The total investment volume in Slovakia for H1 2018 reached just under €500 million, a significant amount compared to the €535 million for the entire 2017 and record-breaking €850 million in 2016. This is the result of several mid-volume level deals slipping from 2017 Q4 to 2018 Q1/Q2, as well as increased liquidity and investment activity on the Slovak market, according to JLL.

The boom continues. At the end of H1 2018, supply on Poland’s office markets exceeded 10 million sqm. Furthermore, 1.8 million sqm remains under construction, with 1.1 million sqm being developed outside Warsaw. JLL summarised the situation on the Polish office market in H1 2018.

Almost 425,000 sqm of modern office space was leased in Warsaw in H1 2018 while an additional 700,000 sqm of offices remain under construction. Rents increase on a par with decreasing vacancy rate. New coworking concepts begin to gain traction as well. JLL summarised the situation on the Warsaw office market at the end of H1 2018.

Total retail stock in Poland now stands at nearly 14.0 million sqm with shopping centres accounting for 71% (9.9 million sqm), followed by retail parks and warehouses with 27% (3.8 million sqm) and outlet centres coming in with 2% (0.25 million sqm). JLL summarised H1 2018 on the retail market in Poland.

In its latest Global Sustainability Report, JLL reported exceeding its goals for carbon emission reductions within its corporate offices and committing to set a Science Based Target by 2020. Reductions achieved on a per corporate office employee basis included a drop in building-related greenhouse gas emissions by 15 percent (vs. a target of 10 percent), building-related energy consumption by 12 percent (vs. a target of 10 percent), and rented area by 10 percent (vs. a target of 8 percent).

Governments worldwide have been gradually forging greater transparency in real estate markets, addressing growing demands from investors and the public to deliver significant change. JLL’s Global Real Estate Transparency Index reports slow but steady progress driven by increased regulations and new technology.

In mid-June, international property developer HB Reavis announced the completion of a major real estate deal. The developer sold its office property Metronom Business Center located in Prague-Butovice to ČS nemovitostní fond, managed by Česká spořitelna’s REICO investiční společnost, for a sum of €89.2 million (CZK 2.3 billon). JLL advised HB Reavis on the sale.

In recent weeks, JLL has participated in three large-scale investment transactions in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. These were strategic acquisitions of Wood & Company's real estate fund (the real estate arm of investment group Wood & Company), which recently acquired three premium office buildings.

JLL Spark, a division of JLL, announced the creation of JLL Spark Global Venture Fund, which plans to invest up to $100 million in companies focused on leveraging technology to improve everything from real estate development and management to leasing and investing, while enhancing the experience of those who occupy it. The fund will also help entrepreneurs and their companies by connecting them with JLL’s business lines and clients for insightful feedback and distribution of their products.

Poznań is constantly evolving. This is mirrored by the excellent results recorded on the city’s office market. New thriving companies are establishing operations in Poznań while firms already present in the city are expanding their business. All of these factors are boosting demand in Poznań for modern office space, according to JLL.