CEE's real estate market enters the second quarter of 2026 in a mood of measured confidence. According to Property Forum's survey of nearly 200 real estate professionals from across the region, the majority expect either stable but selective deal flow or a moderate recovery in transaction activity over the next 12 months. Regional CEE investors are seen as the primary engine of dealmaking, while foreign capital is expected to return only selectively. Residential and logistics assets lead on risk-adjusted appeal, and Poland remains the undisputed long-term growth leader. Yet beneath the cautious optimism, one concern towers above all others: geopolitical tensions, cited by nearly two-thirds of respondents as the greatest threat to the market.
Key findings:
Investment market expectations for the next 12 months
The dominant mood across respondents is one of restrained confidence: 45% anticipate stable but selective deal flow, and 39% expect a moderate recovery, leaving less than a third forecasting either a strong rebound or a contraction. Just 10% see a strong rebound ahead, while a cautious minority of 6% brace for declining activity.
