This quarterly figure represents one of the strongest third quarters in the market’s history and is only marginally short of the record breaking year of 2007. This activity brings the preliminary year-to-date regional investment volume to more than €5.5 billion and represents a 22% growth year on year.

Kevin Turpin, Head of Research CEE at JLL, commented: “With the final quarter of the year often representing one of the busiest periods for our investment teams, and looking at the pipeline of deals that are in advanced stages, we predict that the CEE regional volume could reach the €8 billion mark by the year end. Should the latter happen, it would put 2015 at the highest level since the economic downturn and third highest in the past 12 years”.

The Czech Republic currently leads in terms of investment volumes with a share of 43% followed by Poland with 28%, Romania with 11%, Hungary with 10%, Slovakia with 2% and the SEE countries recording improved activity with a 6% share.
The breakdown of preliminary volumes for Q1-Q3 2015 is as follows:

Our view on prime office yields (Prague and Warsaw) are at between 5.75 - 6.00%. Retail yields for best in class products are at 5.00 – 5.25% and truly prime warehouse asset yields are expected at 6.50 – 6.75%.

“Although the Hungarian volumes are lagging behind the Polish and Czech volumes, we are witnessing a strong interest for Hungarian assets from established and new international investors on top of the unabated appetite from local real estate funds. The year-to-date volume of roughly €570 million is also promising as it is the highest volume of the past 8 years” commented Rita Tuza, Head of Research at JLL Hungary.

“Expo 2015 was a very motivating event as we could experience a clear change of gear for the CEE markets ex-Poland and Czech Republic. Among those, Hungary is now a favourite investment destination due to the robust economic momentum and the strong leasing markets” added Benjamin Perez-Ellischewitz, Head of Capital Markets at JLL Hungary.

JLL