Real estate : Investments of 169 million euros in real estate market in Romania in first three months

Real estate market in Romania showed a positive beginning in 2025, with a total investment volume of 169 million euros in the first three months, more than double compared to the previous quarter and about the same level as the same period of 2024, showing a sustained return of investment interest in local active stock, a specialised analysis released on Thursday shows.   At the same time, the office sector in Bucharest continues to yield positive results. Although the total volume of rentals was lower than in 2024, the net take-up grew by 38% compared to quarter 1, 2024, exceeding the average of the last five years, CBRE Romania specialists show.   They remarked an intensification of demand for quality stock, when the new offer is limited. Therefore, the non occupancy rate in Bucharest continues to drop, reaching 11.9%. Effects of substantial demand and limited offer are seen in the central area, where the vacancy rate reaches the lowest record of 2.9% in recent years.   “The lack of new deliveries in 2025 and the modest pipeline estimated for the coming years set up the premises of pressure over offer, which may continue the rising trend of rents and the growing interest in the well located existing buildings,” said Laura Dumea-Bencze, Head of Research & Director Investment Properties, CBRE Romania.   After a period of relative stagnation, the retail segment returned in the investment top, attracting 66% of the total volume in quarter 1, 2025.   “This tendency, consolidated in the last two years, shows the increased confidence in domestic cosumption and solid economic foundations. The increase of net average salary by 13% in 2024, next to a stable unemployment rate and a rising purchase power, backed the customers' interest in buying and the tenants' interest in development, which attarcted investors in commercial areas,” the CBRE Romania analysis shows.   In the first three months of the year, international investors transacted 90% of the total investment volume, but the Romanian capital continues to be present and active, confirming a gradual maturity of the national market.   CBRE estimates that the ttal investment volume could exceed 1 billion euros until the end of the year, on the rise by 35% against 2024. In a broader sense, the drop of the interest reference rate of the Central European Bank, combined with a solid volume of transactions in progress, backs these risign prospects. In this context, CBRE experts consider that a compression of yield for premium stock until the end of the year, especially in office and retail sectors is possible.   CBRE Group is the biggest commercial real estate services and investments in the world (according to 2022 incomes). The company has over 115,000 employees serving customers in more than 100 countries. In Romania, CBRE serves a varied range of customers with an integrated service variety, including facilities , transactions and project management; property management, investment management, property estimates and evaluation, real estate leasing, strategic consulting, property sales, mortgage and development services.