In one of the most consequential political shifts in Central Europe in decades, Hungary's opposition Tisza Party led by Péter Magyar delivered a landslide victory over Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in parliamentary elections held on April 12, ending a 16-year grip on power and sending immediate shockwaves through financial markets. For real estate professionals and foreign investors, the result may represent the most significant opportunity reset in Hungary's post-communist history.

The Czech Republic will launch a new investment fund to support affordable housing, combining public and private capital with EU funding sources.

Lavinia Ioniță Rasmussen, Real Estate Partner at Nestor Nestor Diculescu Kingston Petersen (NNDKP), talked to Property Forum about the firm's growing portfolio in industrial and renewable energy, but also about the new EU rules that will boost investments in green buildings.

Romania is among the few member states where residential prices have grown at rates below the EU average of around 58%, between Q1 2010 and Q1 2025, according to Eurostat.

Dennis Selinas, CEO of Globalworth Group, talked to Property Forum about the demand trends for offices in Bucharest and the 'flight to quality' towards ESG-ready office buildings in the market.

Dr. Dániel H. Nagy, Partner and Head of Tax & Legal Services of Forvis Mazars Hungary, talked to Property Forum about the strong points of Hungary’s tax system for real estate investors and the ESG-based trends shaping the CEE property sector.

According to a report published by Newmark Polska, despite an observed slowdown in occupier and developer activity, the European warehouse market continues to expand and is searching for a new equilibrium point. Green solutions are increasingly making their way into both warehouse facilities and logistics operations. Despite the challenges facing the warehouse sector across the European Union, this market shows strong growth potential, particularly in regions capable of adapting to new trends concerning both tenant needs and new regulations.

DP World has opened three new logistics sites in Romania following combined investments of €86 million in a move designed to increase cargo flow capacity in the country.

It has been a busy year for the European Commission’s corporate accountability initiatives, including updates to the EU Sustainable Finance portfolio. These policy changes, reflecting the Commission’s focus on improving the energy performance of the EU building stock, are consequential for EU real estate investors and developers.  New sustainability-linked financing models and Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) ratings standardisation complement the European Green Deal by directing financing to real estate construction and renovation that maximises energy performance. These programs enable EU real estate investors and builders to collaboratively reduce energy use and meet the EU Climate Law’s 2030 goal of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by fifty-five percent. Strategic policy and research consultant Lisa Chase has summarised the policy framework for Property Forum.

The Bulgarian residential market was growing at a slower pace in the first quarter of 2023, compared to the same period last year. On an annual basis, the increase was 9.5%, and 1.6% on a monthly basis. The data is part of the annual House Market Index by Eurostat on residential property prices and rents in the European Union.