Commercial real estate market overview 2009

2 mln. sq. m. of office space were commissioned in the office real estate market in 2009. The main trends in demand for office space in 2009 are the following: demand for lease and sale decreased considerably, small fit out offices remain the most sought-after; demand for purchase of office assets has been growing since summer and the share of requests for lease of bigger offices is also growing which shows that asking prices and rental rates are more in line with expectations of potential buyers and tenants. Despite some recovery of demand for high-quality office space in the last months of 2009, the main office market trends remain negative.

In 2009, 950,000 sq. m. of retail space were delivered in Moscow, the leasable area being 530,000 sq. m. Throughout 2009, demand for retail space remained unstable. Starting from the end of 2008 and during the first six months of 2009, the activity of retail operators was at a low level which resulted in decreasing demand for space in shopping malls and in the street retail segment. However, the retail activity increased in autumn: the number of transactions grew up and as a result, the rental rates stopped falling (the rental rates even rose in some properties and shopping galleries) and vacancy rates declined. Seeing stabilization of rental rates both in retail centers and in the street retail segment, more optimistic market players said the market had hit the bottom and that the retail sector would soon grow up.

In 2009, 8 hotels (approx 1,000 rooms) were commissioned. In January-December 2009, the occupancy rates in Moscow hotels fell 28% on average versus the corresponding period of 2008 reaching 50%. Partially, the occupancy rates decline was caused by decreasing tourist flows. Another reason was that people reduced periods of stay and chose alternative means of accommodation during their stay in Moscow. The average ADR amounted to 4,050 rubles, 15% less than in 2008.