JLL has decided to enter the residential market. With the acquisition of REAS, JLL will become the first advisory firm to operate on all segments of the real estate business in Poland. Working within the structures of JLL, REAS will be responsible for developing Living Services in both Poland and Central & Eastern Europe.

According to the latest report by JLL, Disruption or Distraction, the flexible office space sector in Europe has more than doubled since 2014, and could grow by up to 30% per year over the next five years. These forecasts - based on an analysis of 20 major European markets - also include Warsaw, which dominates the Polish flex market.

Poland's industrial sector remains in great shape. Up to 2.8 million sqm of space was leased and 1.3 million sqm delivered to market from the beginning of January to the end of September 2018. Nearly 2.1 million sqm of industrial space remains under construction, according to JLL.

For growing numbers of employees across Europe's big cities, heading into the office no longer entails sitting at the same desk, next to the same colleagues each day. As more companies of all shapes and sizes choose turn to flexible space – whether its hot-desking areas in buildings they already occupy or taking space in independently owned coworking set-ups - it's fast becoming part of modern working life and a small but increasingly significant part of Europe's office markets. Europe's flex space footprint has doubled since the start of 2015, according to JLL's report. In 2017 alone, flexible space grew by 29 percent, adding around 620,000 square meters.

Between Q1 and Q3 2018, demand for office space in Poland reached nearly 1.1 million sqm, signalling a continued strong market momentum. JLL summarised the situation on the Polish office market at the end of Q3 2018.

Prague is becoming increasingly more expensive than Bratislava. Employees continue to earn more in the capital of the Czech Republic, though the cost of living is also rising, especially in regards to housing. This is evidenced by the results of research done by JLL, which compared the prices of apartments in both capitals.

JLL advised Metro in the process of consolidating its distribution centres into a one roof concept in the new project developed by WDP in the North area of Bucharest, Stefanesti. This is the largest transaction on the Romanian industrial market in this year.

Positive sentiment amongst tenants, developers and investors are reflected in the spectacular demand for office space and reduced vacancy rates in Warsaw. The growing presence of co-working companies is another sign of an expanding market. JLL summarised the situation on the Warsaw office market at the end of Q3 2018.

At the beginning of October, the total value of real estate investment transactions completed in Poland year-to-date exceeded €5 billion which is comparable to 2017's total. JLL analysed this year’s investment transactions conducted in the commercial real estate sector in Poland.

Since the beginning of the year, more than €2.1 billion has been invested in Polish retail assets. JLL Poland summarised the situation on the local retail market at the end of Q3 2018.