Romania's four main university cities, Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Iași and Timișoara, account for more than 361,000 students, representing 62% of the national total, yet combined public and private student accommodation across the four cities totals only around 80,000 beds. That equates to one bed for every 4.5 students, according to data compiled by Cushman & Wakefield Echinox. Of the identified stock, approximately 94% of beds are in public university halls, with the remaining 6% in privately developed student accommodation.

Bucharest is consolidating its position within the Central and Eastern European (CEE) real estate market, combining rental growth across major asset classes with investment yields that remain well above Western European levels, according to the DNA of Real Estate Europe Q2 2026 report published by Cushman & Wakefield. Across Europe in Q2 2026, prime office rents rose 4.5% year-on-year, retail rents increased 3.0%, and logistics rents grew 2.4%, while investors remained selective as yield movements pointed to a more balanced market following the repricing cycle of recent years.

Romania's commercial real estate sector accounts for 54% of loans granted to non-financial companies and recorded a 15% annual increase in financing, according to an analysis by Cushman & Wakefield Echinox based on data from the National Bank of Romania (NBR). At the end of March 2026, credit institutions' exposure to the sector reached RON 116 billion, up 15% year-on-year.

Oana Iliescu, Managing Director at Cushman & Wakefield Echinox, talked to Property Forum about the resilience of Romania’s real estate stock, which remains among the youngest in CEE. She highlighted that despite a complex economic landscape, industrial and capital markets continue to offer investment opportunities for well-positioned assets and long-term investors.

Companies and entrepreneurs looking to lease coworking spaces in Romania can now evaluate the best market options using multiple criteria including economic efficiency, workplace quality and technical specifications, according to a new guide developed by Beyond Space in partnership with Cushman & Wakefield Echinox.

Cushman & Wakefield Echinox has been appointed to sell Joyson Safety Systems' industrial property in Ribiţa, Hunedoara County, as the automotive safety components manufacturer consolidates operations at its Arad hub.

The Bucharest office market is showing early signs of recovery, driven by a visible increase in pre-lease transactions, highlighting renewed occupier appetite for future office spaces. As tenants secure their leases well in advance, the current development pipeline exceeding 215,600 sqm, the highest level in recent years, is expected to be gradually absorbed, according to data from Cushman & Wakefield Echinox.

Romania's retail market experienced a challenging Q1 2026, according to a report by Cushman & Wakefield Echinox. While macroeconomic indicators reflect a period of adjustment, the high street segment and medium-term development pipeline remain robust.

Romania's industrial and logistics market reached over 8 million sqm in Q1 2026, with approximately 115,000 sqm of new space delivered. At the same time, around 500,000 sqm are currently under construction, according to Cushman & Wakefield Echinox's report.

The average total office fit-out costs in Bucharest increased slightly in 2025 to around €1,000 per sqm, according to data from Cushman & Wakefield Echinox. However, Bucharest remains one of the most affordable markets in CEE, with fit-out costs 18% and 15% lower than in Warsaw and Prague, respectively.