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<strong>MIPIM</strong> <strong>2023</strong>: Special digital edition for a sustainable real estate industry<br />

Staying power in<br />

times of uncertainty<br />

Markus Mendel<br />

Know-How Wir leben Immobilien. & High Quality.<br />

Brokerage Vermittlung | Valuation | Verwaltung | Property | Bewertung Management | Baumanagement<br />

| Construction Management<br />

ehl.at ehl.at


04 ImmoFokus<br />

CARE Österreich<br />

CO2-neutral


Worte füllen keine Hilfspakete.<br />

Ihre Spende schon.<br />

Ausgabe 01|<strong>2023</strong> 05<br />

paket.care.at


Investing in Austria<br />

42 Turnaround on the<br />

investment market<br />

10<br />

Staying power in<br />

times of uncertainty<br />

Interview with<br />

Markus Mendel<br />

28 Certifications & Co.<br />

Orientation Guide<br />

or Advertising Gag?<br />

<strong>2023</strong><br />

<strong>MIPIM</strong><br />

Column<br />

Investing in Austria<br />

08 EDITORIAL<br />

86 IMPRINT<br />

10 STAYING POWER IN TIMES<br />

OF UNCERTAINTY<br />

Interview with Markus Mendel<br />

22 THE STRATEGIST<br />

Interview with Sebastian G. Nitsch<br />

28 REAL CIRCLE #30<br />

Certifications & Co.: Orientation Guide<br />

or Advertising Gag?<br />

42 AUSTRIAN INVESTMENT MARKET<br />

48 OFFICE MARKET IN VIENNA<br />

50 LOGISTICS / INDUSTRIAL MARKET<br />

IN VIENNA<br />

52 RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS IN THE PIPELINE<br />

70 IMMOVISION <strong>2023</strong><br />

Highlights and trends<br />

Fotos: BTL Media, Gugumuck, Adobe Stock<br />

06 ImmoFokus


Investing in Austria<br />

Join us at<br />

<strong>MIPIM</strong>, Cannes,<br />

14.–17.3.<strong>2023</strong>,<br />

stand R7.E2,<br />

Espace Riviera<br />

Let’s build Central<br />

Europe together.<br />

Real estate financing and project development requires<br />

more than just knowledge: It requires a partner who<br />

believes in your projects just like you do. That’s why Erste<br />

Group Commercial Real Estate focuses its services on a<br />

wide variety of offerings beyond just financial solutions.<br />

Time to believe. Time to invest.<br />

07 ImmoFokus<br />

www.erstegroup.com/cre


Investing in Austria<br />

You can‘t do<br />

without it<br />

„„Thanks to EU-<br />

Taxonomy and ESG<br />

criteria, there is no way<br />

around certifications.“<br />

Know-How Wir leben Immobilien. & High Quality.<br />

Vermittlung | Verwaltung | Bewertung | Baumanagement<br />

Brokerage | Valuation | Property Management | Construction Management<br />

Wir leben Immobilien.<br />

Vermittlung | Verwaltung | Bewertung | Baumanagement<br />

Staying power in<br />

times of uncertainty<br />

Markus Mendel<br />

ehl.at<br />

ehl.at<br />

ehl.at<br />

A<br />

t the <strong>MIPIM</strong> 2022, it was not<br />

a great topic of conversation<br />

just yet. In fact, few people<br />

gave it a second thought.<br />

After all, everyone was just happy to be back<br />

in Cannes after a year‘s break due to Covid.<br />

Frankly, it didn‘t come as a complete surprise<br />

- as we all know, it is particularly easy to be<br />

wise after the event - but on the other side of<br />

the Atlantic, the Federal Reserve had already<br />

sent out signals to this effect in 2021. We are<br />

talking about the interest rate turnaround<br />

initiated by the ECB last summer, with several<br />

steps in quick succession. It left hardly a<br />

stone unturned in the real estate sector.<br />

The state of shock in the real estate investment<br />

market, which has set in across Europe<br />

since the summer of 2022, is only slowly beginning<br />

to dissipate. The repricing process<br />

is still underway, and there continues to be a<br />

significant gap in the price expectations between<br />

the sellers and the buyers. Particularly<br />

in an environment characterized by question<br />

marks and uncertainties, industry events<br />

such as <strong>MIPIM</strong> are particularly importance.<br />

Here we have the unique opportunity to get<br />

together, to sound out what is possible, to<br />

establish or maintain contacts and possibly<br />

even to initiate deals. It is not without good<br />

reason that the <strong>MIPIM</strong> is considered the<br />

world’s leading real estate exhibition.<br />

As the most relevant domestic medium for<br />

real estate investments, ImmoFokus continues<br />

to be present at <strong>MIPIM</strong>, of course. With<br />

this publication, we would like to take the opportunity<br />

to introduce ourselves to the new<br />

participants and naturally to accompany old<br />

acquaintances once again during their rewarding<br />

stay in the South of France.<br />

The special edition of ImmoFokus on the<br />

occasion of <strong>MIPIM</strong> <strong>2023</strong> has a lot to offer in<br />

any case: In a short report, we inform about<br />

the latest developments on the Austrian real<br />

estate investment market and venture an<br />

outlook for the rest of <strong>2023</strong>. We have asked<br />

real estate investment experts on page XX for<br />

an even closer look into the future. And in a<br />

very personal cover interview, Markus Mendel<br />

gives us a glimpse into his daily routine as<br />

an investment broker at market leader EHL<br />

Investment Consulting.<br />

Michael Neubauer<br />

Herausgeber<br />

08 ImmoFokus


Investing in Austria<br />

Join us at<br />

<strong>MIPIM</strong>, Cannes,<br />

14.–17.3.<strong>2023</strong>,<br />

stand R7.E2,<br />

Espace Riviera<br />

Take new<br />

perspectives on<br />

real estate financing.<br />

We see the big picture and manage the details<br />

that are necessary to develop commercial real<br />

estate projects all over Central and Eastern Europe.<br />

Erste Group offers financing solutions for your<br />

visions across the entire real estate value chain.<br />

Time to believe. Time to invest.<br />

09 ImmoFokus<br />

www.erstegroup.com/cre


Investing in Austria<br />

Markus Mendel<br />

Born in Bavaria, Markus Mendel studied<br />

business administration, specializing<br />

in real estate and financial<br />

services in Stuttgart and started<br />

his career in leading German real<br />

estate companies back in 2004.<br />

In 2011, he then took on a senior<br />

position at PwC, where he was<br />

most recently a senior manager in<br />

the Real Estate Advisory division.<br />

He changed to EHL Investment<br />

Consulting at the beginning of<br />

2015, where he took over as head<br />

of the Transaction Advisory division.<br />

In 2020, Markus Mendel was<br />

appointed Managing Director of<br />

EHL Investment Consulting GmbH,<br />

which is part of the EHL Group.<br />

10 ImmoFokus


Staying power in<br />

times of uncertainty<br />

A man with endurance. „I assume that this year we will see significantly more investors from the international<br />

sector, especially also from the Anglo-Saxon region in Austria due to the changed yield situation, says Markus<br />

