Sofia's office market is moving at two speeds, with projects in the prime segment performing distinctly better than the rest of the market. These are the main insights of the latest report by Cushman & Wakefield Forton. The hybrid model of work is permanently imposed and breaks the link between business growth and hiring new space, especially in the segment of IT and BPO companies

Romania’s property sector has more liquidity and deals are taking place across sectors, although the country is not in a late stage of price discovery, concluded speakers of the dealmakers panel at the Spring Networking Party 2023, organised by Property Forum earlier this month in Bucharest

Romanian developer One United Properties recorded a turnover of €89.3 million in Q1 2023, up 27% compared to the same period of last year, while the net profit more than doubled to €30.8 million in the first quarter over higher residential sales and growing rental income. 

According to Dr Aleš Pustovrh at the EECFA, which conducts research on the construction markets of 8 Eastern European countries, residential construction boom in Slovenia continues and is set to peak this year. Nevertheless, with increasing interest rates on mortgage loans, residential construction will be facing significantly lower demand in the second half of 2023.

The full-scale invasion of Ukraine has led to huge destruction, the volume of construction waste has reached a critical level and continues to increase. Iryna Nastych summarised the situation in an article prepared by the Ukrainian Real Estate Club for Property Forum.

Communication consultancy Șerban & Musneci Associates has launched SMA Real Estate Kluster, a new division that is exclusively dedicated to the Romanian property market. 

The planned Highest Construction Office (Nejvyšší stavební úřad) and the system of regional construction offices subordinate to it will not be established in the Czech Republic. The construction authorities will remain within the municipalities, the Czech News Agency (ČTK) reports.

Progress on ESG in the real estate industry has been seen since 2018 and sustainability considerations are shaping investment strategies and client demand, concluded speakers of the ESG in real estate panel of Romania ESG Forum 2023, organised by Green Forum and Property Forum last week in Bucharest.

Analysts at Bencont Investments have recorded sales of only 197 apartments in new buildings in Bratislava in Q1 2023. According to them, the unit price of available apartments remained at €4,900/sqm. In Q1, the supply consisted of as many as 3,229 vacant apartments in new buildings. Realisation prices increased by 20% year-on-year, but there was a 1.43% quarter-on-quarter decrease. Q1 2023 was thus still marked by weakening demand, according to the quarterly real estate market analysis of Bencont.

Property Forum is happy to announce the third edition of its annual listing of the 50 most influential people on the Romanian market. To access the publication, click here.