INVESTMENTS AND FINANCING
- Poland vs. rest of the world – how to win the competition for foreign investments?
- Until recently, Poland was Central and Eastern Europe’s leader when it came to attracting FDI, but over time a few contenders have entered the race. Romania, Hungary, and the Baltic states have also had some success in attracting foreign capital. How can Poland maintain its competitive edge and revive the property market? Which cities are going to benefit from new development projects? Which sectors – from manufacturing, to BPO and SSC services – show the greatest potential for growth? Infrastructure, public incentives, and the future of the office sector in the face of global challenges.
- Polish capital in the property market – how to stimulate it?
- The possibility of Polish investors to invest in real estate on a large scale is limited. A lack of REIT is only one of the problems. What other mechanisms could stimulate Poland's domestic capital? Can investment funds, real estate crowdfunding, or collateral bonds prove effective? What legislation could support Polish investor seeking to invest in real estate?
- Global capital looking for real estate in CEE. What assets are currently on the radar?
- Investors from the USA and Asia appreciate the stability of the region and the attractive ROI it offers. Poland, Czechia and Hungary are becoming a lucrative alternative to expensive western countries. If that is the case, what is the problem? Attractive assets are in short supply, causing a price hike. High costs of financing and a decreasing value of other assets force investment funds to be more selective. Where do they invest, and what segments do they give a wide berth?
- High construction costs + expensive capital = market correction
- New investments are becoming more expensive, while the availability of financing is decreasing. The result? Fewer projects, more selective buyers, and market consolidation. Small players are dropping out of the race, while major developers are taking over control. Is the property market in CEE going to be dominated by a few big players?
COMMERCIAL PROPERTY SECTOR
- Offices in retreat? Not quite yet…
- Hybrid work redefines the market, but offices are far from done. Companies keep investing in offices but in a different way – office space as a service, flexible space and mixed-use. In CEE, on the rise are secondary cities that attract business with low costs of operation. Which locations are going to emerge victorious from the competition?
- Warehouses in CEE – a booming market but not everywhere
- Poland and Czechia are still leaders of logistics in Europe. However, investors are becoming more selective. The key question is: which forms of warehousing are going to survive the increasing costs of financing – large-surface production halls for reshoring, or compact urban distribution centres (last-mile)?
- Retail anew – redefining shopping centres
- Far from dying, the shopping centres as we know them are evolving into something different. The growth of e-commerce is causing retailers to integrate their sales channels, while shopping centres are slowly turning into leisure centres, putting more emphasis on entertainment, dining, and services. Click & collect models, fulfilment in shopping centres and co-working space in retail are a thing of the past.
- Hotels under pressure – expensive capital, ESG and changing expectations of guests
- The hotel market of EEC is facing a key test. The high costs of financing are limiting new investments, ESG requires the owners to initiate costly modernization projects, while the guests demand flexibility, personalized service, and technologies. Can the operators and investors invent a new business model for achieving profitability? Which formats – apart hotels, condo hotels, economy, or luxury – are going to survive? How do changes in business trips and tourism affect the strategies of hotels?
- Revitalisation instead of construction – a prerequisite of success?
- Almost 70% of buildings in CEE are in need of modernisation. New investments are becoming more expensive, while financing them turns out to be a major challenge. Should investors abandon the concept of greenfield for the sake of modernising existing properties?
HOUSING SECTOR – CHALLENGES AND STRATEGIES
- Housing sector after a boom – the new reality faced by developers, governments, and potential buyers
- After years of dramatic price increases, the housing sector is entering a new economic cycle. Although the prices are stabilizing, residential properties remain in short supply. The government is testing new support schemes, developers are adjusting their offer to the new reality, while the buyers are becoming more demanding than ever. What models of financing and land policies could increase supply? Can new regulations improve the situation of buyers, or reduce the number of new investments?
- Housing crisis – an opportunity for PRS?
- The entire region is suffering from a lack of affordable residential properties. PRS is gaining on popularity, but can its growth continue in a highly regulated environment where the costs of financing are high? Could prefabrication allow to build faster, cheaper?
- Premium flats and condos – the new face of luxury
- The market for premium properties is growing, but the expectations of buyers are changing. A prestigious location is no longer enough – what matters are technologies, ESG, and personalisation. What trends are going to shape luxury housing properties?
TECHNOLOGIES, ESG AND THE NEW MODELS OF ESG MANAGEMENT –
- a cost or a survival kit?
- It is no longer about image. What truly matters is access to capital. Banks and investment funds in CEE are reviewing their strategies – properties that are not up to ESG standards are becoming difficult to finance, while their value is decreasing. Are developers and the owners of buildings ready for the new reality where “green” means “profitable”?
- AI redefining the rules of properties valuations
- In the past, investment decisions were based on intuition and historical data. Today, AI analyses millions of variables, predicting market trends, fluctuations in value, and the risk of projects. More and more often, Poland and CEE are used as a testing ground for new analytical models. Is the traditional approach to valuation going to be rendered obsolete?
- Data centre and technological investments – a new pillar of the property market?
- As the digital transition is driving the growth of technological real estate, data centres are becoming a key asset. What opportunities does it provide for developers and cities? What models of cooperation could accelerate the development of this sector?
- Facility Management 4.0 – technology and ESG in facility management
- There is much more to facility management than just costs optimisation. More frequently it involves digitalisation, automation, and ESG. How are AI, IoT and other technologies transforming FM? What benefits can be obtained from sustainable growth?