Mendel in an interview with ImmoFokus. The native Bavarian draws strength from (almost) daily fitness training.<br />

The interview was conducted by: Patrick Baldia und Michael Neubauer<br />

Is it true that you are passionate about<br />

going to the gym? How do you get into<br />

this hobby?<br />

Markus Mendel: II think you simply need<br />

a sensible balance to office work, the many<br />

evening events and the frequent client<br />

meetings over lunch or dinner. The good<br />

thing about the gym is that you can always<br />

go, almost around the clock and in any<br />

weather, which makes it very accessible. In<br />

addition, a large circle of friends also go to<br />

the gym regularly. That makes it even easier<br />

and keeps motivation high.<br />

Do you go to the gym every day?<br />

If I can, I try to. In the past few weeks, I‘ve<br />

actually been to the gym almost every day,<br />

always in the morning at 6 a.m. even before<br />

the workday starts. But of course, you also<br />

miss out occasionally. For example, when<br />

you‘re at a trade show or an evening event<br />

has gone on a bit longer again.<br />

Does the gym help you with your other<br />

great passion, motorcycling? I‘ve been<br />

told that it can also be quite strenuous ...<br />

It depends on how you ride. But yes, riding a<br />

motorcycle is not only relaxing, it can also be<br />

quite exhausting, especially if you like to ride<br />

in the mountains and on the serpentines in<br />

curving terrain, which is often the case with me.<br />

So, you take holidays on your bike?<br />

Yes. For the past 15 years, I have been going<br />

on a motorcycle tour lasting several days<br />

with a larger group of long-time friends<br />

every year at the end of June or the beginning<br />

of July. We usually head for the mountains<br />

and often south to Italy, to Lake Garda, for<br />

example. A tour like this is an excellent way<br />

to switch off and enjoy the surroundings, but<br />

you‘ll also find plenty of riding challenges in<br />

the winding regions.<br />

That sounds a bit risky. Has anything ever<br />

happened to you?<br />

It‘s undoubtedly one of the slightly riskier<br />

hobbies. And yes, something has happened<br />

to me before. A few years ago, I suffered<br />

a few of fractures in a fall. Unfortunately,<br />

something like that can happen, even if it<br />

shouldn‘t. But I also have to say that I was<br />

younger then and certainly took more risks<br />

than I do now. You learn from experiences<br />

like that.<br />

What can you take away from the gym<br />

or the back of the motorcycle into the<br />

professional world?<br />

What you can certainly take away from<br />

riding a motorcycle is that you can go full<br />

throttle, but at the same time, you have to<br />

have the risk under control if you want to<br />

last in the long term. I think this is a very<br />

important point. In the gym, or in sports<br />

in general, you need motivation, stamina,<br />

and endurance to achieve your goals, which<br />

doesn‘t happen overnight. That definitely<br />

helps me on the job as well.<br />

Do you have a dream bike?<br />

I do, actually. I bought it at the end of last<br />

year. Unfortunately, it‘s now sitting in the garage<br />

and of course, couldn‘t even be broken<br />

in yet in winter, but that will change soon.<br />

How do you break in a motorcycle?<br />

You ride a thousand kilometers at a maximum<br />

of six and a half thousand revolutions.<br />

To be more precise, first you go a bit easy<br />

on the road and then, after a thousand<br />

kilometers and the first service, you go into<br />

full gear.<br />

Can you still remember the first transaction<br />

in which you played a significant role?<br />

One of the first major transactions I was<br />

involved in during my professional life<br />

occurred in Germany. It involved the acquisition<br />

of an extensive residential portfolio.<br />

For me, it was a completely new field and<br />

absolutely exciting. It‘s something I‘ll<br />

always remember, and I‘m sure it sparked<br />

my enthusiasm for the job.<br />

<strong>MIPIM</strong> | <strong>2023</strong><br />

11


Investing in Austria<br />

How did you end up in the real estate<br />

industry?<br />

I have always been interested in real estate.<br />

In course of my studies, I also focused on real<br />

estate management and financial services<br />

and then stayed in the field. In the beginning,<br />

I concentrated on valuations. That‘s how I got<br />

into it. Then I quickly moved into international<br />

business in the transaction area.<br />

Later, at PwC, the consulting focus became<br />

more significant. But for me, the transaction<br />

business is still the most exciting field in the<br />

real estate industry.<br />

Do you have a particular favorite asset<br />

class?<br />

No particular asset class. What I personally<br />

like best are the unusual transactions. In<br />

other words, not the tenth residential or<br />

office property with the same pattern. That‘s<br />

also interesting, of course, and you learn<br />

something new with every transaction. But<br />

especially in turbulent times on the market,<br />

as we are experiencing right now, there are<br />

also deals that are a bit more complicated<br />

and complex. You have to be a bit creative in<br />

your approach and find solutions to challenging<br />

issues. For me, deals like that are the<br />

cherry on the cake.<br />

At last year‘s Expo Real, there was of a<br />

feeling that the atmosphere in Germany<br />

was one of disaster. The Austrian, on the<br />

other hand, as the famous popular saying<br />

goes, likes to say that the situation is not<br />

hopeless but serious. Are the Germans<br />

more pessimistic?<br />

Well, as a German optimist, I wouldn‘t agree<br />

with that. But I do believe that Germans<br />

are very fact orientated. Based on the facts<br />

and figures, conclusions are drawn, and the<br />

mood then tips in one direction or the other.<br />

The Austrians, as I have experienced it and<br />

as I like it, also concentrate on facts, but<br />

they approach things with a certain cynical<br />

charm and therefore tend to come across a<br />

bit more positively. But not every German is<br />

so pessimistic that he’s ready to throw in the<br />

towel. You can see that on the market at the<br />

moment. Some German investors who are<br />

active despite the current difficult market<br />

circumstances, with whom we are examining<br />

and also implementing transactions.<br />

Therefore, I think it very much depends on<br />

one’s personality - whether you see the glass<br />

half full or half empty.<br />

How did you come to work at EHL?<br />

The contact came about during my time at<br />

PwC and it was through the valuation team<br />

at EHL. We sat down together and chatted.<br />

Then I had a conversation with Michael Ehlmaier<br />

