was stronger, it seems that buyers are still waiting. We last saw so few sales in the first half of this year in 2014.