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The demand for industrial spaces in CEE is moderating after a record year, with vacancy rates having slightly increased but still at a healthy level. The shift in demand patterns has included larger deals and tenant diversification. Despite challenges, logistics is an attractive asset class with yields comparable to offices and retail, revealed the discussion at CEE Property Forum 2024 in Vienna, chaired by Martin Polák, Managing Director CEE at GARBE Industrial Real Estate.

Like other real estate segments, retail has always been adapting to changes in customer behaviour. This evolution thus is a subject of constant investment and innovation, based on the quality and uniqueness of locations. CEE Property Forum 2024 in Vienna has explored financing challenges together with the importance of data-based decisions in the discussion panel focused on retail.

Countries in the Southeast Europe (SEE) region are making significant efforts to adapt EU regulations in order to attract international investors. Several nations have successfully utilized both domestic and foreign capital to improve infrastructure, and certain market segments have outperformed expectations, setting the stage for further development in the coming years. These insights were highlighted during CEE Property Forum 2024, held in Vienna at the end of November.

Despite the improving performance, inflation and financing costs remain significant challenges in the hospitality sector in CEE. However, reduced interest rates, stabilised construction costs, and strong recovery in midscale and budget segments may stimulate investment, panellists stressed at CEE Property Forum 2024 in Vienna.

The CEE office market has been coping with post-COVID consequences and forcing both landlords and tenants to explore opportunities to improve space utilisation. Expert speakers at CEE Property Forum 2024 in Vienna have revealed interesting strategies for the best office assets in the panel dedicated to the office market.

Price pressure and uncertainties still exist in the residential market in CEE. Build-to-sell is dominant and build-to-rent has already started in some countries. According to the panel focusing on the challenges and opportunities in the residential market at CEE Property Forum 2024 in Vienna, stabilised construction costs and lower mortgage prices, however, may boost investments.

Real estate investment decisions in CEE are currently made considering various challenges, such as difficulty in predicting five-year exit strategies for investments, liquidity in the region, and concerns about the impact of ESG regulations on building compliance and financing, to name a few. CEE Property Forum 2024 in Vienna has taken a closer look at European investment trends in the panel chaired by Tim Wilkinson, MRICS, Head of European Acquisitions at Indotek Group.

Real estate investment experts are not too worried about the potential negative impacts of the second Trump presidency on Europe’s economy. However, they agree that Europe as a whole must react quickly to improve its competitiveness. That was one of the key messages of the opening panel of CEE Property Forum 2024, held last week in Vienna.

Real estate financing has been facing various challenges including the need for more bank and debt fund participation, better understanding and collaboration between Eastern and Western Europe, and last but not least exploring opportunities in new real estate sectors, such as data centres, and developing financing solutions for these emerging asset classes. Outlooks and solutions have been discussed at the financing panel of CEE Property Forum 2024 in Vienna.