As a result of large portfolio transactions, the first quarter of 2018 on the Polish real estate investment market closed with a record investment volume of ca. €2.05 billion, according to Savills. Taking into account the number and volume of ongoing transactions, we may expect another very good year on the investment market.

A new report by Colliers International and international law firm CMS has found that one-third of professionals in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) believe their workplace will change over the next 2-3 years. The firms’ second annual report, ‘CEE Office Real Estate Compass: Is your workplace Millennial-ready’, looks at the changing nature of the workplace in CEE and includes a survey of 72 CEE-based professionals drawn from the spectrum of geography and seniority.

Despite being late in its cycle, the global real estate market is benefiting from strong returns for investors and a positive global economic outlook, according to Emerging Trends in Real Estate – The Global Outlook for 2018, an annual forecast of global real estate investor sentiment published jointly by PwC and the Urban Land Institute (ULI). The report notes that in this highly competitive, late-cycle property market, the real estate industry must embrace technology, new business models, and the concept of “space as a service”.

Net profit from continuing operations (i.e. excluding Russia) returned to the profit zone with a significant improvement to €181.0 million in 2017 (2016: €-147.4 million). That represents earnings per share of €0.17 (2016: €-0.15). Rental income was slightly higher at €234.5 million (2016: €233.4 million) despite the continuing sale of properties which do not fit in with the corporate strategy. After an adjustment for new acquisitions, completions and sales (like-for-like), rental income grew by a sound 4.5% to €200.0 million (annualised). The results of Asset Management rose by 13.4% to €150.8 million. In total, the results of operations increased by 44.4% to €107.6 million (2016: €74.5 million). Financial results turned substantially positive at €88.8 million (2016: €-107.6 million), above all due to positive valuation effects from the investments in CA Immo and BUWOG and a reduction in financing costs.

What will it take for SEE to attract more foreign capital? Is there enough product available on the market? These are just some of the questions that were asked and answered at SEE Property Forum 2018, a Property Forum and RICS event that attracted over 45 speakers and nearly 300 visitors from 15 countries.

The Central Bank of Hungary (MNB) and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors relaunched the questionnaire-based survey research on Budapest’s commercial real estate market, with the review period of H2 2017. Over the preceding two years the typical rent for commercial properties observed for most property types has increased by more than 15 percent until the end of the second half of 2017. Prime yields for the office market and shopping centres approached the historical minimum observed in 2007 with 10-25 basis points. Most of the survey respondents expect an increase in demand in both the investment and the tenant markets for commercial properties in the next 6 months, however, with regards the development activity, the majority of respondents foresee an unchanged level or a drop in demand for several types of property.

Hungarian entrepreneur Sándor Demján has died at the age of 74 on 26 March, Gránit Pólus, of which he was the Founder and Chairman, announced.

On 29 March 2018, the fourth edition of SEE Property Forum in Bucharest, organized by Property Forum in partnership with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) will gather leading real estate professionals and top executives from South Eastern Europe to analyse the potential of the Romanian real estate market from a global perspective. Nearly 50 speakers and more than 250 visitors will come together in the Romanian capital, creating a unique networking opportunity.

Atrium European Real Estate Limited announces its results for 2017. The company is focusing on owning quality assets in well-connected, strong, urban locations in the region's largest and strongest economies. 20 smaller assets were sold during 2017 and early 2018 for €80 million, with the effective exit from Hungary and the Czech portfolio rotation completed.

Student housing is becoming an increasingly attractive investment product in European markets. StudentMarketing, a global market intelligence consultancy, summarised the most important findings of the European Residential & Student Housing Investment Briefing at MIPIM.