Romania’s real estate market witnessed an unexpected evolution in 2020, and the outlook for 2021 holds cautious optimism, owing to the strong ties between this sector and the industries it serves.

The economy demonstrated remarkable resilience with a 5.8% rebound in Q3 and a 4.8% recovery in Q4, following a daunting 12.2% contraction in the second quarter of 2020. Private consumption, the driving force behind last year’s growth, is poised for a robust resurgence in the latter half of 2021, as vaccination efforts pave the way for a gradual easing of restrictions. Furthermore, robust investment, supported by the construction sector, is anticipated to persist in the coming years.

2020 emerged as an unexpectedly favorable year for Romania’s real estate market, particularly in terms of transactions, approaching the EUR 1 billion mark. While many of these deals were initiated before March 2020 and a few large transactions significantly influenced the total volume, early indicators for the year suggest growing investor confidence in the Romanian real estate sector.

Throughout the pandemic, the real estate sector faced a spectrum of strategic and operational challenges. Property developers and owners were compelled to adapt swiftly to a multitude of issues, from government-imposed restrictions to safeguarding the well-being of employees and customers, all while ensuring business continuity. Although certain asset types, such as offices and residential properties, were impacted by the pandemic, the enduring strategic foresight of key players in Bucharest and major cities helped shield high-quality projects from these adverse periods.

Seasoned investors exercise caution in these turbulent times but are keen on evaluating the bigger picture before making significant business decisions. Notably, prices for attractive projects have remained resilient, and issues linked to COVID-19 have been approached cautiously and thoughtfully during negotiations, with previously stalled deals now showing signs of revival.

Interestingly, last year’s reshaping of investment plans has drawn more focus towards real estate. Profitable businesses in other sectors are looking to invest their earnings in quality projects, including offices, residential properties, and logistics. Traditional real estate developers are also inclined to capitalize on their operational assets through sale-purchase agreements or joint ventures, using the proceeds to fund ongoing projects.

These shifts have led to unexpected opportunities. Players in the industry have demonstrated creativity and flexibility in devising deal structures to accommodate silent partners and joint ventures. Furthermore, it’s been widely acknowledged that the pandemic should not deter transactions when trust is placed in resilient projects. Negotiations have incorporated price adjustment mechanisms, such as additional payments to sellers based on the project’s performance over several years.

The residential sector emerged as an unexpected victor amid the pandemic. Although uncertainty clouded the sector’s prospects in the spring of 2020, it rebounded strongly post-lockdown. As remote work potentially becomes a permanent option for office employees, the market is undergoing structural changes to align with evolving client needs. The size and configuration of residential units are gaining greater importance in acquisition decisions.

Given the sector’s resilience and its contribution to the overall economy, it’s imperative to boost client confidence by expeditiously raising the 5% VAT threshold. This move would enhance project quality and grant middle-income individuals in major Romanian cities access to decent housing.

Recent developments in the agricultural sector, including substantial legislative changes governing the sale-purchase of arable lands, have introduced significant transformations. Since early autumn of the previous year, the agribusiness, which has attracted major, well-established investors in Romania, has grappled not only with the pandemic but also legislative uncertainty.

Specifically, more than nine months have passed, and the details concerning the calculation and implementation of the 80% tax on the sale of arable extra-muros land remain unregulated. Clarity on this issue is essential, as it could potentially determine the fate of certain transactions. Ideally, the future will bring clarifications, possibly through implementation norms accompanying relevant legislation, to ensure the continuity of both major transactions and everyday business activities in this sector.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, players in Romania’s commercial real estate sector confronted a spectrum of strategic and operational challenges, with notable disparities between market segments.

In the coming years, the focus will shift to accommodating tenants’ and end-users’ needs in response to the health crisis. Owners, developers, and investors in this field primarily consider contractual adjustments and flexibility as key attributes that will matter most to tenants and end-users once the health crisis subsides.

In conclusion, Romania’s real estate market, marked by its resilience and adaptability, managed to navigate the challenging terrain of the pandemic year and appears to be in relatively robust shape as it continues to evolve.