and Franz Pöltl, in which we found out<br />

quite quickly that we might be a good fit and<br />

could do something together in the future.<br />

As the saying goes, we then actually sketched<br />

out on a blank sheet of paper the direction in<br />

which the collaboration could go. And that‘s<br />

exactly the direction it took. I still have the<br />

paper at home, by the way.<br />

What convinced you to make a move to<br />

EHL back then?<br />

I was impressed by the fact that I came from a<br />

rather large company background, where many<br />

things were very bureaucratic and sometimes<br />

quite complicated, and that at EHL everything<br />

could be decided very quickly and efficiently,<br />

and in a highly professional manner. That was<br />

the deciding factor; I took the job and was able<br />

to become part of this powerful team.<br />

12 ImmoFokus


What has been your biggest deal so far?<br />

We were involved in the purchase of Icon Vienna<br />

by Allianz Real Estate and the DC Tower<br />

by Deka. Quartier Lassalle is also definitely<br />

one of them. However, it is not only the large<br />

transactions that attract a lot of attention<br />

in the media that give you a lot of pleasure.<br />

Many transactions that often go unnoticed<br />

can make you particularly proud.<br />

„You have to be<br />

very fast and<br />

efficient to be able<br />

to do a deal off<br />

market.“<br />

Markus Mendel,<br />

EHL Investment Consulting<br />

How do you prepare for such deals? How<br />

much teamwork goes into it?<br />

It always depends on the way something<br />

is being sold. It can happen in a structured<br />

bidding process, private sale, or entirely<br />

off market and, of course, it has an impact<br />

on the workload. Our investment team is<br />

genuinely the absolute mainstay and the<br />

secret of our success because this is where<br />

we prepare and structure what is then used<br />

for underwriting by the investors. This has to<br />

happen professionally and quickly.<br />

Is it more interesting to work for the<br />

buyer or the seller?<br />

It can be exciting for one as well as for the<br />

other. Of course, it is most exciting when<br />

you initiate the deal yourself. Then we are<br />

particularly happy.<br />

There is probably little reason to be happy<br />

at the moment, or is something happening<br />

off market?<br />

I disagree with the general pessimism that<br />

can be discerned at the moment. Obviously,<br />

fewer transactions are taking place. The<br />

big names among investors, i.e., the core<br />

capital is much more cautious than usual,<br />

and there is a lot of uncertainty about how<br />

the markets will develop, driven by the<br />

continuing interest rate hikes. But we are<br />

seeing first first-hand that a lot is happening<br />

at a lower price level and with alternative<br />

investors. So, the investment market has<br />

not ground to a standstill. As is the case in a<br />

changing market environment, new opportunities<br />

are simply emerging and there will<br />

be winners and losers, but the transactions<br />

will remain.<br />

<strong>MIPIM</strong> | <strong>2023</strong><br />

13


Investing in Austria<br />

„Of course, it is most<br />

exciting when you initiate<br />

the deal yourself. Then we<br />

are especially happy.“<br />

Markus Mendel,<br />

EHL Investment Consulting<br />

14 ImmoFokus


<strong>MIPIM</strong> | <strong>2023</strong><br />

15


Investing in Austria<br />

Does it take longer to complete deals in<br />

market phases like the current one?<br />

Transactions are definitely taking longer at<br />

the moment. And the more time that passes,<br />

the more can happen. This also increases the<br />

risk of another interest rate adjustment or something<br />

else happening. In other words, if it<br />

usually takes two to three months on average<br />

to complete a deal, it‘s currently perhaps four<br />

to six. Financing in particular takes longer.<br />

And when you are close to the finish line<br />

at the end of the day and find out that the<br />

financing has fallen through, that is of course,<br />

highly annoying to all parties involved.<br />

Is it true that some sellers only start<br />

negotiating with secured financing?<br />

In the current situation, securing financing<br />

is particularly important for the seller, as it is<br />

not uncommon for financing requested by the<br />

buyer to end up not being approved or not approved<br />

as planned. As a seller, you understandably<br />

want to make sure that your counterpart,<br />

to whom you are also granting exclusivity and<br />

thus rejecting other investors, can also handle<br />

the deal financially at the end of the day and<br />

that you are not entering negotiations in vain.<br />

At the moment, there is optimism in the<br />

industry that something is moving with<br />

the KIM regulation, regarding the ban on<br />

interim financing. Do you see it that way<br />

as well?<br />

I think it‘s obvious that something has to<br />

change here. If it is no longer possible for<br />

people to acquire property, or if the KIM<br />

Regulation creates such major obstacles,<br />

then that is not a healthy development.<br />

Particularly when you talk about interim<br />

financing, this is really incomprehensible: If,<br />

for example, you have already built up real<br />

estate assets or an extensive stock portfolio<br />

and thus clearly have a credit rating that can<br />

be financed, the KIM Regulation prevents financing<br />

from taking place if you do not have<br />

an additional 20% equity capital, a paradoxical<br />

situation. Although banks are allowed to<br />

finance such borrowers to a certain extent,<br />

this quota is exhausted relatively quickly.<br />

What would be the impact on the market<br />

of lifting the ban on interim financing?<br />

First and foremost, something that was<br />

created by regulation and hinders the market<br />

would be abolished. However, it remains to<br />

be seen whether the market would then be<br />

noticeably boosted because the increased<br />

interest rates are not exactly conducive to<br />

transaction activity either.<br />

Should the legislature not consider how<br />

to help people to raise the 20 percent<br />

equity? If one asks around, one gets the<br />

distinct impression that above all younger<br />

people cannot afford a loan.<br />

To begin with, it is difficult for many people<br />

to raise even 20 percent of their own capital.<br />

But that‘s not the main reason why you can‘t<br />

get a loan. In many cases, there are still<br />

moms, dads, grandmas and grandpas who<br />

can help out if you can’t raise this 20 percent<br />

on your own. A bigger hurdle is the debt<br />

service ratio of 40 percent, which may not<br />

be exceeded. This often hinders the process<br />

even more.<br />

Various sources currently tell us that the<br />

