The industrial real estate sector remains the least affected commercial real estate sector in Slovakia. In the second quarter, the market recorded solid leasing activity, reaching almost 120,000 sqm of industrial space. Cushman & Wakefield published its Q2 2020 snapshots for Slovakia’s office, retail and industrial sector.

Local real estate developer Forte Partners is planning to build 500 apartments on Calea Serban Voda in Bucharest. The residential building will be erected next to the developer’s U Center office project, which is currently underway. The company's second major residential project is valued at €200 million.

In terms of tenant activity, the major regional markets can speak of a better H1 than a year ago. Despite the expected slowdown, some companies continue to expand their business. JLL summarised the situation on the Polish office market at the end of H1 2020.

Local developer Crestyl Group has completed the fourth office building in its Dock district development project, located in Prague’s Palmovka area.

Calea Victoriei in Bucharest, the 2.8-kilometer-long artery between Piața Victoriei and Piața Națiunilor Unite, will continue to grow as an office and hotel hub in the upcoming years, with the developers' plans to build seven new office buildings and six hotels as a result of investments that could exceed the €300 million threshold, according to Cushman & Wakefield Echinox.

GTC’s rental income suffered a €2 million decrease due to rent and service charge relief imposed by governments during the lockdown of shopping malls. Still, total rental and service charge revenues increased to €41 million in Q1 2020 from €39 million in Q1 2019. GTC presented its financial results at the end of Q1 2020.

M7 Real Estate has undertaken its first acquisition on behalf of M7 CEREF II, its value-add opportunities fund focused on offices and logistics/industrial properties in key Central European markets, including Poland, Hungary, Croatia and Czech Republic. The investors purchased the 12,672 sqm Atrium office building in Katowice.

The H1 data indicate that the worst-case scenarios regarding the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Warsaw office market did not materialize. According to a report published by Cresa Poland, the second quarter witnessed a substantial volume of new supply which has now been almost fully absorbed by the market. A total of 100,000 sqm was delivered in Warsaw with an additional 700,000 sqm currently under construction.

Echo Investment has gained a loan for the construction of the MidPoint71 office building, that is being built in Wrocław on Powstańców Śląskich street. PKO Bank Polski provided the financing of the project. In accordance with the signed loan agreement, the bank granted Echo Investment €54.4 million in a construction loan, as well as a PLN 7 million VAT loan. Once the construction is finished, the construction loan will be converted to an investment loan. The total funding period ends on 30 June 2026.

Total office market demand reached 335,000 sqm in H1 2020 on the Warsaw office market. In fact, demand for office space in Q2 was significantly higher than in Q1. Vacancy rates across Warsaw increased slightly by 0.1 p.p., with 770,000 sqm under construction. JLL summarised the Warsaw office market in H1 2020.