After several months of declining the number of residential property transactions concluded in Hungary has risen in May. Mortgage lending also showed signs of recovery, brokerage firm Duna House reports. 

Although anti-pandemic measures were still lingering on the Czech retail market at the beginning of last year, an early return to normal was expected. However, the war in Ukraine has fundamentally influenced further economic development, especially in the countries of Central Europe, including the Czech Republic. The rapid rise in prices (inflation increased by 15.1% year-on-year) and energy expenses were met by a further decline in already weakened customer confidence. How did this affect shopping centres in the Czech Republic? And what is the current sentiment on the market not only among customers but also the retailers themselves? CBRE tried to answer these questions in its annual Shopping Centre Index analysis, which is complemented by two current surveys focused on the development of customer behaviour and expectations on the part of retailers.

Colliers released its third annual Impact Report, highlighting progress towards realizing a more sustainable and equitable future for all. This report includes information on how Colliers is delivering resilient buildings, inclusive workplaces, and spaces that promote health and well-being.

Modern office buildings are an important part of ESG strategies for many companies. However, the real estate market in the Czech Republic is not yet fully prepared for the new ESG-related requirements. Even construction projects planned over the next few years will not resolve this issue, since meeting strict standards and certification requirements is both procedurally and financially demanding, Colliers reports.

Lion Capital, a public financial investment company, has purchased a land plot of 11 hectares in western Constanța in a deal valued at more than €10 million.

MLP Group has established a relationship with the German banking institution Aareal Bank AG, whereby the latter has committed funds of over €63.5 million. The borrowed funds will be applied to refinance the MLP Poznań West project and to finance new investment projects undertaken by the MLP Group.

The Polish advisory firm, which specializes in land and capital transactions, announced that in the second quarter of 2023, the value of its serviced investment real estate portfolio located in all key major Polish cities exceeded PLN 2 billion.

CBRE has announced the new role of Zvezdana Milutinović as Head of A&T Residential for the SEE region, effective June 1, 2023. Zvezdana joined CBRE at the beginning of the operations in the SEE region, 5 years ago when the direct office in Belgrade for the SEE region was established.

Lightware Zrt, a significant tech company has chosen Hungária Office Park (HOP) developed by Hungarian company Wing. The new tenant is moving its headquarters to the park in autumn 2023, to a 7000 sqm office building, which the developer will fully renovate. Wing was represented by the Eston International agency during the lease negotiations.  

Bratislava-based investor-developer Synapsis Property Ventures is preparing a set of 37 family houses, with the aim of creating community family housing, near the Slovak capital’s Knižkova dolina area. Each house will have approximately 140 sqm of net usable area. The estimated investment of the project is €20 million.