Investment market in CEE countries

Investment turnover in commercial real estate in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) totalled approximately EUR 560 mln in the first half of 2009, according to CB Richard Ellis' forthcoming report, CEE Property Investment MarketView H1 2009. The figure marks a decline of 86% from volumes seen in H2 2008 and is down 91% compared with H1 2008.

CEE H1 investment activity was concentrated in Russia (EUR 249 mln) and the core Central European (CE) markets of Poland (EUR 114 mln) and the Czech Republic (EUR 73 ml). As a result, turnover in these three countries accounted for almost 78% of CEE's H1 2009 investment volume, compared to 65% in H1 2008.

The largest share of investment activity in H1 took place in the office segment (48%), while retail was traded much less than in recent years; for example, 17% of the total H1 2009 activity was for retail properties compared to 33% of H1 2008 investment turnover in CEE. This can generally be attributed to the large lot sizes associated with core retail investments, which in the current market are more difficult to finance and involve different risk/return profiles than offices. In addition, retail is generally seen as a relatively safe bet in challenging economic times and, as a result, existing owners are less willing to sell retail schemes.

Jos Tromp, Head of CEE Research & Consulting, commented: 'Equity investors continue to see prime property in core Central European markets as relatively safe investments and therefore as good targets as part of strategies to diversify and seek relatively attractive returns outside their home markets. But as the amount of available core product in Central Europe is limited and agreement on pricing is still proving challenging, investment volumes remained low in the first half of 2009. The relatively high levels of activity in the Russian investment market has been driven more by local investors, significant yield movement in recent quarters, and rebounding commodity prices so far this year.'

The structure of the CEE property market has distinctly changed since 2008 when foreign purchasers accounted for around 80% - 85% of all investment activity compared to about 60% in H1 2009. Tromp: 'The Czech Republic is an example of a market where local investors have become more active since international investment interest has weakened, whereas Poland is a market that has maintained a more international profile.'

Market activity is expected to increase in CEE in the second half of 2009. This expectation is based on continuing interest from active equity buyers, the expected reopening of several (currently) closed German open-ended funds, and increased activity from local buyers.
Source: Property EU july 2009