Romania's industrial and logistics market is currently benefitting from its best period in history, both in terms of supply and demand, with development being condensed in a number of large cities with access to at least one highway that facilitates the transport and distribution of goods in a shorter time and with lower costs to a larger number of customers.

Romanian developer Zacaria Group will invest €28 million in a business park in the city of Craiova. OTP Bank Romania will provide financing for the 53,000 sqm project.

Crosspoint Real Estate, an international associate of Savills in Romania, has assisted the sale of the Bank of Cyprus building from SIF Banat Crişana to a firm belonging to a Romanian businessman. Crosspoint negotiated on behalf of SIF Banat Crişana both in the acquisition stage of the building, and later at the sale stage to the private investor.

JLL advised Metro in the process of consolidating its distribution centres into a one roof concept in the new project developed by WDP in the North area of Bucharest, Stefanesti. This is the largest transaction on the Romanian industrial market in this year.

Ceetrus Romania is investing €10 million in the expansion of its shopping mall in Satu Mare, Romania. The new commercial space will be completed in Q3 2019, the company said in a press release.

Cordia Romania, the residential division of Hungary’s Futureal Group, plans to invest €50 million in new projects million next year. The company aims to deliver about 500 apartments per year on the Bucharest residential market, designed for the medium and medium-high segments.

The areas in northern Bucharest, such as Stefanestii de Jos and Chitila, have the potential to form a new logistics hub, according to Colliers International. Over 180,000 sqm of logistics space is to be delivered next year, as the West of the capital has become loaded in terms of the development of industrial and logistic spaces.

Forte Partners plans to invest €25 million in the development of a new office building in the centre of Bucharest. The property will offer 8,400 sqm of leasable space.

The Central and Eastern European (CEE) hospitality market is showing a positive evolution, with all the performance indicators higher than in the previous year. Between 2013 and 2017, Bucharest stands out with an average increase of overnight stays of 10.1% per year, the highest in the region, according to Cushman & Wakefield’s latest report.

The National Bank of Romania (NBR) reintroduced limits for the maximum indebtedness levels for individuals or families seeking out consumer or mortgage loans. These debt service-to-income (DSTI) ratios will become 40% for RON loans and 20% for hard currency starting in 2019. As per Colliers International Romania’s estimates, for the residential market, the impact in terms of prices will be uneven, geared more towards the low and medium-low segments of the residential market.