cycle of interest rate hikes should come<br />

to an end in the first half of the year. Is<br />

that realistic, or will the interest rates stay<br />

higher for much longer?<br />

I assume that we will see a few more interest<br />

rate hikes this year, as announced. The next<br />

one in March. Over the course of the year, we<br />

will see at least one more interest rate step,<br />

so we can assume that interest rates will not<br />

only move up insignificantly but noticeably.<br />

With what consequences?<br />

As you know, the capital market has a<br />

significant impact on the real estate industry,<br />

especially in the institutional sector. And<br />

when interest rates are higher, alternatives to<br />

real estate investments also become attractive.<br />

When I look at German government<br />

bonds, for which you currently get around<br />

2.6 percent, or bonds from the USA, which<br />

even offer up to four percent. Not to mention<br />

good corporate bonds. That sends clear<br />

signals to large investors and financial intermediaries<br />

with broad investment spectrum.<br />

At present, they often prefer to look at more<br />

liquid asset classes, some of which offer<br />

higher returns than real estate. While real<br />

„Raising even 20 percent equity<br />

is difficult for many. But that‘s<br />

not the decisive issue why some<br />

people can‘t get a loan.“<br />

Markus Mendel,<br />

EHL Investment Consulting<br />

estate investments will never go out of style,<br />

they will have to offer different yields to be<br />

competitive. After all, one must remember:<br />

It‘s not just the brick I buy that counts, but<br />

also how much interest I have to pay to afford<br />

the brick or finance it.<br />

Because you are talking about other<br />

yields, do you see that the situation is<br />

slowly normalizing in asset classes such<br />

as logistics, where yields approached<br />

those of residential properties in the wake<br />

of the Corona crisis?<br />

Of course, logistics properties are also in demand<br />

again at significantly different prices.<br />

Many investors are not only active in Austria<br />

but also on a European level or at least in<br />

16 ImmoFokus


WORDRAP MIT MARKUS MENDEL<br />

Are you a<br />

risk taker?<br />

As long as it<br />

is calculable<br />

Favorite hobbies?<br />

Riding motorcycles<br />

and going to<br />

the gym<br />

Your favorite way<br />

to drink coffee<br />

Milk without sugar<br />

Morning or<br />

evening person?<br />

Definitely<br />

morning<br />

person<br />

Which book is<br />

on your desk?<br />

My notebook<br />

In the next ten years,<br />

I would definitely like to...<br />

… Take a trip<br />

around<br />

the world<br />

When you turn<br />

on the radio in the car,<br />

what‘s playing?<br />

Kronehit<br />

How did you earn<br />

your first money?<br />

Changing tires in a<br />

car repair shop<br />

If you won the lottery,<br />

what would you do?<br />

Treat myself to<br />

a longer vacation<br />

Your biggest vice?<br />

All types<br />

of sweets<br />

With whom (living or deceased)<br />

would you like to<br />

spend an evening?<br />

Steven Spielberg<br />

<strong>MIPIM</strong> | <strong>2023</strong><br />

17


Investing in Austria<br />

18 ImmoFokus


German-speaking countries. And if a very<br />

good, long-term leased logistics property in<br />

a suitable location can now be obtained in<br />

Germany for five percent, then it is not the<br />

case that you can score in Austria with four<br />

or three percent. That will no longer work.<br />

Above all, it doesn‘t pay off if you have to<br />

take out financing at the current conditions.<br />

Do you think that with higher yields, we<br />

will see other international investors and<br />

not just mainly Germans in Austria?<br />

That is an exciting question. I expect that<br />

this year, due to the change in the yield<br />

situation, we will see more investors from<br />

the international sector than has been the<br />

case so far. The Austrians and Germans,<br />

who have dominated the market so far, have<br />

been very core-oriented, or more precisely,<br />

very conservative. If the market continues to<br />

change and issues such as ESG become more<br />

important, which is why old office properties<br />

are being brought up to date or at least<br />

to a newer standard, then classic value-add<br />

investors will come into play. These will still<br />

come from Austria and Germany, but also<br />

increasingly from the Anglo-Saxon region.<br />

We have seen fewer of them in this country<br />

in recent years.<br />

Because you mentioned ESG - are the<br />

investors you work with also interested<br />

in the S and the G?<br />

Absolutely, not just in the institutional sector<br />

but also with family offices and private<br />

investors. Among other things, investors<br />

are having a closer look at tenants. Suppose<br />

they come across companies that demonstrably<br />

violate environmental goals, child labor,<br />

or the like. In that case, they think twice<br />

about buying anyway, or at least a plan is<br />

worked out to compensate for this deficit on<br />

the ESG scale, i.e., to find new tenants.<br />

Actually, several industries can be seen<br />

unfavorably, not just arms manufacturers<br />

and the like. For example, companies that<br />

sell goods that have been produced in<br />

countries with demonstrably poor working<br />

conditions, child labor, etc....<br />

This is true and is already being considered<br />

very closely. It can be assumed that such<br />

constellations will no longer be acceptable<br />

for investors and owners in the course of the<br />

further development of the EU taxonomy and<br />

that the players will react accordingly. One<br />

quickly realizes that one is in a very complex<br />

environment in which not everything has<br />

been settled yet. There is certainly still work<br />

to be done here.<br />

You said earlier that you are currently also<br />

handling or processing new projects that<br />

have only become available in <strong>2023</strong>. What<br />

asset classes are these?<br />

These are more or less widely diversified.<br />

There is a lot of office, and I think we will<br />

see a lot of office transactions this year -<br />

even more than in the last few years, when<br />

residential was the dominant asset class. But<br />

we will also see transactions in the hotel and<br />

retail sectors, where very little has happened<br />

in recent years. Of course, investors are also<br />

interested in residential, but there is considerable<br />

reluctance here at the moment due<br />

to the substantial change in interest rates.<br />

Overall, the transaction market has not come<br />

to a standstill. Transactions are just taking<br />

place at different price levels. There is still<br />

the demand and the capital, and those have<br />

