Living and logistics to drive European investment in 2025

Green Forum
Investors across Europe will continue to focus on sectors with strong structural tailwinds, such as living and logistics, according to a Knight Frank report. 

Prime logistics yields have stabilized in many markets and are starting to compress in cities like Madrid and Amsterdam. The retail sector, following significant repricing in the last years, is drawing renewed investor interest, while the office sector, supported by a limited supply of ESG-compliant prime assets, remains a priority for domestic investors. 

Meanwhile, significant capital is ready to be deployed, particularly in the value-add space, with core capital gradually returning. Private investors have become an important source of capital, diversifying their focus across asset classes. 

Mike Bowden, Managing Director & Co-Head of Capital Markets, Europe at Knight Frank, said: "As we look to 2025, Europe's real estate markets are in an exciting position, poised for recovery. Stabilizing valuations and a potential shift in monetary policy are setting the stage for a recovery and bringing forth cautious optimism from investors.” 

In the Czech Republic, expected deal closures by year-end or early 2025 are likely to surpass last year's volumes, boosting investment activity further into next year. Domestic buyers maintain dominance with over 80% market share, a trend expected to continue into 2025. 

Meanwhile, office space demand is set to decline further in 2025, impacted by headcount reductions in the IT&C sector, the largest local driver of demand, and tax increases affecting the economic climate. 

Rental rates, which have risen by €1-2/sqm in key locations over recent years, are expected to stabilise in 2025. Future increases depend on the economic performance, but new projects scheduled for 2026-2027 are already quoting rents approximately €2/sqm higher than existing properties. 

On the German market, easing monetary policy is expected to support investor activity, with rising take-up of ESG-compliant office spaces driving prime rental growth. 

At the same time, the French market is entering a new cycle, with retail and logistics sectors showing growth potential amid a rebound in household consumption. 

Across Italy, transaction volumes are projected to rise to 10-year average levels, with sustained interest in logistics, residential, and hotel assets. 

In Spain, economic momentum is driving growth, with prime rents expected to rise across high-demand sectors like offices and logistics. 

RECOMMENDED
Defense sector emerges as industrial market stabilizer
Real estate

Defense sector emerges as industrial market stabilizer

Nicolae Ciobanu, Managing Partner – Head of Advisory at Fortim Trusted Advisors, talked to Property Forum about the firm's growth in office leasing and land transactions, as well as the outlook on rents and the role of the defense sector in boosting industrial demand going forward.

Why this investor is betting on hospitality and city logistics
Real estate

Why this investor is betting on hospitality and city logistics

George Gardin, Country Manager for Romania at Yellow Tree Group, spoke with Property Forum about the group's first pilot development in Romania, Aria Shopping Center, and the investment vision for the local market going forward, with a focus on diversification into hospitality and in-city logistics. 

CEE industrial market becomes more selective and data-driven
Real estate

CEE industrial market becomes more selective and data-driven

The industrial real estate market in CEE has entered 2025 with strong momentum. According to new market data released by iO Partners, the total stock of industrial space has reached 34.4 million sqm in Q1 2025, marking a 1.1% quarter-on-quarter increase. 

Controversies remain for Slovenian rail project worth over €1 billion
Real estate

Controversies remain for Slovenian rail project worth over €1 billion

A major railway project in Slovenia, aimed at enhancing the capacity of Port Koper, is nearing completion amidst ongoing controversies and skyrocketing costs, according to an analysis by Dr Aleš Pustovrh, Slovenian researcher at the Eastern European Construction Forecasting Association (EECFA).

RECOMMENDED FROM THE HOME PAGE
Sustainability moves from ambition to action
Real estate

Sustainability moves from ambition to action

Conducted in autumn 2025, the RICS Sustainable Real Estate Survey Europe gathered 112 responses from valuers, developers, investors and other professionals across 30 countries. The findings confirm that ESG has moved from a peripheral concern to a core driver of real estate value, risk and decision-making across Europe.

Finance

ProCredit Bank Romania launches CO2 calculator for SMEs

ProCredit Bank Romania has launched a CO2 Emissions Calculator to help microenterprises and small and medium-sized enterprises quantify and understand their carbon footprint. This initiative reflects the Procredit Group's commitment to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, with client engagement at the core of its Climate Action Strategy.

Energy

DSV boosts energy self-sufficiency with solar power

DSV – Global Transport and Logistics, the world's largest logistics operator, has launched a solar installation at its warehouse in Łozienica, Poland, in partnership with commercial real estate investor Accolade. The installation will meet the energy needs of Poland's first multi-client warehouse equipped with an AutoStore system.

Energy

Etem Gestamp signs cross-border wind power deal with Rezolv

Etem Gestamp, the Sofia-based joint venture between Viohalco Group and Spain's Gestamp Group focused on aluminium extrusion and processing for the automotive industry, and Rezolv Energy, the Actis-backed independent power producer, have signed a 10-year virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA) in Bulgaria. The VPPA will see Etem Gestamp buy electricity from Rezolv Energy's 461MW 'Vifor' wind farm, which is about to come onstream in Buzău County, Romania. It is the first cross-border wind PPA that has been publicly announced in Bulgaria.

READ MORE
Green Forum  |  24 April, 2026 at 11:04 AM
Green Forum  |  14 April, 2026 at 8:46 AM