In the past twelve months, retail properties have tried to make up for the challenges faced in the first year of the pandemic. Summarizing 2021 for the modern retail space sector, experts from BNP Paribas Real Estate Poland pointed to several key phenomena regarding the sector, including: a quick return of shoppers to retail facilities, retail parks standing becoming stronger, e-commerce continuing the way of the stable growth, as well as the increasingly important role of sustainable development and ESG policy.

While in H2 2021, gross take-up on the Brno office market reached 38,100 sqm, which represents a 57% increase in comparison to H1 2021 and a 50% increase y-o-y, Ostrava office market gross take-up in the same time reached 1,600 sqm, representing a drop of 91% compared to H1 2021 and staying stable in a y-o-y comparison. The Regional Research Forum announced the Brno and Ostrava office market figures for H2 2021.

Konica Minolta IT Solutions has extended its popular software package for real estate and investment companies which was showcased at Prague Property Forum 2021. Customers using this package based on Microsoft’s Dynamics 365 and Power Platform, appreciate various smart features and the common base solution developed by Konica Minolta ITS, which ensures a smooth flow of information between all the departments. If you prefer, you can watch a short video overviewing the package or detailed videos for each module here.

Czech businessman Radovan Vítek has amassed a fortune estimated at around €4.1 billion while increasing his influence in the European property sector. Vítek holds firm control of CPI Property Group, the company he founded with assets topping €11 billion and has gradually built majority stakes in Globalworth and Immofinanz, both competing groups in Central and Eastern Europe. By purchasing controlling participations in these companies, Vítek could build his property investment empire across CEE to the tune of around €20 billion and 7 million sqm of developed space, covering every country and asset class in the region. This story is a prime example of the rise and strength of local capital in CEE, in addition to the gradual decline of influence held by Austrian companies over the region.

In December 2021, the construction output increased by 8.1%, year-on-year (y-o-y), in real terms. In the month-on-month (m-o-m) comparison, it was 1.8% higher. December was, in terms of year-on-year indices, the most successful month of 2021 too. The planning and building control authorities granted 8.3% more building permits, y-o-y. The approximate value of permitted constructions increased by 52.8%, y-o-y. The number of started dwellings increased by 120.8%, y-o-y. The number of completed dwellings decreased by 18.7%, y-o-y, the Czech Statistical Office (CZSO) announced in a report.

Occupancy levels in purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) have on average reached pre-pandemic figures in many countries, a new study released by market research and advisory specialist Bonard shows.

Last year, 9698 flats in Prague received final building permits, which is 5363 more than the year before and the most since 1997, the year from which data is available. This is according to data on the construction industry published by the Czech Statistical Office (CSO). In recent years, the Czech capital has been struggling with a rise in housing prices by tens of percents a year, which the city's authorities say is also due to insufficient construction. Deputy Mayor Petr Hlaváček said that with the recovery of construction, the prices of flats are expected to get cheaper in the medium term, Czech News Agency reports.

The main themes on Slovakia´s office, retail and industrial markets in the fourth quarter of 2021 were supply-side shortfalls and rising prices. However, the office market saw one of its strongest quarters yet as take-up soared. Cushman & Wakefield published its Q4 2021 snapshots for Slovakia’s office, retail and industrial sectors.

A large share of real estate professionals globally no longer view office space as being essential for a company to operate successfully. At the same time, increasing demand for flexible workplaces is evident and office space is being repurposed for other uses more and more frequently, according to the RICS Global Commercial Property Monitor for Q4 2021.

Based on independent external appraisals, CA Immo expects a positive net property revaluation result of around €355 million (around €3.52 per share) for the fourth quarter of 2021. Overall, a highly positive net property revaluation result of approximately €540 million (around €5.36 per share) is expected for the business year 2021, which will significantly exceed the reference value of the previous year of €184 million. The result reflects the still attractive market environment FOR Class A properties in Germany and especially in Munich and Berlin despite the Covid-19 pandemic.