to be brought together to get a deal done at<br />

the end of the day.<br />

Why is residential currently less in<br />

demand from global investors?<br />

Residential is complex. The large residential<br />

projects that worked very well in the past in<br />

the headwind of the market hardly exist anymore.<br />

Those who have bought land recently<br />

have paid very high prices for it. At the same<br />

time, construction costs are still high, even if<br />

the situation has eased somewhat, but not to<br />

the extent that some had hoped. In addition,<br />

financing costs have risen significantly.<br />

Many project developers were hopeful that<br />

the market environment of recent years<br />

would continue. That is, you buy, you file,<br />

and develop the project a month or two later<br />

with no financing costs. That business model<br />

no longer works. Money costs money again.<br />

And the exit, which was estimated at three<br />

percent, is also no longer happening or is<br />

becoming increasingly difficult. In other<br />

words, it‘s painful in all directions. That‘s<br />

why there are fewer projects on the market,<br />

„Many project developers<br />

were hopeful that the market<br />

environment of the last few years<br />

would continue. That hope has not<br />

materialized.“<br />

Markus Mendel,<br />

EHL Investment Consulting<br />

and some of them are not even being built<br />

because people know that it‘s not profitable<br />

at the moment.<br />

Perhaps alternative financing had also<br />

been used ...<br />

Exactly Suppose you financed adventurously,<br />

for example, with short-term mezzanine capital<br />

or often simply with variable financing<br />

at initially favorable conditions. In that case,<br />

many market participants are now experiencing<br />

that the financing costs are exploding.<br />

Is mezzanine capital now osolete or is it<br />

getting a new boost?<br />

It will not happen that mezzanine capital<br />

costs will stay the same as before; they will<br />

rather gradually become more expensive,<br />

<strong>MIPIM</strong> | <strong>2023</strong><br />

19


Investing in Austria<br />

„<strong>MIPIM</strong> is a<br />

fixed date on our<br />

schedules, just<br />

like Expo Real.“<br />

Markus Mendel,<br />

EHL Investment Consulting<br />

of course. I‘m sure that some investors will<br />

continue to be forced to tap an alternative<br />

source of financing, and mezzanine capital is<br />

simply one of them.<br />

Last question: What will we see at<br />

<strong>MIPIM</strong>? Filled halls, lots of people?<br />

I rather believe that we will see significantly<br />

fewer visitors at <strong>MIPIM</strong> this year, especially<br />

also fewer exhibitors or fewer employees<br />

of the participating companies. I hear from<br />

many that they are going to Cannes with a<br />

significantly reduced team. Nevertheless,<br />

I believe that those who are there will not<br />

be there for the fun of it, but to do business.<br />

<strong>MIPIM</strong> is a fixed date on our schedules, just<br />

like Expo Real, to discuss transactions and<br />

opportunities with those present. I do expect<br />

that we will also initiate one or two deals this<br />

year and meet new investors as well. <br />

20 ImmoFokus


<strong>MIPIM</strong> | <strong>2023</strong><br />

21


Investing in Austria<br />

The strategist<br />

Quarter Fund: 6B47 launches „Althan Quarter“ as German<br />

“6B47 Stadtquartiere I” fund. Sebastian G. Nitsch, CEO of 6B47<br />

Real Estate Investors, on entering the world of institutional<br />

investment products. „Urban quarters are in line with the sign<br />

of the times and focus in particular on risk diversification,<br />

sustainability and location quality.“<br />

The interview was conducted by: Michael Neubauer<br />

22 ImmoFokus


With „6B47 Stadtquartiere I“, 6B47 is<br />

entering the world of institutional investment<br />

products. Is the fund because, apart<br />

from a few deals, nothing is happening on<br />

the transaction market at the moment?<br />

Sebastian G. Nitsch: No. The fund was<br />

strategically planned for a long time. Initial<br />

considerations were made long before the war<br />

in Ukraine. With the ‚6B47 Stadtquartiere I‘<br />

fund, we are expanding our business activities<br />

in the direction of investment management -<br />

an essential logical step for 6B47.<br />

Why a fund focusing on „urban quarters“<br />

in particular - doesn‘t that restrict you?<br />

The strategic orientation of the neighborhood<br />

fund is in line with the sign of the times and<br />

focuses in particular on risk diversification,<br />

sustainability and location quality.<br />

We are bringing the „Althan Quarter“ into the<br />

fund as a seed investment, which already meets<br />

all the strategic objectives from the outset.<br />

What is the target fund volume?<br />

The planned fund volume of our first real<br />

estate special AIF is 800 million Euros.<br />

Why was the fund approved in Germany?<br />

Our target group is investors from Germanspeaking<br />

countries. The service KVG model we<br />

use for our fund, has already been established<br />

in Germany for years. Moreover, the number of<br />

potential future investors in Germany is simply<br />

higher than in Austria. But of course, we will<br />

also offer Austrian institutional investors a<br />

stake in our fund.<br />

We are very well positioned when it comes to<br />

ESG and EU taxonomy. Oliver Julian Huber<br />

joined our team at the beginning of the year<br />

million Euros with that, that‘s a different product.<br />

For the Real Estate Club, condominium<br />

projects are the most suitable. These are of no<br />

interest to institutional investors.<br />

In other words, you will go on as before …<br />

Absolutely. Absolutely. We have seen in<br />

recent years that if we can sell something for<br />

a two-and-a-half percent return but, on the<br />

other hand, get 16, 17, or 18 Euros in rent - we<br />

would rather build rental apartments. I have<br />

the feeling that there is no objective scientific<br />

analysis of the fact that too few condominiums<br />

„We will significantly expand<br />

our quarters pipeline. Our<br />

„neighborhood share“ is already 58<br />

percent of our total floor space.“<br />

Sebastian G. Nitsch,<br />

Real Estate Investors AG<br />

Fotos: @Rizar.Photo<br />

Why as an open-end fund?<br />

To be able to successively add further neighborhood<br />

projects with a high residential share<br />

in the Core and Core Plus risk classes to the<br />

portfolio. This means the investments will<br />

focus mainly on prime locations in Austrian<br />

and German metropolitan areas.<br />

We will significantly expand our quarters pipeline.<br />

We already have a “neighborhood share”<br />

of around 58 percent of our total floor space,<br />

which will probably be around 75 percent or<br />

