Commercial real estate can serve a far more significant purpose than simply providing operational premises. For many manufacturing, logistics and industrial businesses, it has become an integral component of capital structure and a source of growth financing. The sale and leaseback (SLB) model — whereby a company sells a property whilst simultaneously entering into a long-term lease for the same asset — enables occupiers to unlock capital embedded in their real estate whilst maintaining uninterrupted operations, and offers investors access to income-generating assets underpinned by long-term cash flows.

Romania's modern retail stock reached 4,859,000 sqm by the end of Q2 2026, with retail parks accounting for approximately 23% of this area. Deliveries in H1 2026 totalled 84,000 sqm, including the expansion of Arena Mall Bacău, Phase 1 of Urbano Shopping & Living in Cluj-Napoca, and new retail parks in Oradea, Breaza, Bran, and Brașov. A further 68,000 sqm are under construction with delivery scheduled for H2 2026, including ARIA Shopping Centre, One Gallery, and Cometex retail parks, bringing the estimated full-year total to 152,000 sqm. Looking further ahead, nearly 300,000 sqm of new space is in the planning and construction phase for 2027–2028, with major projects including the 120,000 sqm mixed-use Rivus project in Cluj-Napoca, expansions of Promenada Mall Bucharest and Palas Iași, and M Park Galați.

EastGate 2026, taking place in Iași on 15-16 September, is a new international forum designed to connect investors, developers, financial institutions, public authorities and business leaders across Romania, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine. Property Forum is delighted to announce the North-East Regional Development Agency (ADR Nord-Est) as an Institutional Partner of EastGate 2026.

Sky Office Center, an A-class office building in Warsaw's Mokotów Business District, has been sold by Hines to a private Polish investor. Avison Young's investment team acted as the seller's adviser throughout the transaction.

Alina Necula, Country Manager Romania at Lion’s Head, spoke to Property Forum about the firm's logistics expansion and IFC sustainability partnership. She also detailed ongoing investments at Oregon Park to enhance the tenant experience and support hybrid work.

Duda Development's Dyfrakcja Łódzka project in Łódź is entering its final construction phase, with overall progress exceeding 95%. The development at ul. Wodna 3 comprises 214 flats ranging from 25 to 97 sqm, with one to four rooms, along with a two-level car park with bicycle storage and storage units, and eight ground-floor commercial units.

Roxana Frăţilă, Partner, Head of Real Estate & Construction at CMS Bucharest, talked to Property Forum about the investment growth in secondary cities, the integration of renewables, and the need for robust legal frameworks to support complex urban-regeneration projects.

Investment in commercial real estate in the Czech Republic exceeded €1 billion in Q2 2026, up 121% quarter-on-quarter and 47% year-on-year. For the first half of the year, total volume reached €1.47 billion. According to Knight Frank's analysis, full-year investment could approach €3 billion, keeping the market above its long-term average.

Halfway through 2026, Ukraine's commercial real estate market presents a picture of cautious resilience: no segment is booming, but none is collapsing either. Across retail, office and industrial property, the common thread is the same:  a persistent shortage of quality supply is doing more to shape rents and vacancy than any surge in demand.The URE Club (Ukrainian Real Estate Club) has summarised the key trends driving the market in an article for Property Forum

North Bucharest Investments (NBI) continues to develop one of Romania's residential ecosystems by integrating VIVO Residence into its portfolio of partner developments. The partnership strengthens NBI's position as a company specialising in residential and investment real estate, bringing together consultancy, technology, marketing, and access to residential opportunities in northern Bucharest within a single ecosystem.