Real estate services provider Savills forecasts that €1 billion will be transacted in the Polish commercial property market during the first half of 2013. This comes after a blockbuster 2012, when Poland recorded its highest annual investment volume since 2006, at €2.7 billion, representing 8 percent year-on-year growth.

Michał Stępień, senior consultant at Savills Poland, explained that investors put a strong focus on prime assets in 2012, which was reflected in the country’s highest-ever average transaction value, at €64 million, despite a small number of deals.

Savills notes that the office and retail sectors dominate the Polish investment market, however in 2012 the warehouse sector’s share of the total volume reached 17 percent, up from 6 percent in 2011. In total there were 11 investment transactions in this sector worth €436 million, up 200 percent compared with 2011.

Source: CBRE European Investor Intentions Survey 2013

In the office sector, Warsaw remains a key investment destination, a survey by advisory CBRE found. The study ranked Warsaw in the top five European destinations that real estate investors plan to target in 2013. CBRE experts believe this is underpinned by Poland’s relatively favorable economic performance to date and its positive outlook.

Mike Atwell, head of CEE capital markets at CBRE in Poland, said that while London stands out as the single most attractive city on the continent for the second consecutive year, with Munich, Berlin and Paris moving up in the ranks, Warsaw remains Central and Eastern Europe’s “go-to destination” for commercial property investors.

Mr Atwell added that Poland continues to be seen as one of the most promising destinations and continues to attract funds.

Marta Mardosz