Once again, in Q4 2021, the Czech Republic registered the strongest house price growth within the EU, both in a year-on-year (25.8%) and a quarter-on-quarter (5.7%) comparison, well above the EU averages of 10% and 2.1%, respectively, according to Eurostat’s house price index.

​Given that the global tech giants are primarily headquartered outside Europe, analysing the recent trends in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) can help to identify which locations are proving attractive for data centre operations. Cushman & Wakefield’s latest findings confirm that the largest investment activity continues in mature tech and financial hubs in Western Europe. A key driver for activity in this group of locations is the proximity to the high economic activity of these increasingly digitised markets, writes Dimitris Vlachopoulos, Partner, Head of Portfolio & Location Strategy, EMEA for Cushman & Wakefield.

Europe’s fundamental mismatch between voracious housing demand and the limited supply is driving massive investment growth in the residential sector and will continue to generate opportunities even amid geopolitical and economic uncertainties, according to a new report by Colliers.

The impact assessment of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine on the Slovenian construction market must take into account the current volatile situation associated with the pandemic. Even before the war in Ukraine started, building material manufacturers reduced their capacity, either due to logistics problems resulting from the global closure of countries or due to declining demand. As the last wave of the pandemic ended, supply failed to keep up with increased demand and construction material prices began to rise, writes Dr Aleš Pustovrh (Bogatin d.o.o.) for EECFA Slovenia.

People have started to return to their usual shopping destinations. That is reflected in the positive business development of SES Spar European Shopping Centers during the second year of the pandemic. Compared to 2020, significant growth was recorded in retail partner sales, visitor footfall and average spend per purchase. This positive upward trend was recorded by SES in all countries in which it operates centres. Despite the pandemic, in 2021, a total of €22 million was invested in maintenance and sustainable measures relating to the operation of the centres, as well as in project development.

In 2021, GTC recorded an adjusted EBITDA of €113 million (€105 million in 2020) with the net profit amounting to €43 million in 2021 (€71 million loss in 2020). This mainly resulted from a strong operating performance combined with lower loss from revaluation/impairment of assets by €130 million, partially offset by an increase in finance cost by €8 million and recognition of tax expenses of €14 million.

The construction, operation, financing, development and acquisition of commercial property in 2022 and beyond will continue to be impacted by the price of fuel, energy and construction materials. This will be combined with challenges in the supply chain, the nearshoring of operations and rapidly rising inflation, culminating in a direct effect on sale prices and the rent paid by occupiers, reveals a report by Colliers.

Duna House has released its monthly Transaction Estimate, showing that there were 14,548 residential property transactions in Hungary in March 2022. This is the fourth-highest monthly value of the past decade. 

H2 2021 saw the highest number of newly commenced apartment constructions in Prague since 2008. The total number of apartments under construction rose to 12,630 units at the end of H2 2021. At the same time, the number of new apartments delivered was the weakest annual result since 2011 as only 3,700 apartments were completed. Still, the interest in buying flats was record-breaking, the best since 2016 and 22% above the 5-year average, says JLL in its Prague residential market report.

In 2021, despite the disruption of the pandemic, full-year investment volumes in CEE, totalling €11.07 billion, were up by 6% year-on-year but ca. 20% lower than the same period of 2019. Colliers originally estimated that year-end volumes for 2022 could reach in excess of €12.0 billion, however, the war in Ukraine and ongoing pressures on global economics could impact this outlook, says Colliers in its CEE Investment Scene | 2021 - 2022 report.