According to Cushman & Wakefield, commercial real estate in the first three quarters of 2018 the total investment volume in six CEE countries (Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Russia) reached €8.9 billion. Investment activity in Poland exceeded the value recorded for the whole of 2017 and is expected to reach a record high of €6 billion by the year’s end. The sustainable and solid performance was recorded in Hungary and Slovakia with volumes hitting those in 2017, whereas Russia, the Czech Republic and Romania are expected to close the year at lower investment volumes, slightly below the 2017 levels.

Czech investment group Enern, owned by online supermarket Rohlik.cz, together with US investor Lincoln Property Company, has acquired the Palác Karlín building in Prague from Danish company Kirkbi Invest A/S for an undisclosed sum.

CTP has sealed a long-term strategic partnership with Deka Immobilien involving three prime industrial parks in the Czech Republic - CTPark Plzeň, CTPark Prague North and CTPark Teplice. Deka Immobilien acquired the ownership stakes in the parks with CTP Group continuing to manage and operate the portfolio under the CTPark network brand. Including two development projects, the deal represents 430,000 sqm of premium industrial properties. The transaction volume of €460 million places the deal amongst the largest ever real estate transactions in the Czech Republic.

For the first time in five years, Hong Kong’s Causeway Bay has replaced New York’s Upper 5th Avenue as the world’s most expensive retail street by rental value, according to data from Cushman & Wakefield. The Czech Republic has made it into the top 20 world’s most expensive retail streets. With rents of €230 per sqm per month, Prague’s Na Příkopě Street is at No. 19, leaping three positions up from the last year

CPI Property Group unveiled its new plans and projects at MAPIC. The Group plans to refurbish the Campona shopping centre in Budapest, extend Královo Pole in Brno and Olympia in Pilsen and remodel the food court in the Ogrody shopping centre in Elblag, Poland.

Panattoni Europe plans to transform the former Škoda Plzeň complex in the Borské terasy area in Pilsen into a modern technological centre. The extensive 28-hectare brownfield is currently empty, but it has great infrastructure and is well connected to the surrounding industrial plants. Panattoni Europe’s plans are in line with the current development strategy of the city of Pilsen and are currently undergoing an EIA environmental impact assessment. The total amount of investment is estimated at more than €77 million (CZK 2 billion).

Prague is becoming increasingly more expensive than Bratislava. Employees continue to earn more in the capital of the Czech Republic, though the cost of living is also rising, especially in regards to housing. This is evidenced by the results of research done by JLL, which compared the prices of apartments in both capitals.

VD Invest, subsidiary of Vantage Development, has signed a preliminary conditional agreement with IKI Poland, subsidiary of M7 Czech Republic group, for the sale of Wroclaw office building Delta 44. GVA Polska represented the seller in the transaction.

Praga Studios, the new Karlín office building by Skanska, has progressed significantly on its way to completion. In October 2018, the builders placed a topping out flag on the site of the future roof terrace to symbolise the completion of the superstructure. The building, with a total area of almost 12 000 sqm, will be completed in Q2 2019.

In response to growing demand in the Czech property market for specialist asset and market analysis, Cushman & Wakefield has expanded its Advisory service line with a newly established team of 3 dedicated professionals headed by Richard Hogg MRICS. In conjunction, Michal Naskos MRICS, a veteran of the valuation industry, becomes Head of Valuation Czech Republic.