The aggregate net profit of the 30 largest commercial property developers in Poland hit an all-time high of €230 million (PLN 985 million)  in 2018, which translated into a net profit margin of 25%. The latest data from the investment transaction market and property developers’ interim financial statements indicate that 2019 can be as good a year as 2018 was for the industry in terms of profitability.

The Romanian real estate market continued to show a positive evolution, and in the third quarter of 2019, the positive trend applied to all three leasing sectors, according to CBRE Research data. In the first nine months of the year, approximately 290,000 sqm were leased on the office segment, the main source of the demand being the IT&C companies and the financial industry, while on the retail market a number of 11 new brands chose to enter in Romania, among which Victoria's Secret and Burger King, advised by CBRE.

Commercial property investment activity exceeded €8 billion across Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania in the first three quarters of 2019, 54% above the five year average, according to Savills latest research report. Investment turnover in CEE has been rising steadily since 2013, by 24% per annum on average, reflecting increasing investor confidence in the region, underpinned by above EU average economic expansion, falling unemployment and growing consumerism.

On 3 December 2019, Balkans Property Forum 2019, a conference and networking event for real estate professionals from all over Southeastern Europe will be held in Belgrade. Over 150 guests will come together in the Serbian capital to discuss key issues and explore the latest trends influencing the future of the real estate industry.

The UK is Romania’s fourth biggest service export destination, after Germany, Italy and France, with around 8% of total, though it also generates nearly 12% of the IT service exports, underscoring the deep ties to the office market in Bucharest and other parts of the country. In case of a hard Brexit, just a modest 10% decrease in trade flows with the UK would shave around 0.1% of Romania’s GDP and bring potential pressures on good office buildings, as among companies tied to the UK economy are blue-chip tenants, according to data from Colliers International Romania.

According to data by JLL, the value of office investment transactions concluded from the beginning of 2019 came in at nearly €2.8 billion, equating to 2018's total performance. What is particularly noteworthy is that office regional markets achieved record-breaking results of over €1 billion.

According to CBRE’s recent research, The Proptech Index 2019, 70% of occupiers from Central and Eastern Europe intend to raise their level of real estate technology investment in the next few years, mostly in a more people-centric direction. A new generation of consumers and workers (mostly Millennials and Gen Z) are incentivizing employers and landlords to recognize that technology is crucial in their workplace.

According to Savills, more than €700 million has been invested in the senior living sector across the UK and Europe since the beginning of the year, which is the highest level ever recorded. In Poland, the market in this sector is on an early stage of development but has great potential.

The volume of real estate investments in Romania exceeded €585 million in the first nine months, shows the latest research report of CBRE. The office market attracted more than half of the investments, Bucharest and Cluj-Napoca being the most dynamic cities, with almost 90 percent of the investment volume.

Prosperity on the real estate investment market in Poland is still noticed. Good economic situation and attractive yields in comparison to the Western Europe has attracted foreign investors even from distant countries and continents. Will the momentum be kept? What are the forecasts for the end of 2019?