Banks in Romania are actively looking to accelerate new residential lending in Romania as the central bank is expected to lower interest rates in H2 2024. Lenders have initiated a series of offers with more favourable interest rates, below the 7% monetary policy rate set by the National Bank of Romania (NBR), according to Vlad Săftoiu, Head of Research at Cushman & Wakefield Echinox.

DIY retailer Leroy Merlin has leased two retail spaces in Bucharest with a combined area of 21,000 sqm from the Supernova Group, in a deal brokered by Cushman & Wakefield Echinox.

Industrial developer CTP has appointed Andrei Brînzea as Business Development Director in Romania as part of its growth strategy in the country.

Local retail chain operator La Cocoș has opened its fourth hypermarket in Brașov. The company has leased 10,000 sqm for the new unit in the Brintex complex, in a deal brokered by Cushman & Wakefield Echinox.

The occupancy rate in Bucharest’s hotel market was up 5% in 2023 compared to the previous year, but it remains around 10% under 2019. However, average revenue per room was up 12%, which is higher than in pre-pandemic times, according to a Cushman & Wakefield Echinox report.

Commercial real estate transactions in Romania amounting to more than €600 million are currently under negotiation. Around half of assets in ongoing talks are based in Bucharest, according to a Cushman & Wakefield Echinox report.

While 116,000 sqm of office spaces were leased in Bucharest during Q4 2023, the overall transactional volume climbed to 463,000 sqm during the whole year, marking an all time take-up record, according to a Cushman & Wakefield Echinox report.

The industrial and logistics market in Romania reached a stock of 7 million sqm at the end of 2023, with another 500,000 sqm under development across the country, according to data by Cushman & Wakefield Echinox.

Romania saw 11 new retail projects completed last year, with a combined leasable area of 215,000 sqm, sending the market to a 7-year high in terms of deliveries, according to a Cushman & Wakefield Echinox report.

The Romanian property market remains attractive for investments, with 65% of investors surveyed by Cushman & Wakefield Echinox saying they are looking to expand their presence in the local market.