House prices in Romania went up by 2% in the fourth quarter of 2020 compared to the same quarter of the previous year, while across the European Union (EU) the average growth rate was 5.7%, according to Eurostat.

Nova Imobiliare, the owner of Colosseum Mall in Bucharest, plans to add a residential component near the retail project. 

Brașov-based real estate developer Qualis Properties has listed its bonds on the Bucharest Stock Exchange (BVB). The company carried out a private placement through which it attracted almost €2.1 million, by selling 3-years maturity bonds with a fixed yearly interest of 9%. 

Hotel chain Accor has signed a management contract with the owner of Binderbubi Hotel & Spa in Mediaș. As part of the agreement signed with local company Daflog, the hotel will be the seventh in Romania to join the Mercure network. 

Hypermarket chain Kaufland, part of German Schwarz Group, has increased its investment target in Romania in 2021. In 2020, the company opened 20 new stores, purchased land, and carried out upgrade works as part of a €300 million investment effort. 

Romanian developer Nordis Group has announced the acquisition of several plots of lands with a combined surface of 23,000 sqm in the seaside resort of Mamaia. 

Real estate developer Hanner has inked a partnership with a restaurant operator that will join the Fosta Fabrică mixed-use project, located near the Gara de Nord railway station in Bucharest. The company will invest over €40 million in the complex project, which includes the restoration and conversion of four monument buildings. 

The accelerated growth of work from home arrangements has generated a new market for office space that can be leased directly by companies that have ongoing rent contracts for bigger surfaces. At present, around 70,000 sqm is available for sublease, which is a record figure for the Romanian market, according to representatives of JLL. 

The average asking price for an apartment in Romania stood at €1,379 per sqm in March, up 1.5% compared to the previous month, according to a report by real estate portal Imobiliare.ro. 

COVID-19 has fundamentally challenged and modified the way the global workforce interacts, socializes, and collaborates. Flexible working practices, including working from home, have been heavily adopted as the recent pandemic has forced a trial run of remote working for industries, businesses, and individuals across the entire world. As a result, sentiments towards office space, its value, role, and contribution to the operation of daily work tasks are now being reconsidered both by employees and employers. While the pandemic has boosted the shift towards integrating flexible workspaces into corporate real estate portfolios, the fear that the office will lose its relevance is not realistic. Rather than becoming obsolete, it will become an increasingly valuable asset in facilitating collaboration and driving business growth, writes Gavin Bonner, Vice President of Romanian office developer Genesis Property in an opinion piece for Property Forum.