Commercial real estate market overview Q1 2011

The overview sums up the results of the commercial real estate market development for Q1 2011, including the commercial real estate market of Moscow and regions, as well as detailed analysis of the office, retail and hotel real estate markets.

Approximately 250 thous.sq.m. of high-quality areas entered the office real estate market for Q1 2011, “A” class properties constituted 40% of them, “B” class – 60%. Therefore, the aggregate supply volume in the office real estate market amounted to about 11 mln. sq.m.

The recovery of demand for the sale and rent of high-quality office premises is going on in rather active paces. By the results of Q1 2011 the share of vacant premises in “A” class constitutes approx 13-15%, in “B” class – 15-17%.

During Q1 2011 a technical opening of one professional retail center – “Afimall City” took place in the structure of Moscow-City MIBC. As the majority of properties commissioned in 2009-2010, Afimall City was opened with a partially operating retail gallery. With the opening of Afimall City, the total supply volume in the professional retail market of Moscow increased up to 5.98 mln.sq.m., the rentable area amounted to 3.03 mln.sq.m.

In Q1 2011, retail operators’ high activity, which contributed to the growth of deals number and the decrease of vacant areas level both in the professional retail segment and in the street retail segment was observed. Retail operators’ high activity was determined by the growth of buyers’ activity. Thus, according to the Federal State Statistics Service, the turnover of retail trade in Russia increased by 4.7% YoY in Q1 2011.

During Q1 2011, the new supply in the hotel market of Moscow increased by 149 rooms at the expense of the opening of the Crowne Plaza Moscow World Trade Centre club hotel on the territory of Moscow-City MIBC. As the majority of opened in the recent years hotels, the new hotel Crowne Plaza is positioned in the upper segment of the market. Taking into account its location and in case of the correct sales policy and its promotion in the market, the hotel may expect stably high occupancy rate.