Europe’s fundamental mismatch between voracious housing demand and the limited supply is driving massive investment growth in the residential sector and will continue to generate opportunities even amid geopolitical and economic uncertainties, according to a new report by Colliers.

The construction, operation, financing, development and acquisition of commercial property in 2022 and beyond will continue to be impacted by the price of fuel, energy and construction materials. This will be combined with challenges in the supply chain, the nearshoring of operations and rapidly rising inflation, culminating in a direct effect on sale prices and the rent paid by occupiers, reveals a report by Colliers.

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.

Romanian DIY chain Dedeman has purchased a land plot of 14.5 ha in Timișoara from Țiriac Imobiliare for an undisclosed sum. The buyer is exploring several investment scenarios for the new land that is located next to the future Ikea store.

Colliers has promoted Kevin Turpin to Regional Director of Capital Markets in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) with immediate effect. 

Colliers published a survey of the Prague office market for Q4 2021. It shows that the vacancy rate stopped rising last year due to weak construction and rents rose to a new high. The market with modern office space will not increase significantly even in 2022.

Colliers stands with the people of Ukraine, an independent country and strongly condemns the invasion by the Russian military. These actions are indefensible and in complete contrast to the principles of democracy and freedom. Colliers fully supports all appropriate sanctions enacted by the international community and, in response to the gravity of Russia’s aggression, the company has discontinued its business in Russia and Belarus, effective immediately, after more than 28 years of operations. Colliers thanks its former colleagues and partners for their work over the years and wishes them well as they navigate the future.

AFI Europe Romania says that all its office portfolio comprising seven projects has received the Well Health-Safety Certification.  

There is scepticism in the market regarding the correlation between sustainability and financial performance but it is beneficial to be sustainable if you consider the overall life-cycle of the building, explains Oana Stamatin, ESG Chief Officer | CEE & Romania at Colliers. She talked to Property Forum about the challenges and opportunities owners of real estate face in striving for ESG compliance.