higher in just a few years‘ time.<br />

Can we see quarters as a new asset class?<br />

Until now, quarters was not considered as a<br />

separate asset class. Now it is an asset class in<br />

its own right and is particularly attractive for<br />

institutional investors for reasons of risk diversification.<br />

And as far as I can assess the market<br />

at the moment, we are the only providers who<br />

can already come up with a high-class quarter<br />

as a seed investment.<br />

as Head of Corporate Sustainability & ESG.<br />

His main task is to develop our strategic focus<br />

on sustainability for the entire Group in all<br />

countries and also to forge this ahead at the<br />

project level. He is also the contact person for<br />

topics such as EU taxonomy, ESG reporting and<br />

building certification.<br />

Does this mean the end for the 6B47 Real<br />

Estate Club?<br />

The Real Estate Club was founded to give investors<br />

the opportunity to make very transparent<br />

real estate investments together with a professional<br />

investor. This direction has not changed.<br />

You have to look at the Real Estate Club in asset<br />

class-specific terms. Our Real Estate Club is<br />

what brought us here. We value it very much<br />

and have had 13 years of good experience. It<br />

always depends a little bit on the asset class and<br />

the size. If I have a large international fund and<br />

say we‘re building a pipeline of three hundred<br />

have been built. Some developers may now<br />

change their minds because the return on sales<br />

is now three and a half percent, but the rent is<br />

15 Euros - roughly corresponding to a capitalization<br />

of five thousand Euros per square meter.<br />

However, I currently achieve a higher average<br />

price per square meter in individual apartment<br />

sales.<br />

Given the troubled situation - war in<br />

Ukraine, high interest rates, sharply rising<br />

construction costs - is this an ideal time for<br />

the fund?<br />

Of course we have asked ourselves this question.<br />

The fund offers the historic opportunity to<br />

leave the neighborhood as a neighborhood and<br />

not to sell off the separate sections individually.<br />

Were individual sales up for discussion?<br />

In times like these, you calculate and think<br />

through every scenario. Despite a large number<br />

<strong>MIPIM</strong> | <strong>2023</strong><br />

23


Investing in Austria<br />

of attractive buying offers, we decided not to<br />

sell the Althan Quarter with its four project<br />

sections, the residential buildings Sophie and<br />

Joseph, the hotel, and Francis as the centerpiece.<br />

If we had removed the residential section<br />

and switched to individual apartment sales, we<br />

might have earned more on this one section.<br />

We are taking this step not only because we<br />

do not want to let the property out of our<br />

hands but also because of very sober economic<br />

facts: The high demand for high-quality space<br />

and the established location in the heart of<br />

Vienna are the ideal prerequisites for a positive<br />

performance.<br />

The focus was on strategic considerations:<br />

Do we, as 6B47 want to take this next step of<br />

evolution and develop into an investment<br />

and asset manager? I believe that after 13<br />

years and with over 80 projects, we have<br />

already proved our project development<br />

competence. In order to be able to offer our<br />

future investors the best possible investment<br />

and asset management services, we are<br />

launching our fund together with Jones Lang<br />

LaSalle Asset Management GmbH, which<br />

already has many years of experience in this<br />

field. The fund is administered as a service<br />

KVG by IntReal, International Real Estate<br />

Kapitalverwaltungsgesellschaft in Hamburg,<br />

the German market leader in this field. As a<br />

team, the ideal trio.<br />

What is the minimum designated denomination?<br />

In principle, the Core or Core Plus segment is<br />

designed as an open-end fund for professional<br />

and semi-professional investors. The minimum<br />

denomination is twenty million Euros.<br />

If I could wish for something as 6B47, it would<br />

be more in the direction of a club deal, six to<br />

eight or perhaps ten institutional investors<br />

with tickets of around fifty million Euros.<br />

What rate of return can investors expect?<br />

The Internal Rate of Return, which we<br />

currently calculate over ten years, is seven to<br />

eight percent. The distribution yield will be<br />

above four percent.<br />

Are there already potential investors?<br />

We have not yet started funding. Initial talks<br />

are planned for the <strong>MIPIM</strong>. But I am sure we<br />

will be fully financed when construction is<br />

completed in 2024. We are beginning extra<br />

early. Even if institutional investors aren’t<br />

currently making any decisions, they are<br />

thinking about where they want to invest and<br />

how they want to allocate.<br />

24 ImmoFokus


Is everything going according to plan with<br />

the subprojects?<br />

Everything according to plan. We are even a<br />

little ahead of schedule.<br />

Is it because other developers have stopped<br />

their projects and the construction companies<br />

have spare capacities?<br />

You‘ll have to ask the construction companies<br />

about that. Of course, we are pleased to be on<br />

schedule and within budget.<br />

How do you assess the current market<br />

situation?<br />

It‘s like skiing in the fog. That means we have<br />

to remain flexible in our knees and perhaps<br />

also be prepared to make a sharp turn to the<br />

left or the right because we don‘t see the tree<br />

until very late. I haven‘t always considered<br />

everything to be rosy. But I also don‘t see<br />

everything quite as pitch black as many<br />

others do. At the moment, I prefer to remain<br />

below the radar and see what opportunities<br />

are out there.<br />

We are not active only in the acquisition,<br />

market participants are also approaching<br />

us. We‘ve also offered one or two mezzanine<br />

capital funds to come in as developers on<br />

existing projects to work out a joint compensation<br />

model. The worst thing that can happen<br />

6B47 Real Estate Investors<br />

6B47 Real Estate Investors is an internationally oriented real estate developer<br />

based in Vienna with offices in Düsseldorf, Berlin, Munich, and<br />

Warsaw and focuses its business activities on metropolitan regions in<br />

Austria, Germany, and Poland. The company currently manages a project<br />

volume of around EUR 2 billion, making it one of the leading providers<br />

in the sector in Austria, Germany, and Poland. The services cover the<br />

entire value chain, from project development to realization and utilization.<br />

