During the first quarter of 2023, the volume of investment in commercial real estate exceeded €477 million, a result that far exceeded initial expectations. The reason for these positive figures is a single large transaction into the retail property portfolio, which accounts for the majority of the total quarterly investment volume. This transaction is the reason why most of the funds in the past quarter went to the retail segment. Domestic investors were the most active last quarter, accounting for an unprecedented 87% of the total, according to Knight Frank's analysis of the Czech commercial real estate market.

The Czech branch of Knight Frank is expanding its portfolio of services. Until now, the company has focused on the commercial real estate segment, with the new addition of residential real estate services. The newly established department is headed by Kateřina Poláková, who has extensive experience in sales and marketing management in the residential segment, the company announced.

The commercial real estate investment market in the Czech Republic is stagnating. Analysts see the year 2023 as a challenging year. However, the market was dominated by domestic capital last year and there is still a mismatch in the expectations of buyers and sellers, according to a Knight Frank report.

Global Business Solutions (GBS), the largest shared services centre of the BAT group that serves BAT subsidiaries at a European and global level, will occupy an area of ​​10,500 sqm in One Cotroceni Park Phase 2. The lease transaction was brokered by Knight Frank Romania. 

Over one million square metres of industrial space is currently under construction in the Czech Republic. Most of them are pre-leased. New completions reached a record 521,600 sqm, representing the highest-ever volume of new space delivered to the Czech market. This is a 295% increase compared to Q3 2021 and an incredible 340% increase compared to Q2 2022. However, possible pressure on the correction of market rents can be expected. Given the current rent levels, it is already possible to register a declining interest of some of the Czech and foreign companies in leasing industrial space in the Czech Republic, according to the latest Knight Frank report.

In Q3 2022, some companies in the Prague office market experienced problems with convincing employees to return to the offices. Therefore, the experts are expecting that the companies will reduce their existing leased space after their leases come to an end. Despite this expectation, 18,200 sqm of modern office space was completed and the premium rents grew and there was a decline in the vacancy rate, says a new Knight Frank report.

Interest in office space in Prague is not slowing down. Office demand is growing by tens of percents year-on-year, the vacancy rate is slightly decreasing and over 190,000 sqm is under construction, according to the latest office market analysis for Q3 2022 by the Prague Research Forum.

The volume of investments in commercial real estate reached a total value of €368 million in the Czech real estate market in Q3 2022. Most of the investment transactions were mainly in the office and retail segments. Czech investors were the most active investors in this period. Demand for prime real estate is still stronger than what is on offer on the market, Knight Frank said in its report.

Savills has announced the acquisition of Knight Frank’s commercial property and asset management team in Poland. Under the agreement, 35 employees have joined Savills and its Polish property management portfolio has surpassed 1,200,000 sqm.

Horațiu Florescu, Chairman & CEO of Knight Frank Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria, Greece & Serbia spoke to Property Forum about the emphasis on the hybrid concept in the local real estate market and Romania's ability to attract more institutional real estate investors.