“An Investment in commercial property is attractive to investors who want to invest their money and generate higher yields. Commercial real estate investments are also becoming more popular with private investors to complement the portfolio”, explains Markus Arnold, CEO of Arnold Investments. This trend led to a strong half-year performance in the commercial sector for the investment brokers. With a transaction volume of about €100 million and 90,000 sqm of space brokered, the company declared a healthy six-month balance. “Two thirds of the transactions were concluded in Austria and one third in our other European branches where further deals are imminent. In most of the deals both buyers and sellers are advised by Arnold Investments”, reports Markus Arnold in greater detail.
Investments in hotels
There are signs of movement in hospitality investments in Vienna. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the long-overdue changes in the city hotel business. “Most buyers want to realize new concepts with less staff in operations”, says Sewada Howsepian, manager of the commercial department at Arnold Investments. Investors are currently interested in city hotels with over 100 rooms. Arnold Investments has already brokered two properties of this kind in Vienna in 2021 alone ‑ further deals are expected soon and not just in Vienna but also in the other branches.
More cross-border deals expected
Arnold Investments accompanied an Austrian investor in the sale of a retail park situated in a German tertiary city to a Czech investor. This cross-border deal was executed in cooperation with the branch in Prague. Arnold Investments advised both buyer and seller in this transaction. The view of Jan Rydl, Country Manager in the Czech Republic: “Because of the strong internationalisation of retail chains such transactions are becoming easier due to similar lease structures in the pan-European market”. Through corona and lockdowns rent defaults have led to a new assessment of retail tenants – who are allowed to keep open.