The company‘s business model also includes real estate financing as an<br />

integral part of project development.<br />

www.6B47.com<br />

<strong>MIPIM</strong> | <strong>2023</strong><br />

25


Investing in Austria<br />

to an investor is a half-finished product. some<br />

projects that are bequeathed to the funder because<br />

the project developer is no longer there.<br />

That‘s where you have to find joint solutions.<br />

The most important thing is that the building<br />

is finished. We are flexible in this respect and<br />

have sufficient capacity to look at projects to<br />

bring them to a successful conclusion for all<br />

parties involved.<br />

Do you see any easing in land and construction<br />

prices?<br />

We will not see any drop in construction<br />

prices. With eleven percent inflation, stable<br />

construction prices are almost impossible<br />

anyway. Construction prices will not fall to<br />

pre-crisis levels. I‘m sure about that. That will<br />

not happen. We are living in a triangle of sales,<br />

land, and construction prices. Land prices<br />

are always the slowest to react. That‘s why the<br />

sellers often don‘t want to acknowledge what‘s<br />

happening in the world. I think, as always, the<br />

profit is in the purchase.<br />

Have you noticed any distress sales on the<br />

market?<br />

Since Covid, everyone has been waiting for<br />

bargains. I haven‘t seen any yet. The real<br />

bargains are not here yet. My background is<br />

in quantitative equity analysis. Dangerous<br />

market situations are always when prices rise,<br />

but volume dries up. Why is that? Because<br />

the seller is not getting what he wants, and<br />

the buyer is unwilling to pay what the seller<br />

wants. Then nothing happens for a while until<br />

someone moves. And that standstill is causing<br />

the liquidity crunch across the industry right<br />

now.<br />

Liquidity is probably the most sacred commodity<br />

of all. Right now, you can‘t rely on anyone.<br />

It used to be that decision makers made deals<br />

knowing that their boards would approve<br />

them. Today, you can‘t rely on any board.<br />

Everyone evaluates the framework differently.<br />

Althan Quarter<br />

On the 2.4-hectare site around<br />

Franz-Josefs railway station, a<br />

completely new urban district<br />

center is being created - unique<br />

in its kind - the Althan Quarter.<br />

Here, offices, co-working spaces,<br />

gastronomy, local suppliers,<br />

stores and service providers,<br />

high-quality apartments as well<br />

as a hotel and a parking garage<br />

will all find their place. This sustainable<br />

mix on approximately<br />

130,000 m2 of gross floor space<br />

will enable contemporary, urban<br />

living with minimum necessary<br />

travel. This saves time and<br />

energy - and creates an aboveaverage<br />

quality of life.<br />

26 ImmoFokus


That is absolutely justified. But we‘ve also<br />

experienced notary appointments where<br />

the buyer didn’t show up. Today, more<br />

than ever, the good old business caution<br />

applies: the deal is not done until the<br />

ink is dry and the money is in the bank.<br />

We don’t see significant transactions at<br />

the moment. The institutional investor<br />

in particular is very much expectation<br />

driven. Bets are being taken on whether<br />

or not you will soon see a four percent<br />

prime rate. Ask three banks, and you get<br />

four opinions.<br />

... and if I ask you?<br />

My bet stands at 3.75. The question is,<br />

how fast will the peak be reached? I‘m<br />

one who prefers to rip the Band-Aid<br />

off quickly rather than slowly. Once<br />

you reach that peak, the expectation is<br />

already going back to, „How fast are interest<br />

rates going down?“ That stimulates<br />

financial markets.<br />

Whether it takes one, two, or three<br />

steps is up to the ECB. If you analyze the<br />

past ECB steps carefully, the last step<br />

was usually the one that was too much,<br />

according to experts from the Financial<br />

Times, among others.<br />

To return to our fund: Currently, there<br />

is a historic opportunity to buy three<br />

hectares of building land projects in<br />

the heart of the most stable real estate<br />

market in Europe. Whether we will see<br />

investor reluctance here because of an<br />

interest rate peak that may last twelve<br />

months - the next few months will tell. I<br />

don’t think so. <br />

Sebastian G. Nitsch<br />

Sebastian G. Nitsch has been at the helm of 6B47<br />

Real Estate Investors AG since September 2020.<br />

The native Viennese has been a member of the<br />

management team since 2010 and a member of<br />

the Board of Directors for Corporate Finance and<br />

Investor Relations at 6B47 since 2013. Since 2016,<br />

he has been responsible as CFO of the entire<br />

group of companies.<br />

Before joining 6B47 Real Estate Investors AG,<br />

Nitsch spent five years on the management<br />

board of the Dekron Group, where he was primarily<br />

responsible for investments in companies in<br />

the field of mergers and acquisitions, as well as<br />

driving the creation of real estate funds and the<br />

project development of commercial and retail<br />

properties. Prior to that, he started his career as<br />

a board member of an asset management company,<br />

where he worked for nine years.<br />

Dedicated to Real Estate,<br />

focused on solutions.<br />

Advisory | Assurance | Tax | Legal | <strong>Digital</strong><br />

www.pwc.at/real-estate<br />

„PwC“ bezeichnet das PwC-Netzwerk und/oder eine oder mehrere seiner Mitgliedsfirmen. Jedes Mitglied dieses<br />

Netzwerks ist ein selbstständiges Rechtssubjekt. Weitere Informationen finden Sie unter pwc.com/structure.<br />

<strong>MIPIM</strong> | <strong>2023</strong><br />

27


Investing in Austria<br />

Real Circle<br />

#30<br />

Orientation Guide<br />

or Advertising Gag?<br />

Certifications & Co. At the 30th Real Circle, hosted by ERSTE BANK, ERSTE Immobilien KAG, IMMOunited,<br />

PwC and ImmoFokus, the agenda included a topic currently the subject of lively discussions in the real estate<br />

industry: Certifications.<br />

Authors: Patrick Baldia, Gerhard Fritz, Lisa Grüner, Rudolf Oezelt und Heimo Rollett<br />

