Focus Estate Fund, a fund specializing in non-prime retail properties in Central Europe, announced the acquisition of Island Green Retail Park in Wrexham, United Kingdom. The price of the asset has not been disclosed

In 2023, Central Europe’s commercial real estate market faced a notable decline in investment volumes. Dropping by 55% year on year, the region’s total investment volume accounted for €5.02 billion. Of the six countries surveyed by Cushman & Wakefield, Poland experienced the most significant downturn of 68%, with its share of the total CEE volume also dropping. The highest proportion of the capital went into the office sector, which also recorded the sharpest outward movement in terms of yields. Local and regional investors accounted for two-thirds of the investment transaction volumes, a significant increase from the previous years. Despite challenges, the market demonstrates resilience, particularly in the logistics and residential sectors, spotlighting areas of growth potential.

Higher borrowing costs and the price gap between buyers' and sellers' expectations are some of the reasons why transaction volumes are significantly below the 10-year average level of ca. €10 billion. This is according to a commercial real estate investment volumes survey by Colliers presented at a February meeting of Czech and Slovak investors and other financial experts.

IAD's Prvý realitný fond real estate fund has acquired through its real estate company Logis Rugvica d.o.o. a plot of land intended for development in the Sveta Helena area, near the Croatian capital Zagreb. With this project, Prvý realitný fond is successfully starting its activities on the Croatian market.

CPI Property Group has sold the Concept Tower office building in Warsaw to Wood & Company Real Estate Fund. The price has not been discolsed.

Commercial real estate transactions in Romania amounting to more than €600 million are currently under negotiation. Around half of assets in ongoing talks are based in Bucharest, according to a Cushman & Wakefield Echinox report.

After an unprecedented rise in interest rates, the CE REIF fund has reassessed the price of real estate in its portfolio. Last year's loss is reaching almost 30%, reports DennikN.sk. It is the first real estate fund in Slovakia that has admitted the problems of commercial real estate.

Following the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in early 2020, the Polish investment market has consistently navigated its repercussions, only to face additional challenges from the economic turbulence resulting from the war in Ukraine, rising interest rates or inflation. Despite maintaining stable investment volumes for three tough years, 2023 witnessed an inevitable slowdown, says Avison Young.

The retail sector accounted for 58% of the total investment transaction volume that reached €500 million during 2023 in Romania, according to data from iO Partners in collaboration with JLL.

Sylvie Geuten-Carpentier, Managing Partner at Mitiska REIM, talked to Property Forum about the current state of affairs in the Polish investment market, recent activities of Mitiska in CEE countries and the rising attractiveness of the retail park sector.