The crisis caused by rising energy prices worldwide could give a new impetus to the proptech sector which would make the real estate market more efficient through smart digital solutions. In addition to reducing costs, technology increases efficiency, contributes to sustainability and even offers alternative revenue opportunities. ProptechZoOm.com has conducted a comprehensive analysis of the present and future of the Hungarian digital real estate sector by interviewing proptech industry players.

Romanian developer One United Properties recorded revenues of 1.1 billion lei (€222 million) during 2021, up 105% year-on-year, while the gross profit expanded almost two-fold to 603.5 million lei (€122 million) over higher residential sales and increased rental income. 

According to Savills, the e-commerce boom is continuing to drive demand for industrial and logistics assets across Europe, as new records were set for both levels of investment and leasing activity in 2021. In Poland, take-up in 2021 reached an all-time high and industrial assets accounted for over a half of the total investment volume.

Driven by large-scale mergers and acquisitions, European multifamily investment volumes in the 12 countries analysed reached approximately €92.3 billion in 2021, a 79% increase year-on-year and a 120% increase on the past five-year average, Savills announces. 

Record levels of investment poured into European residential assets last year, with spending nearly equal to that of office investment, Knight Frank reports. Just shy of €100 billion of assets were traded in the European residential investment sector in 2021, up 60% on 2020, analysis of data from RCA shows.

Earlier this week, Prague Mayor Zdeněk Hřib and Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski visited the Ukrainian capital and invited Kyiv to join the Pact of Free Cities. Founded in 2019 by the mayors of Bratislava, Budapest, Warsaw, and Prague, the pact aims to strengthen the values of freedom, dignity, democracy, and the rule of law.

CPI Property Group has published unaudited profit and credit estimates for the financial year ended 31 December 2021. While publication of the audited annual financial report is scheduled for 31 March 2022, the company is proceeding with this unaudited disclosure so that investors and stakeholders are updated about the Group’s performance.

Last year the number of new green buildings and the "greening" of existing ones continued to grow dynamically in Budapest, Colliers reports.

Konica Minolta IT Solutions has extended its popular software package for real estate and investment companies which was showcased at Prague Property Forum 2021. Customers using this package based on Microsoft’s Dynamics 365 and Power Platform, appreciate various smart features and the common base solution developed by Konica Minolta ITS, which ensures a smooth flow of information between all the departments. If you prefer, you can watch a short video overviewing the package or detailed videos for each module here.

Czech businessman Radovan Vítek has amassed a fortune estimated at around €4.1 billion while increasing his influence in the European property sector. Vítek holds firm control of CPI Property Group, the company he founded with assets topping €11 billion and has gradually built majority stakes in Globalworth and Immofinanz, both competing groups in Central and Eastern Europe. By purchasing controlling participations in these companies, Vítek could build his property investment empire across CEE to the tune of around €20 billion and 7 million sqm of developed space, covering every country and asset class in the region. This story is a prime example of the rise and strength of local capital in CEE, in addition to the gradual decline of influence held by Austrian companies over the region.