The outlook for Central and Eastern European markets is still positive according to the RICS Commercial Property Monitor. Results for Q3 2017 show that both occupier and investment demand are still on the rise across the region. The peak of the current cycle is, however, undoubtedly getting closer.

Atenor announced the forward sale of the fourth building on the Váci Greens complex in Budapest to a Hungarian private fund. Building D comprises 14,145 sqm of office space, 1,502 sqm of commercial units and underground parking for 260 vehicles. Scheduled for completion by the beginning of 2018, the building is already partially (25%) leased to Unilever and to retail traders. The purchase price is estimated to be around €44 million.

A new Class A office building in Budapest’s CBD is to be delivered this year. The former electrical transformer building will comprise 2,630 sqm of modern office space on five floors. According to the developer, Markó Irodák 9 (MI9) is tailored to meet the requirements of creative workshops, start-up companies and other undertakings taking an up-to-date approach in general.

Continuing the ownership consolidation program started two years ago, Peter Munk, a Canadian businessman, was bought out of Granit Polus. In the new ownership structure, Sándor Demján and his direct management are the majority owners of the group of companies. Sándor Csányi remained as minority owner.

Granit Polus Group has signed a credit agreement of €335 million with a syndicate of Erste Group Bank AG, Erste Bank Hungary Zrt., UniCredit Bank Hungary Zrt., UniCredit SpA and K&H Bank Zrt. in order to refinance existing loans and provide a capex credit line for WestEnd City Center.

Bischoff & Compagnons is about to start the construction of the Alphagon Office Building in the South Buda part of Budapest. The scheme is to be completed in Q2 2019.

A second building is under construction at the Páty industrial park right after the handover of the first facility. This time Inpark develops a built-to-suit, energy efficient warehouse to leading electronics retailer Euronics, with a total budget exceeding €8 million (HUF 2.5 billion), to be delivered next spring.

Cushman & Wakefield selected Budapest as the location of their Portfolio Services Centre (PSC) solution. The new 1,300 sqm PSC is located in the Studium Office Building, close to Corvinus University and many cultural venues and sights. The team is being led by Byron Tudor who has joined from Goldman Sachs International.

Investment flows into the CEE-6 region’s commercial real estate markets rose 12% y-o-y in the first nine months of 2017. The €7.6 billion closed deal total coupled with a still full pipeline of deals under consideration suggests that the annual cycle high of €12.2 billion invested last year is likely to be matched or overhauled. Substantial growth in Czech and Bulgarian volumes were the drivers of the momentum in the January-September 2017 period, says Colliers International in its latest report.

The office markets of Central European capitals are growing dynamically with the number of new leases on the rise and vacancy rates hitting record lows in several cities. In light of all this it is no surprise that development activity is also heating up on the most popular markets of the region.