Land in Bucharest continued to attract the interest of real estate developers this year, considering that in the first nine months of 2018, lots with a cumulated surface of over 60 hectares on which around 8,000 dwellings, 180,000 square meters of offices as well as commercial spaces can be developed, according to an analysis of Cushman & Wakefield Echinox.

Portland Trust has acquired a 16,000 sqm plot of land on Jiului street near Bucurestii Noi Boulevard. The transaction price is estimated at about €5-6 million, according to zf.ro.

Telekom Romania announced the sale of two plots of land located in the Floreasca area of Bucharest to One United Properties. The transaction price exceeded €18 million.

Forte Partners has purchased a 5,400 sqm land plot for the third building of The Bridge in Bucharest. At an average price of at least €500 per square meter in the area, the deal could amount to €2.7 million, zf.ro estimates.

AFI Europe Romania finalised the acquisition of a land plot in Bucharest, in the proximity of AFI Park 1-5 and AFI Cotroceni shopping mall, with a surface of approximately 43,000 sqm, in a transaction worth €23 million.

Immofinanz has sold two plots of land managed by Adama, a developer part of theImmofinanz group, to Speedwell Real Estate Development. The buyer plans to expand its residential and office development portfolio in the northern part of Bucharest. The purchase price has not been disclosed.

Warimpex Finanz- und Beteiligungs AG announced the purchase of the B52 Office building in Budapest for an undisclosed price. The transaction was signed on 20 April 2018 and will be closed before the end of the second quarter. The seller is CCE Investment Kft., the investment arm of the prominent real estate investor and development company ConvergenCE.

In 2017 the residential market took the lead in terms of land deals, recording all-time highs for both the number and value of sale/purchase contracts. The market for land suitable for office buildings and hotels also continued apace in 2017. The appetite of developers for new purchases was underlined by deals for several dozen properties throughout Poland, according to JLL.

Last year, the total value of land transactions in Romania for real estate projects (excluding the industrial segment) increased significantly from 2016, exceeding the €350 million threshold at the national level. According to Colliers International, about 70% of this value was ascribed to the capital, where land transactions for residential development represented more than half of the investment volume.

Immofinanz started selling land plots from the portfolio of Adama, a residential developer part of the Immofinanz Group. Two land plots located in the Bucharest area have already been sold, while the transaction for another piece of land is set to be finalised in November. The three assets have a total surface area of almost 36,000 sqm. The parties have agreed not to disclose further details.