The office markets of Central European capitals are growing dynamically with the number of new leases on the rise and vacancy rates hitting record lows in several cities. In light of all this it is no surprise that development activity is also heating up on the most popular markets of the region.

During the third quarter of 2017 the total commercial real estate investment transaction volume reached some €505 million in Hungary, pushing the 2017 year-to-date volume to nearly €1.3 billion, according to JLL Hungary’s latest statistics.

Total demand on the Budapest industrial market amounted to 122,020 sqm in Q3 2017, showing a 44% increase year-on-year. The Budapest Research Forum published its quarterly industrial market analysis.

The total transaction volume on the CEE hotel investment market increased to €700 million in the first half of 2017 from the €630 million transacted in H1 2016. This represents a yearly growth of 11 percent which is significantly larger than the 0.3 percent growth registered in the western part of Europe. High yields, booming tourism and strong economic growth are the main reasons behind growing interest in the hotel markets of Central and Eastern European capitals on the behalf of international investors.

Demand on the Budapest office market in Q3 2017 increased by 67% compared to the previous quarter, reaching 164,985 sqm. Combined with a marginal growth in supply the vacancy rate further decreased to 7.6%. The Budapest Research Forum published its latest figures.

DHL Express recently moved into its new, tailor made warehouse of 6,000 sqm leased in Budapest Airport's new logistic facility built by Market Építő. Budapest Airport appointed CBRE Hungary for the construction management services.

Plaza Centers has concluded an agreement with NEPI Rockcastle, on the termination of land use rights over a circa 21,788 sqm land plot adjoining Arena Plaza in Budapest, Hungary, registered to a subsidiary of the company, Kerepesi 5 Irodaépület Kft. NEPI Rockcastle has recently acquired the Arena Plaza shopping centre from a third party.

Despite record low vacancy levels in Budapest and an increasingly landlord-friendly leasing environment, industry commentators have warned of an imminent oversupply around the corner. But there is no need to panic just yet, suggests Orsolya Hegedűs and Mike Edwards at Cushman & Wakefield, Hungary.

MOL Group announced its plans to relocate its corporate headquarters by 2021 to MOL Campus, the company’s new 83,000 sqm office, which will be designed by UK-based Foster + Partners. The 120 meter high building, which will be the future workspace for up to 2500 employees, will be located within the new BudaPart quarter, on the banks of the Danube in the southern part of Budapest. MOL Campus is set to become the tallest commercial building in Hungary.

Savills has extended its Central and Eastern European (CEE) network by forming an association with ESTON International, Hungary’s leading independent property advisor within the real estate industry. The announcement follows Savills opening of an office in Prague in January 2017 and the mutual co-operation agreed with Crosspoint in Romania in July 2017.