Poles don’t invest in commercial real estate

Poles want to invest in real estate. According to data from the National Bank of Poland, in 2022, 70 percent of apartments were purchased for investment purposes. It's a different story when it comes to commercial properties, where the share of Polish capital is just under 2 percent, according to CBRE data. This is much less than in other countries in the region. In the Czech Republic and Germany, for example, local investors account for 60 percent of the capital invested in offices or warehouses, while in Romania, it's 45 percent. They are enabled to do so, for instance, by REITs, which are funds that allow individuals to invest in commercial real estate. This long-term solution has proven effective, but its greatest value is especially evident during times of crisis and high inflation.

"REIT funds have a proven track record as a catalyst for the development of the commercial real estate market and a factor providing greater economic stability through reliance on domestic demand. For years, they have been an important and healthy element of the investment market in many European countries and the United States," Michał Berski, Director of the Investment Team at CBRE, assessed.

In his opinion, in Poland, they would also serve as a positive stimulus for the economy, increasing independence from external factors and positively impacting the housing market at the same time.

(WBJ)