According to Cushman & Wakefield, robust commercial real estate investment activity in the core Central European markets of Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania continued in the second quarter of 2016 and reached EUR 2.6 billion, a 56% increase on Q1. This has pushed volumes over the last twelve months to EUR 9.3 billion, close to 2007 record levels.

The latest Colliers report reveals a stable retail property market in Bulgaria during the first half of 2016. Modern shopping centers in Sofia retained the absorption levels from the previous period – nearly 15,000 sqm of leasable space, compared to 16,370 sqm in the second half of 2015. In well-established projects enjoying active demand, this equals to an average share of 4% from the GLA. 

Delta Holding, a Serbian real estate investor, has announced that next year it will begin building a shopping mall in Banja Luka, the largest investment in the Republic Srpska region of Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Immofinanz is continuing the expansion of its STOP SHOP retail park chain at a fast pace: the 57th location was opened today in the Polish city of Szczytno. After Niš in Serbia and Świnoujście in Poland, this represents the third project completion in two months and the next locations have already been identified. A STOP SHOP will open in the Serbian city of Valjevo during early autumn, and in Poland preparations are underway for retail parks in Pultusk and Gdynia. These projects will raise the total number of STOP SHOPs to 60.

New Europe Property Investments (NEPI) has closed several transactions in Southeastern Europe. The Group has concluded an agreement to acquire a shopping centre in Sibiu, Romania, a minority interest in Mega Mall Bucharest, Romania and a land plot in Novi Sad, Serbia.

In 2016 commercial real estate investment activity seems to be picking up again in Southeastern Europe after a slightly weaker 2015. Although financing conditions are continuing to improve a lack of high quality product and liquidity still presents a big challenge for all countries of the region. We report from Bucharest where Portfolio Conferences and RICS have organised SEE Property Forum for the second time.

Major cities of Southeastern Europe have had to face many challenges: wars, earthquakes and the drastic redevelopments of the socialist era. Today, they are trying to rebuild themselves and become modern, European capitals. We look at three countries, three capitals – and three very different plans for city developments. 

According to Colliers International's latest market research the Croatian real estate market experienced several significant investments in the retail, office and hotel and hospitality sectors in 2015. While the retail and office segments are experiencing upward pressure on rental prices, the industrial market, despite being the least developed sector, saw increased activity.

More and more cities around the world are rediscovering the potential that lies in their waterfronts. Transforming old and dysfunctional industrial zones into lively areas with mixed uses has been trending for many years now and the Serbian capital has one of the most ambitious waterfront plans in the world. When new first broke about Belgrade Waterfront in the middle of the financial crisis few believed that the ambitious plans of Abu Dhabi-based developer, Eagle Hills would ever materialise. In 2016 however the wheels of the 1.8-million-square-metre megaproject are already set in motion, completely transforming the Serbian capital. Nikola Nedeljkovic, General Manager of Belgrade Waterfront talked to us about the 3-billion-euro development.

Would you have thought that many well know luxury brands have opened stores in Tirana before entering Budapest? This is especially interesting considering the fact that Hungary has a retail stock of 1.3 million square metres compared to 205 thousand square metres in Albania. Through our questions, Stela Dhami, Managing Partner at Colliers International Albania is introducing the property market of a country that is usually off the radar.