One of the most important local players on the Hungarian market has closed two transactions at the end of 2017 and there are more in the pipeline for 2018. Balázs Czifra, Property Investment Director at Diófa Asset Management talked to Property Forum about his plans and expectations.

Colliers International has strengthened its management structure in Poland. In recognition of their business achievements and contribution to building company value, all nine of Colliers’ Partners in Poland will now be referred to as Senior Partners, which is a newly created position.

In Q3 2017 the largest increase in house prices was registered in the Czech Republic. According to fresh data published by Eurostat, Hungary also saw double-digit growth, while prices rose by 5-10% in Bulgaria, Slovenia, Slovakia and Romania

In the next two years Delta Holding plans to invest €600 million in real estate projects in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Bulgaria.

CTP will complete the construction of several warehouses and start new developments in its three logistics parks situated in the vicinity of the Romanian capital: CTPark Bucharest West, CTPark Bucharest and CTPark Bucharest North (former Chitila Logistic Park). It is estimated that by the end of 2018 their cumulated surface will reach approximately 680,000 sqm. CTP plans a total expansion of at least 300,000 sqm at national level.

Total demand on the Budapest industrial market amounted to 211,250 sqm in Q4 2017, marking a 58% year-on-year increase. The vacancy rate dropped to a new record low of 4%. The Budapest Research Forum published its quarterly industrial market analysis.

Laurentiu Lazar, Senior Partner, Investment and Valuation Services, will take over as the new Managing Partner of Colliers International Romania, effective as of March. Ilinca Paun, the current Managing Partner, will remain Member of the Board and will focus on her activity at Entrepreneurship Academy, where she will operate as CEO.

Total demand on the Budapest office market in Q4 2017 reached 144,365 sqm, representing a 13% decrease year-on-year. The office vacancy rate has decreased to 7.5%, the lowest rate on record. The Budapest Research Forum published its latest figures.

In 2017 the Bucharest office market has posted results close to the 2016 record ones, taking into consideration transactions in Class A and B buildings. 2018 is expected to bring growth and new demand from players that are going to enter the market, but also of the existent ones who will extend or relocate. The annual Knight Frank report – European Commercial Property Outlook – estimates that European commercial property markets enter 2018 with positive momentum.

The Iulius Company has commenced the works for the retail component included in the Openville Timişoara project, the largest mixed-use development in the west of Romania. The first phase of the project integrating the current Iulius Mall Timişoara is set for completion in Q4 2018 and will include 47,000 sqm of additional retail premises, 100,000 sqm of Class A offices, a park, a traffic underpass, as well as more than 1,500 new parking places.