Economic uncertainty is beginning to impact investment activity in Europe’s commercial real estate market, as shown by the data recorded for Q2 2022 in the latest Capital Markets Snapshot for EMEA by Colliers. The Q2 2022 assessment also suggests that the forecast of any impacts will vary widely, with a continued appetite for specific sectors and sub-markets

Daniel State, Managing Partner, Rustler Property Services Romania, spoke with Property Forum about the trends in the facility management market and the specialisation of companies in cost optimisation, which has become more important than ever in the context of rising energy prices.

The third and final stage of the Hron Residence project in Zvolen, Slovakia, is now starting to be built. Arkon, the developer of the €15 million project, has announced the final stage launch on its social media.

The modern office stock in Romania has reached 4.3 million sqm at the end of the first semester of 2022, with another 335,300 sqm slated for delivery by the end of 2023, according to real estate consultancy CBRE. 

Strategic investor Hili Properties, part of Hili Ventures, has purchased a controlling stake of 75% in the Miro office building, developed by Speedwell in northern Bucharest, for an undisclosed sum. The remaining stake in the project will remain in the developer’s ownership for another two years. 

During five months of war in Ukraine, millions of square meters of housing, production facilities, and infrastructure were destroyed. To speed up the recovery, Ukrainian legislation governing urban planning was simplified. Alexandra Fedotova, Partner, Attorney and Head of Ader Haber's real estate and construction practice and the Board Member of the Charity Fund Housing For IDP, reviewed the changes in an article prepared by the Ukrainian Real Estate Club for Property Forum.

Investment group DRFG has started to build a new apartment complex in Mladá Boleslav in Michalovice. As part of the project, called Green, an apartment building with more than a hundred apartments, garages and a large garden with a water reservoir will be built within two years. The market value of the project is CZK 634.6 million (€25.9 million), according to DRFG spokeswoman Monika Brichtová.

Czech investment and development group Trigema has bought a 51% stake in CenovaMapa.org, the market leader in online real estate valuation. Its founder, Hyposervis, retains 49% of the company. Following the acquisition, the parties did not disclose the amount. The newly created real estate data provider has been renamed Dataligence.

Panattoni has completed the expansion of a factory for a European hygiene products manufacturer - from 26,000 sqm to 70,000 sqm.

Silviu Stratulat, Managing Partner, Stratulat Albulescu spoke to Property Forum about the impact of the crisis in Ukraine on the CEE real estate market, but also about the bank financing environment for developments amid rising interest rates. The law firm is planning to boost the logistics segment in its portfolio and expand with a new office in Moldova.