According to the RICS Commercial Property Monitor, Hungary has the strongest occupier sentiment and the Czech Republic has the strongest investment sentiment among the 40 countries surveyed in Q1 2019. Market expectations remained fairly positive across Central and Eastern Europe in the first quarter of the year, with the share of those stating that we have reached the peak of current property cycle decreasing compared to previous quarters.

Construction has begun on the Office Garden IV complex, which is being developed in Budapest by GRT Group, with the work to be completed in Q2 2021.

Futureal Group has sold its Advance Tower located on the Váci road office corridor to Erste Real Estate Fund. This is the first transaction in the Hungarian market, which includes a WELL pre-qualified office building having a beneficial impact on employees’ health and comfort. The real estate fund has acquired the first phase of the complex developed by the group, while the second phase could join its portfolio under a forward deal.

White Star Real Estate is starting construction of a new business park, named park22, which is adjacent to the Campona Shopping Centre in southern Budapest. This multi-phase offers prospective tenants flexible solutions that reflect today’s market needs including warehouses with mezzanine office units and independent office spaces. In the course of implementing the project, special emphasis is being given to maintaining a healthy balance between green space and buildings, as the 15-hectare site will comprise of 60,800 sqm of lettable warehouse and office space and 53,500 sqm of greenery.

Wing has acquired the Liget Center office building in Budapest from the M7 CEREF I fund managed by M7 Real Estate. The property comprises 7,000 sqm of office space and a 3,800 sqm auditorium. The new owner plans to improve the services offered by the building by adding new services and to find a new use for the empty auditorium.

Wing has become the full owner of property management company Strabag Property and Facility Services Zrt. by indirectly acquiring an additional 51% share in the company. Following the change, the company will continue to operate under the name NEO Property Services Zrt. as of 29 April 2019. The acquisition was approved by the National Competition Authority. Wing is committed to further strengthening NEO Property Services Zrt. as a leader in property-related services segment.

Following the financing agreements worth €51 million announced in January, Hungarian residential property developer, Cordia has signed further loan agreements worth €86.6 million. Futureal Group’s subsidiary has concluded the recent contracts with OTP Bank, Takarék Group and Sberbank in order to finance its 5 residential property projects in Budapest.

Total demand on Budapest’s industrial market amounted to 83,680 sqm in Q1 2019, marking a 19% decrease from the figure noted in the same period last year. The Budapest Research Forum published its quarterly industrial market analysis.

Total demand in the first quarter of 2019 reached 79,980 sqm on Budapest’s office market, representing a 12.2% decrease year-on-year. New leases accounted for 45% of the total leasing activity, according to BRF’s latest figures.

JLL has provided space for 2 new branches of the international provider of co-working offices Spaces. In November this year, Spaces open in the low-energy building Nile House in Karlín, where they will occupy more than 3,500 sqm. One month later, they will take over 3,300 sqm in the SmíchOFF office building in Prague 5. At the same time, Spaces announced its first location in Hungary. The co-working operator will move into GTC White House in Budapest in Q4 2019. CBRE acted as adviser to the deal.