Ce property market in €958m boost

Investment activity in the key Central European markets of Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania maintained its growth in the first quarter of 2013, according to Cushman & Wakefield.

In total, €958 million was invested, some 6% above the 5 year average, and whilst this is down on the previous quarters €1.826 billion, positive investor sentiment and underlying activity suggests investment volumes for the year should match those achieved in 2012.

Investment volumes in Poland, Czech and Hungary increased by some €258 million following Norges joint venture with Prologis in respect of a portfolio of high quality distribution facilities.

This single transaction represents 50% of the total investment into the industrial sector across CE during 2012. Hungary attracted €159 million in Q1 2013, significantly up on the same period in 2012.

"Some investors are considering taking more risk and reviewing the more developed and relatively mature parts of CE and finding not just a yield advantage and better relative economic growth than in the west, but also an improving level of liquidity," Cushman & Wakefield partner Charles Taylor commented