Property Forum recently spoke with a prominent player in the Romanian property market, who asked to remain anonymous, about the systemic challenges facing development in the capital, which risks seeing billions of euros in new investments lost due to prolonged administrative blockages.
Lavinia Ioniță Rasmussen, Real Estate Partner at Nestor Nestor Diculescu Kingston Petersen (NNDKP), talked to Property Forum about the firm's growing portfolio in industrial and renewable energy, but also about the new EU rules that will boost investments in green buildings.
Sales of homes funded by bank loans rose by 40% during H1 2024 compared to the same period of last year over the reduction of interest rates and the increase in transaction prices, according to transactions brokered by RE/MAX Romania.
Romanian developer Bellemonde Developement has obtained €21 million in funding from Libra Internet Bank for a residential project in Pipera, near Bucharest.
Romanian developer HILS Development has announced a 28% increase in residential sales during H1 2024 compared to the same period of last year, while revenue was up 25% year-on-year.
The average price of new homes in Romania amounted to €1,504 per sqm in 2023, which was the third lowest price in Europe, behind Bosnia and Herzegovina and Greece, according to a Deloitte report.
Romanian developer One United Properties says its volume of sold and pre-sold residential units, parking spaces and commercial spaces amounted to around €123.8 million during H1 2024. This result is up by 2.5% compared to the same period of last year.
STC Partners will start a new residential project in Bucharest after completing the acquisition of a land plot for €7.2 million.
Monia Dobrescu, Partner at Mușat & Asociații, spoke to Property Forum about the growing role of ESG criteria in bank financing of real estate projects and the prospects for investment in the local market in 2024.
Romanian developer Eden Capital aims to deliver by H2 2026 a new high-end residential complex in northern Bucharest with an estimated value of €130 million.
InteRo Property Development, owned by the Canadian Topolinski investors family, has kicked off the construction of a new mixed-use project in Bucharest with a valuation of €1 billion.
UBM Development Czechia announced a significant milestone in sustainable construction in the Czech Republic, allowing the construction of wooden buildings up to 22.5 meters.
The European Union has reached a provisional agreement to reduce the scope and stringency of two major ESG regulatory frameworks: Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD).
Lidl Romania has published its eighth sustainability report for the 2024 financial year, announcing accelerated progress in reducing environmental impact. The retailer has achieved its international 2030 target for transitioning to natural refrigerants, with these now used in 100% of logistics centres and 81.7% of stores, compared to the original goal of 100% of logistics centres and 40% of stores. The company has also increased its green energy usage to 80% of total consumption.
Global law firm Dentons has advised OX2 on acquiring three wind power projects totaling 235 MW in Romania from Future Power. The projects, located in Vaslui and Vrancea counties, are expected to be commissioned between 2028 and 2030, subject to permitting.
Romania is emerging as a key destination for Turkish renewable energy investments, attracting growing interest from industrial and financial groups. Real grid connection opportunities for projects, infrastructure modernisation potential, and investment framework stability make Romania strategic for Turkish capital as Europe accelerates its transition to sustainable sources and energy independence.
51% of Romanian entrepreneurs see sustainability as a way to reduce operational costs, yet the same proportion say implementation is too expensive, according to a new study by BRD Groupe Société Générale. Conducted among micro and small-to-medium enterprises, the research outlines how Romanian entrepreneurs perceive the opportunities and challenges of transitioning to sustainable business models.
