There were two office buildings delivered to the Budapest office market in the third quarter of 2019: Hungária Center office building (6,920 sqm, Non-Central Pest submarket) and the second phase of the Advance Tower (7,630 sqm, on the Váci Corridor). 

The total modern office stock currently adds up to 3,668,735 sqm, consisting of 3,064,165 sqm Class A and B speculative office space as well as 604,570 sqm owner-occupied space.

The office vacancy rate has decreased to a record low 5.9%, representing a 0.4 pps reduction quarter-on-quarter on the Budapest office market. Unlike previous quarters, the lowest vacancy rate was measured in the North Buda submarket (2.9%), whereas the Periphery still suffers from an overwhelming 34% vacancy rate. Interestingly the vacancy rate has increased slightly quarter on quarter in every submarket on the Pest side, whereas it decreased in every submarket on the Buda side.

The net absorption in this quarter amounts to 28,095 sqm.

Total demand in the third quarter of 2019 reached 191,235 sqm, representing a 41% growth compared to the same period of last year (111,430 sqm). Renewals accounted for 63% of the total leasing activity, followed by the new leases with 19.8% while pre-leases represented a 10.4% share. Expansions accounted for 6.7%.

The strongest occupational activity was recorded in the Pest Central submarket, attracting 32% of the total demand. Pest Central was followed by Váci Corridor and the South Buda submarkets, with a share of 28% and 17% of total demand, respectively.

According to the BRF, 141 lease agreements were signed in Q3 2019. As a result of several large-size transactions, the average deal size was 1,356 sqm, which exceeds the first quarter’s average by 41%.

BRF registered 14 transactions larger than 3,000 sqm, made up of 1 new lease agreement, 3 pre-leases in ongoing developments and 10 lease renewals.

Two of the four largest transactions were signed in the Central Pest submarket, one on the Váci Corridor and one in South Buda. The largest transactions of the quarter were renewal agreements, amounting to 63,900 sqm. Despite of previous trends, the proportion of renewals has increased.

The largest new deal was concluded in South Buda submarket. Due to continued expansion, Thyssenkrupp’s development centre is moving to the South Buda Business Park occupying 16,000 sqm office space.

The largest pre-lease agreement was concluded in Gizella Loft office building for 6,000 sqm, while the largest expansion was signed in Center Point office building for 2,230 sqm.

The Budapest Research Forum (BRF) comprises CBRE, Colliers International, Cushman & Wakefield, Eston International, JLL and Robertson Hungary.