The housing loan stock is now growing by only 1.2% in Romania, with the slowdown becoming noticeable starting with the second half of last year, while the number of apartment transactions fell by almost 30% in Bucharest and regional cities in the first five months of the year, according to Colliers. 

Skanska has launched the sale of the second phase of Modřanský cukrovar, which will offer 126 apartments in four residential sections. The developer is applying sustainability principles in the construction and the planned construction of the apartment buildings is approaching the passive standard in the highest PENB energy performance category - A. Each apartment will already draw energy from photovoltaic panels on the roof and will be able to use recycled water. The developer expects to start construction this winter with completion expected in 2025.

The Horizon development group has announced a commitment to build all new projects in accordance with internationally recognized BREEAM accreditation criteria for sustainable development. In 2024, projects to be submitted for BREEAM accreditation will include the Blízká project in Prague’s Karlín district, the third phase of Čámovka in Čimice, Arboret in Záběhlice, and both phases of the Aura Statenice project. 

Proxenta's latest residential project, Kesselbauer, is being finalised these weeks. The luxury residence right in the centre of Bratislava has already completed all the construction works and only the landscaping in the courtyard remains. The project is now in the approval phase and the approval process is expected to be completed in a few weeks, real estate portal YIM.BA reports.

In 2023, the residential real estate market in Bulgaria is expected to remain calmer and more balanced than during the dynamic previous year. According to real estate agency Arco Real Estate, the forecast is for a slight cooling of interest due to factors such as inflation, the change, and the rise in mortgage rates, as well as the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Investment group DRFG has announced the acquisition of the new multifunctional development project Tři Dvory, with a market value of CZK 1 billion (€42.3 million). The project will be located on the site of a former royal mill on the outskirts of Újezd u Brna, in close proximity to the Stara Hora vineyards. Construction is due to start in spring 2024 and final completion is planned for spring 2026. 

One of the first private-sector affordable housing projects in the Czech Republic, Opatov II with 300 flats in Prague 11 by developer Sekyra Group, has reportedly been sold. The transaction has not yet been announced by the buying parties, but credible sources have confirmed it. The transaction was also confirmed by an advisor to the selling party. According to the information available, part of the flats are to be acquired by the insurance company Kooperativa from the Vienna Insurance Group and part should be bought by Dostupné bydlení České spořitelny (subsidiary of Česká spořitelna bank) as the company's second housing project in Prague. The transaction amount has also not yet been disclosed.

The Prague City Council has approved the investment preparation of the Beranka residential project in Prague Horní Počernice. The construction of 300 flats on an area of 63,000 sqm is being prepared under the management of the Prague Development Company (PDS). Architectural competition and tenders are being prepared. PDS plans to build between 2025 and 2030.

Although not long ago the PRS market seemed to be the obvious choice, thanks to the sudden improvement in economic conditions and the optimism of buyers, the construction of apartments for sale in Poland is today a more profitable solution - this is the main conclusion of a panel discussion at Living Investment Forum 2023, an event organized by Property Forum in Warsaw in May.

Cavatina Group S.A. has established a company that will be responsible for the construction and management of a portfolio of PRS projects located in the largest cities of Poland. Alongside Cavare S.A., the group includes Cavatina Holding S.A., a publicly traded company and one of the largest office developers in Poland, Resi Capital S.A., focusing on the residential sector, and CTank S.A., the entity responsible for land acquisition and comprehensive project preparation for the Group and external investors.