The Bulgarian property market is booming with the total transaction volume expected to exceed €1 billion in 2017. The outlook for the future is highly positive: strong demand, underpinned by solid economic growth, encourages developers to start new projects in all segments of the market.

The office markets of Central European capitals are growing dynamically with the number of new leases on the rise and vacancy rates hitting record lows in several cities. In light of all this it is no surprise that development activity is also heating up on the most popular markets of the region.

Continued growth in the investment attractiveness of Warsaw has resulted in high demand for modern office space and is matched by tremendous developer activity. JLL summarised the situation on the Warsaw office market at the end of Q3 2017.

At the beginning of this month the owner of Kupiec Poznański has signed an agreement to modernise the office part of the building. The scope of works includes a creation of reception area dedicated to office space that will be independent from the shopping centre part. Moreover new modern lifts will be introduced and common areas on the office floors will be rearranged according to design project provided by Kostka&Kurka architectural studio. The concept and scope of changes have been prepared by BNP Paribas Real Estate Poland who is the exclusive leasing agent of the building and its property manager. The works are scheduled to finish in February 2018.

In Q3 2017 gross demand on the Warsaw office market reached 198,600 sqm, which brought the 2017 YTD total to 589,500 sqm. The Polish Office Research Forum has published its figures for Q3 2017 for the office market in Warsaw.

One United Properties, a Romanian residential developer has entered the Bucharest office investment market by purchasing the North Gate office building in Pipera. The property was bought at a public auction for €16.8 million. The developer of the complex, Creativ Invest Grup, filed for insolvency earlier.

French real estate group Catinvest plans to expand Electroputere Parc, the company’s shopping mall in Craiova, by 9,200 sqm. The group has also started the construction of an additional mixed-use building which will comprise 12,000 sqm of retail space, 15,000 sqm of Class A office space and over 700 underground parking spaces. Total investment in will exceed €70 million by the end of 2018.

In 2016, the premises of the former Brno arms factory was taken over by CPI Property Group, which presented the development project Nová Zbrojovka. A new modern neighbourhood is steadily emerging from the brownfield in the wider centre of Brno. At present, the issue of transport infrastructure, the revitalisation of the surrounding area and the clearing of individual spaces is being addressed.

ICP Capital Partners has entered the Czech investment market with the acquisition of Na Rybníčku office building from an Irish private investor. The purchase price is believed to be approximately €5 million (CZK 130 million).

Corpus Sireo Real Estate has acquired the Oasis Florenc office property in Prague from an international investor. The purchased asset is located near the Vltava river and will now be included in the pan-European DEREIF SICAV-FIS fund. The parties agreed not to disclose the purchase price.