Retail is among the real estate sectors most affected by the COVID-19 crisis. As most stores have been ordered to close across Europe, retail landlords face an unprecedented challenge. Duarte Cabral, Deputy Managing Director EMEA at Sonae Sierra shared with us his initial impressions on this rapidly evolving situation.

Many market players, especially those working in industrial and office, expect a swift return to business as usual in the third quarter. Andy Thompson, Director of Czech & Slovak Capital Markets and Tewfik Sabongui, Managing Partner for the Czech Republic shared Colliers International’s expectations for the coming months.

Nearly all market indicators point to positive developments on the Serbian market with further growth expected in all segments. Mia Zečević, the CEO of Serbia’s Novaston Real Estate Platform talked to Property Forum about the company’s development plans and shared her insight on the current trends shaping real estate markets in the Balkans region.

In 2020, student housing markets in Europe are expected to grow stronger with Poland becoming one of the most attractive countries at a continental level. Stefan Kolibar, Head of Marketing at Bonard talked to Property Forum about the trends driving this segment regionally and globally.

The most active logistics developer in Hungary plans to expand its portfolio by 100-150 thousand sqm every ear. Rudolf Nemes, Country Manager of CTP Hungary talked to Property Forum about the ongoing changes on the Hungarian logistics market.

The first international industrial/logistics developer present on the Serbian market is expanding its portfolio rapidly. Vlatko Djuricek, Country Head of Serbia at CTP talked to Property Forum about the company’s future plans.

One of the region’s most active investment managers, Griffin Real Estate has ambitious plans to further expand its portfolio in several market segments, potentially outside of Poland as well. Stanislav Frnka, the company’s Senior Partner has talked to Property Forum at Expo Real about Griffin’s investment strategy and the asset classes they’re exploring.

Having closed CEE’s largest ever real estate transaction this summer, CTP is carrying on with its ambitious development plan. Group CFO Richard Wilkinson talked to Property Forum about the company’s upcoming projects and the financing conditions industrial developers face.

User expectations have changed significantly during the past couple of years and this is a challenge that most landlords do not take lightly. Mátyás Gereben MRICS, Country Manager of CPI Hungary talked to Property Forum about the changing needs of office tenants and the shopping centre of the future.

The Czech Republic has one of the longest and most complicated building procedures in the world and is ranked 156 out of 190 countries observed by The World Bank. Fortunately for real estate developers, the situation is slowly changing. Erwin Hanslik MRICS, Partner and CEE Head of Real Estate at Taylor Wessing talked to us about the legal and regulatory challenges investors and developers need to face in the Czech Republic.