Property Forum’s latest online panel aimed to answer some of the many questions around the future of workplaces. Four experts, with the moderation of Csanád Csűrös, CEO of Property Forum, discussed workplace strategies for the post-COVID-19 world and their implications on the real estate industry.

Close to a year into the pandemic, we have reached an inflexion point. COVID-19 has accelerated the world in ways that will undoubtedly alter the course of business for decades to come, transforming conventional notions of where and how we work. While approved vaccines hold the promise of a return to normalcy when the pandemic recedes, exactly what will our world of work look like and how can companies set themselves up for success? New reports from JLL explore the next chapter of the future of work. They demonstrate that companies with the agility to adapt to new and changing conditions across work, the workforce and the workplace will successfully build their competitive advantage in a post-pandemic world.

Office properties continued to be both the most abundant and attractive investment assets on the Hungarian commercial real estate market in 2020, according to DLA Piper Hungary’s latest annual report.

New research released by JLL shows that the investment allocation to living assets is set to grow throughout 2021, following the robust performance of the market throughout 2020, which resulted in €83.4 billion being invested into the sector. 59% of investors set to increase investment allocation to European Living assets in 2021, but nearly 80% highlight lack of suitable product as a main barrier to investment.

Immofinanz recorded an increase in rental income and results of property sales in 2020 despite the COVID-19 crisis. FFO 1 (before tax and incl. the S Immo dividend) rose by 0.6% year-on-year to €126.1 million, supported by cost savings. Profit before tax equalled €-160.4 million (2019: €350.1 million). After the deduction of €-5.5 million (2019: €-2.5 million) in income taxes, net loss amounted to €-165.9 million (2019: €352.1 million).

The industrial and logistics sector continues with strong momentum while large scale office transactions have slowed in European investment volumes, as many countries saw overall activity halve in comparison to Q1 2020, according to the latest capital markets report by Colliers.

Between January and March 2021, nearly 93,000 sqm of retail stock was delivered in Poland, a result comparable to the same period last year. The structure of new supply included only two large-scale formats: stand-alone retail warehouses (55% of new space) and retail parks (31%). Convenience centres claimed the remaining 14%. The largest scheme delivered was an Agata Meble store (11,000 sqm) in Jelenia Góra. JLL summarised the conditions on Poland’s retail market at the end of the first quarter of 2021.

An increase in European Union funding available to Central and Eastern European governments will boost GDP growth, suppress debt burdens and improve debt affordability, although implementation challenges will hinder gains in some countries, Moody's Investors Service said in a new report.

Budapest’s office market statistics for Q1 2021 continued to reflect the uncertainties and economic slowdown triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. While quarterly demand remained somewhat weaker than in previous years, the gap narrowed as the number of transactions showed recovery, according to the Budapest Research Forum (BRF).

The volume of Hungary’s construction output in February decreased by 11.7% compared to the January data, based on seasonally and working-day adjusted indices construction output. Aside from the unpleasant surprise of lower output, the volume of orders was also not very rosy. Nevertheless, it would be too early to give up on this year's outlook.