Market Optimism Drives Real Estate Investment Across Europe

According to a recent pan-European survey by CBRE, 2025 is set to see a notable increase in credit activity among companies leveraging debt financing for the expansion of their real estate portfolios. This positive shift is underscored by 40% of respondents reporting an improved market sentiment year-on-year across various commercial real estate sectors. This signals a confident environment for businesses looking to secure new premises or expand existing operations.

Key Sectors and Emerging Trends in Commercial Real Estate Financing

While rental housing currently leads in Europe with a 48% share of credit financing, the industrial and logistics sectors, which previously held the top spot, have transitioned to second place. Hotels have also seen a remarkable surge, claiming third position with a 14% share. For businesses, this indicates continued strong interest and financing availability in the core industrial and logistics segments crucial for supply chain and distribution needs.

Chris Gow, Head of Debt & Structured Finance, Europe at CBRE, highlights a significant trend: over 80% of companies are poised to invest in alternative assets. Beyond sub-sectors of housing like senior living and co-living, a new focus is emerging on storage units and mini-warehouses. This growing interest in flexible and smaller-scale storage solutions presents a direct opportunity for businesses requiring adaptable warehouse or storage space.

CEE Market Insights: Opportunities for Office & Warehouse Spaces

Jakub Štěpán, Head of Valuation, CBRE Czech Republic and CEE, notes that the Central and Eastern European (CEE) region continues to be dominated by more traditional real estate assets. These include established commercial properties such as shopping centers, retail parks, and premium offices, with hotels also seeing increased interest. While the trend for data centers and advanced storage units like mini-warehouses has not yet fully arrived in CEE, activity is closely monitored. This suggests that for businesses in the CEE region, opportunities remain strong for traditional office and warehouse rentals, with an eye towards evolving storage solutions in the near future.

The comprehensive survey, which provides these valuable insights for businesses, was conducted in March and April 2025, gathering input from 143 respondents across Europe.

Source: systemylogistiky.cz