Growing investor appetite for industrial assets, a supply gap on the Warsaw office market and Poland moving up global ratings - these are some of the real estate market highlights of 2018. All the indications are that in the months ahead the market’s focus will be on alternative asset classes and the likelihood of an economic slowdown. Real estate advisory firm Savills presents its preliminary summary of Poland’s commercial property market performance in 2018 and an outlook for the next twelve months.

During 2018 the total commercial real estate investment transaction volume passed the €1.8 billion level in Hungary, marking the third consecutive year of stable and strong investor appetite and the highest annual transaction volume since 200, according to JLL Hungary's latest numbers. Hungarian funds were the most active purchasers with a market share above 50%.

The total value of commercial real estate investment transactions in Poland may exceed €6.3 billion for 2018, the best ever result for the country's market, JLL reports.

Hosted by RICS in Austria, the 6th Annual RICS CEE Event, held at the British Ambassador’s Residence in Vienna, aimed to answer a number of questions related to the future of the profession and presented how RICS, a solution leader in the real estate sector, helps professionals become well-equipped to meet challenges of the 21st century.

Profitability of the 22 construction groups listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange continued in the negative territory throughout Q3 2018. Moreover, the third quarter of the year was the second consecutive quarter in which profitability reported by property developers was on the decline, though it should be noted that their earnings were still fairly decent and at a sound level when compared to contractors. On the other hand, financial results delivered by manufacturers and suppliers of building materials and construction equipment were solid

According to JLL, the retail stock in Poland has already exceeded 14 million sqm, and in 2018 alone expanded by approximately 417,000 sqm of new space across all formats. The largest openings this year included the Forum Gdańsk (62,000 sqm), Libero in Katowice (45,000 sqm) and Gemini Park in Tychy (36,600 sqm)

Another year in the commercial real estate market in Poland is coming to an end. Although the figures for the last 12 months are yet to be published, we can safely say that this year was definitely a good one for the Polish market. Experts from Colliers International selected 10 events that had a major impact on the shape of the real estate market in Poland.

According to research conducted by JLL, the flexible office space sector in Europe has more than doubled since 2014, driven by the development of start-ups, creative industries, and small- and medium-sized companies. Furthermore, the combination of high tenant activity with the business plans of the world's largest operators means that the volume of flexible space in most European cities will have likely increased by 20-40% in 2018 alone.

Wrocław is the third largest state-of-the-art office market in Poland (after Warsaw and Kraków) and one of the fastest developing office locations in the country. JLL summarized the current situation on the Wrocław office market.

The City of Warsaw and JLL will implement a pilot program aimed at increasing the attractiveness of the Warsaw City Centre in the eyes of potential tenants and customers. The changes will be introduced starting with Marszałkowska and Aleje Jerozolimskie Streets.