The ongoing war has significantly transformed various aspects of life in Ukraine, with the real estate market being no exception. Despite the challenges posed by active hostilities, economic instability, and demographic shifts, the resilience and adaptability of Ukrainian businesses are noteworthy. This overview, based on a survey conducted by the Ukraine Real Estate Club among members of the business community, outlines the primary issues, trends, and prospects within the real estate sector during wartime.

The biggest growth in Eastern Europe is foreseen in Bulgaria going into 2025, while the rest of the countries are projected to make side moves in the coming years, according to a report by the Eastern European Construction Forecasting Association (EECFA).

We have previously published insights on the recovery efforts in Ukraine, and we would like to share some remarkable examples of how commercial projects damaged by missile attacks are being rebuilt. Shopping malls, office buildings, and logistics centres are often prime targets during hostilities, yet Ukrainian businesses are showcasing extraordinary resilience as evidenced in this summary prepared by the Ukrainian Real Estate Club for Property Forum.

Recovery in Ukraine began after the first months of the war. Without waiting for the war to end, the authorities and the population decided to restore both civilian and commercial facilities that had been damaged or destroyed during the hostilities. Today, this is a well-controlled and organized process of reconstruction and renovation, funded by the state, along with the help of international organizations, and by the population's efforts in the case of damaged housing. The Ukrainian Real Estate Club has collected information on specific areas of reconstruction for Property Forum, from the restoration of critical infrastructure to socially oriented projects such as schools and medical facilities.

In the first half of 2024, the trends that emerged last year were consolidated and intensified in Ukraine’s office and industrial real estate market. The situation has stabilized and the market is gradually returning to pre-war numbers. Iryna Nastych summarised the situation in an article prepared by the Ukrainian Real Estate Club for Property Forum.

The Society of Industrial and Office Realtors (SIOR) Foundation has awarded a $22,000 grant to the Kyiv School of Development (KSD). The funding will be used for the training of at least 100 reconstruction specialists to help rebuild Ukraine. 

Dom Development Group has established the Nasz Dom Foundation to consolidate all charitable activities. The Foundation’s work was officially launched with a cooperation agreement signed with the Ukrainian foundation - Housing for IDP. In 2024, Nasz Dom Foundation will donate PLN 3.2 million to support a housing project for internally displaced persons in Ukraine.

The Ukrainian retail market is showing resilience despite objective negative factors (unstable consumer demand, declining purchasing power) and is gradually approaching 2021 levels. In the first half of 2024, the market saw both negative and positive trends. Among the first, CBRE Ukraine analysts mention a drop in the consumer confidence index. According to a study by Info Sapiens, as of the end of June 2024, this indicator in Ukraine decreased by 8 points, reaching 64.5. Iryna Nastych summarised the situation in an article prepared by the Ukrainian Real Estate Club for Property Forum.

The construction industry in SEE-based countries is in the recovery phase and could reach a new peak by 2026, while some countries in Eastern Europe have cooling activity in this sector, according to a report by the Eastern European Construction Forecasting Association (EECFA).

In 2023, the share of imported construction materials in the Ukrainian market rose to 23% (compared to 14% in 2021). Experts note that the domestic construction materials market requires systematic support from the government. Iryna Nastych summarised the current situation in the Ukrainian construction materials market in an article prepared by the Ukrainian Real Estate Club for Property Forum.