This more intense activity observed on the Hungarian industrial property market is fuelled by an increased number of leasing and sales transactions that resulted in the net absorption rate outpacing the new supply. From a development perspective the market is experiencing a new turn, as a number of speculative projects were initiated again, which was not the case for many years, as since the economic downturn, developers were almost exclusively focusing on build-to-suit type of projects.

Goodman Group, an owner, developer and manager of industrial real estate, has opened the 22,200 sqm expansion of its Gyál Logistics Centre. One unit is already pre-leased and the remaining two units are available for immediate lease. The total leasable area has nearly doubled to 44,735 sqm.  

Goodman Group, an owner, developer and manager of industrial real estate, has appointed István Kerekes as the Country Manager for Hungary. With vast experience in commercial real estate, István will be responsible for Goodman’s properties in Gyál, Üllő and Kecskemet and will work towards strengthening the Group’s portfolio in Hungary.

Celanese Hungary Ltd. is setting up its new 4,200 sqm headquarters in Promenade Gardens as of April 2018. The decision was made prior to the foundation stone being laid for the new office building on inner Váci út. The regional financial and logistics business service center of the international company found its new home on the 1st and 2nd floors of the modern, 4-tower building (in cores B, C and D).

The foundation stone for the new Magyar Telekom Headquarters has been laid in Budapest on 15 November. The 58,000 sqm office building is expected to be completed in the second half of 2015 and will be leased by Magyar Telekom for at least 15 years. Upon completion it will become the largest single-block office building in Hungary.

Appeninn Nyrt refinanced its Biatorbágy property under significantly more favorable conditions than before. The 5000 sqm property is occupied by the Hungarian subsidiary of Remmers. Appeninn intends to spend the released resources on further property investments and the distribution of dividends.

Immofinanz is continuing the expansion of its successful Stop Shop retail park portfolio with the acquisition of eight locations in Slovakia and Hungary. The purchase price for these properties totals approx. €79.0 million. The newly acquired retail parks have an occupancy rate of roughly 98% and generate annual rental income of approx. €6.6 million. The transactions will close in several steps, presumably by the end of the first quarter of 2017. Immofinanz‘s Stop Shop portfolio will then cover 66 locations in seven countries with roughly 449,000 sqm of rentable space and a book value of more than EUR 600.0 million. Further locations in Serbia and Poland are currently in the preparation phase for project development. 

General optimism, attractive investment opportunities and more capital characterises the Central and Eastern European property market that is now considered a favourable investment destination by international investors. The second Emerging Europe Property Forum, co-organised by Portfolio Property Forum and RICS, took place on 8 November at the RICS HQ in London. 

According to Cushman & Wakefield, commercial real estate investment activity in the core Central European markets of Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania reached €6.05 billion in the first three quarters of 2016, a 37% increase y-o-y, albeit with reduced activity during the third quarter. Investment in the CE region slipped back following a strong second quarter. The volume of assets traded totalled €1.4bn in Q3 2016, down over 20% a year ago and half Q2 volumes.

In the middle of August, the whole world was once again in Olympic fever, as Rio hosted the 31st Summer Olympic Games. The event bears significance for Hungary, beyond the achievements of its athletes, because Budapest is one of the cities which has applied to host the 2024 Summer Olympics.