H2 2021 saw the highest number of newly commenced apartment constructions in Prague since 2008. The total number of apartments under construction rose to 12,630 units at the end of H2 2021. At the same time, the number of new apartments delivered was the weakest annual result since 2011 as only 3,700 apartments were completed. Still, the interest in buying flats was record-breaking, the best since 2016 and 22% above the 5-year average, says JLL in its Prague residential market report.

In 2021, despite the disruption of the pandemic, full-year investment volumes in CEE, totalling €11.07 billion, were up by 6% year-on-year but ca. 20% lower than the same period of 2019. Colliers originally estimated that year-end volumes for 2022 could reach in excess of €12.0 billion, however, the war in Ukraine and ongoing pressures on global economics could impact this outlook, says Colliers in its CEE Investment Scene | 2021 - 2022 report.

The greater openness of Czech organisations to employ people with disabilities has begun to accelerate the necessity of adapting work environments to better meet the needs of this population. According to Colliers, a real estate service and investment management company, this demand has multiplied over the past five years partly due to the application of ESG rules.

Slovakia’s leading real estate event since 2017 is back! Property Forum’s annual conference, Bratislava Property Forum 2022 will gather speakers and attendees representing the most active local and international real estate companies to discuss hot button issues – live and in person, on 8th April.

Globalworth’s net profit in 2021 significantly improved to €47.5 million (2020: net loss of €46.8 million) while it recorded its best year in office leasing with 214,500 sqm of spaces taken up or extended. The company has released its annual report and audited consolidated financial results for 2021.

Hybrid work has accelerated the demand for efficient management of corporate real estate and corporate workplaces to drive real estate rationalization, achieve balanced space utilization and deliver post-pandemic employee experience. The most relevant role in this process will be played by digital solutions that focus on improving the user experience, sustainability, and connectivity in assets. Companies will be looking for an Integrated Workplace Management Systems (IWMS) to deliver the highest value add to their employees, tenants and real estate portfolios as such.

At €479.8 million, CA Immo reached its highest consolidated net income in the company's history, up 89% on the previous year (2020: €254.0 million), mainly due to a high revaluation result. The company published its latest financial results.

Preliminary figures compiled by Savills suggest that the total real estate investment volume in Europe for the first quarter of the year will reach approximately €70 billion, a 19.5% increase year-on-year. Despite geopolitical events, the real estate advisor expects solid European investment activity for the remainder of the year, notably fuelled by large portfolio and entity deals.

MLP Group's financial standing remains very strong, as confirmed by the posted results for 2021. Last year, MLP Group’s net asset value (NAV) went up 51%, to PLN 1.82 billion (€396.7 million). The value of its investment property rose 46%, to around PLN 3.4 billion (€752 million). Consolidated rental income (i.e. revenue from the Group's core business) was PLN 196 million (€42.8 million), representing a nearly 15% increase year on year. At PLN 632.3 million (€138.1 million), operating profit surged 112% year on year, with a nearly threefold increase in net profit, to PLN 480.5 million (€105.0 million).

Several large Polish real estate companies have joined forces to help refugees in Poland that are fleeing the war in Ukraine under the #Property4Ukraine initiative. The companies will provide a temporary home for 3,000 refugees from Ukraine. They are already moving into four buildings belonging to Echo Investment, Grupa Archicom, Globalworth and Skanska.