D<br />

o we really need them? If we<br />

do, which ones are suitable<br />

for whom? Do they have any<br />

influence on the valuation of<br />

real estate? How meaningful are they at the<br />

end of the day? And: do they protect against<br />

greenwashing? We are talking about certifications<br />

that document the ecological, social<br />

and economic quality of buildings. There are<br />

now countless of them. However, it‘s not just<br />

the different distribution and inconsistent<br />

standards of the various certification systems<br />

that raise questions. It is their significance in<br />

times of new developments on the regulatory<br />

side – namely, the EU taxonomy. There was<br />

plenty to talk about for the selected real estate<br />

professionals who attended the event in the<br />

Winter Garden of the Erste Campus at the end<br />

of February.<br />

Certifications are important<br />

„Building certifications play an important<br />

role, on the one hand, for society, on the<br />

other hand, to achieve the goals of the EU<br />

taxonomy, to collect and assess data and to<br />

generally improve the planning process,“ states<br />

Elisabeth Sardy-Rauter, Senior Manager<br />

in the Construction & Real Estate division<br />

at Ernst & Young in Group A, at the start of<br />

the summit. Michael Herbek, Head of Project<br />

Development at BUWOG, notes that in the<br />

past, certifications were not so relevant for<br />

real estate developers, but they were for the<br />

investors and the global exit. „Especially in<br />

commercial real estate, certifications are a<br />

must, but we also observe this development<br />

in residential construction. In the future,<br />

certifiers will have to deliver an offer to be<br />

able to handle the whole range correctly and<br />

transparently for the developer,“ Herbek<br />

says. „The ideal would be a certificate that<br />

can make a statement in several directions,<br />

i.e., for different stakeholders, e.g., the developer,<br />

the investor and the end customer/user<br />

(tenant/buyer) because the latter are also<br />

increasingly asking for sustainable quality<br />

features.“<br />

Markus Huber, Managing Director of CC Real<br />

Project Management, questions the relevance<br />

of certificates. „I am divided on this issue,<br />

CC Real is a portfolio holder with its own<br />

properties, and I am an ÖGNI auditor and an<br />

EU Taxonomy Advisor. The topic is becoming<br />

increasingly relevant among our owners and<br />

customers. Also, the question of investing for<br />

„S“ in ESG can be discussed with owners now;<br />

in the past, the additional equipment in the<br />

bike room was already a problem. Wien Mitte<br />

and Millennium City were recently awarded<br />

a DGNB Platinum certificate. It shows that<br />

although owners have already received a<br />

good rating, they are still interested in further<br />

improvements. When applying for financing,<br />

the first question is which certificate to aim<br />

for and to what extent the building meets the<br />

EU taxonomy. In the case of new buildings,<br />

the verification is easier; in old or existing<br />

buildings, the biggest problem is the lack of<br />

building data.“<br />

Data and links<br />

Anna-Vera Deinhammer, responsible for<br />

International Relations and Municipalities at<br />

ÖGNI agrees and adds, „We have been aware<br />

28 ImmoFokus


„Certificates assure that<br />

sustainability and EU<br />

taxonomy have been<br />

mapped correctly.“<br />

Anna-Vera Deinhammer,<br />

ÖGNI<br />

of the topic of certification with this intensity<br />

for a year now. Pre-certificates now play a<br />

big role; they show whether a building is EU<br />

taxonomy-ready at all.“ Deinhammer finds<br />

Herbek‘s idea of a certificate for different stakeholders<br />

interesting. „All the data you need<br />

for a building is there, after all, but not everyone<br />

is interested in everything. Whoever<br />

does the risk assessment for financing is<br />

necessarily interested in something different<br />

than the end customer.“ What‘s important<br />

about the certificates is quality. „ÖGNI and<br />

DGNB are expert opinions for which the<br />

advisers and auditors are responsible. You<br />

can see through the financing issue that no<br />

one wants to produce stranded assets, so the<br />

market is paying a lot of attention to that.“<br />

Uncertainty in the real estate market is high<br />

because the EU Taxonomy Regulation has<br />

not yet been defined. Only the criteria for the<br />

so-called „Substantial Contributions“ for the<br />

first two protection goals have been formulated.<br />

„Certificates also have their limitations,<br />

as they are a snapshot of the condition of<br />

the building at the date it was just tested.“<br />

„Financing large<br />

volumes without<br />

certifications is no<br />

longer possible today.“<br />

Roman Eisenmagen,<br />

Erste Bank<br />

<strong>MIPIM</strong> | <strong>2023</strong><br />

29


Investing in Austria<br />

In addition, Huber adds that certificates for<br />

existing buildings have limited validity, and<br />

you have to keep renewing them, whereas in<br />

new construction, they are valid indefinitely,<br />

even if standards change in ten years.<br />

Renewed assessment after ten years<br />

Deinhammer takes a critical view of this: „It<br />

would make sense, due to the volatility of the<br />

specifications, to also check new buildings<br />

again after ten years and to certify them again<br />

to gold, platinum or crystal with update measures.“<br />

Sardy-Rauter raises the question of whether<br />

it is not enough to build according to the criteria<br />

of the EU taxonomy or whether it is not<br />

possible without certificates. Herbek thinks<br />

certifications make life easier in the long<br />

run because only one document is needed to<br />

show that the taxonomy has been followed.<br />

„It‘s more efficient for all parties involved in<br />

providing proof. In new construction, it‘s important<br />

to have the documents handy. In this<br />

context, you should also consider the topic<br />

of digitization and look at how BIM, certification,<br />

documentation, etc., can be brought<br />

together,“ says the department head.<br />

Making work easier<br />

Deinhammer intercedes and finds linking<br />

certificates and BIM interesting for the<br />

auditors‘ workflow. „It‘s similar to digital<br />

„In valuation, we can<br />

only represent what<br />

the market rewards.“<br />

Wolfgang Fessl,<br />

Reinberg & Partner<br />

construction permit applications to the city.<br />

It makes the work easier and makes it comparable.<br />

The fact that you can look up the EU<br />

taxonomy yourself is undisputed, but a certificate<br />

issuer or an auditor is not an integral<br />

part of the project team; that‘s someone from<br />

the outside, like a referee, who ideally accompanies<br />

the entire planning process and improves<br />

the process quality. It‘s already easier<br />

if you can refer to a scheme or use the swarm<br />

intelligence of a certificate if you want to<br />

achieve platinum, for example.“ Huber sees it<br />

the same way. „An independent review is important<br />

when you want to sell the property.<br />

Any buyer would question a self-assessment.<br />

In addition, it also makes it easier for the<br />

project team, and it simplifies the process.<br />

Furthermore, the DGNB is already working<br />

on an integration to be able to assess the EU<br />

taxonomy compliance together with certification<br />

in the future.“ Deinhammer also sees<br />

it as a case of mapping the EU taxonomy in<br />

the certificate. „Across Europe, a data frame<br />

is being considered, and the data will have<br />

to come from external auditors. Regarding<br />

content, we are preparing to collect as little<br />

30 ImmoFokus


„A certificate that can<br />

make a statement for<br />

different stakeholders<br />

would be ideal.“<br />

Markus Herbek,<br />

BUWOG<br />

data as necessary for as much information<br />

as possible. Our auditors share with us their<br />

practical experience regarding the technical<br />

criteria of the EU taxonomy; this knowledge<br />

is collected by the ÖGNI team and reported<br />

„Positive feedback is<br />

necessary to motivate<br />

property owners to make<br />

and implement a ‚green‘<br />

roadmap.“<br />

Anna Geher,<br />

Otto Immobilien<br />

back to Brussels via think tanks. Another advantage<br />

of participating in certification is that<br />

you are part of a big family, and the wealth of<br />

experience benefits the overall quality.“ Herbek<br />

confirms the importance of monitoring<br />

projects to achieve sustainability goals.<br />

Challenge: Certificate jungle<br />

„The topic of ‚building certifications and<br />

ESG‘ has generally been with us for the last<br />

three or four years,“ Nadja Hafez, Managing<br />

Partner ADEQAT Investment Services, opens<br />

the Group F discussion panel. The legislative<br />

cornerstone of the EU Taxonomy Regulation<br />

and Disclosure Regulation establishing categories<br />

of ESG financial products for the first<br />

time provides a clear framework. „But we<br />

can see that building certifications do not yet<br />

automatically meet these taxonomy regulations.“<br />

It would be desirable, the panel quickly<br />

agrees on this point, if there were standardizations<br />

in the market - rather than this jungle<br />

of certificates. Not every asset class is affected,<br />

as Matthias Nödl, Senior Counsel Cerha<br />

Hempel, critically notes, „I am mainly active<br />

in residential construction and leisure lodging.<br />

Apart from the large new construction<br />

projects in these areas, this topic is still in the<br />

very early stages.“ As a result, he says, there<br />

is a lot of uncertainty among many clients,<br />

some of whom may be under the impression<br />

that „you need a certificate to be successful.“<br />

Sometimes only the costs are seen, but not<br />

the advantages.<br />

„Is there a general need for certificates? If so,<br />

shouldn‘t it be standardized?“ Gerald Kerbl,<br />

tax consultant and partner TPA, asks the discussion<br />

group. At the moment, everything is<br />

directed at the investor, whether it is ÖGNI,<br />

DGNB, BREEAM or LEED. Among Germans<br />

right now, unsurprisingly, we see mainly<br />

DGNB and ÖGNI. Where ÖGNI is a bit ahead<br />

regarding certificates: ÖGNI certificates are<br />

the only ones that have directly or were the<br />

first to manage to have an EU taxonomy certification<br />

add-on to it. In a nutshell, „In the<br />

large-volume institutional sector, certificates<br />

have been the norm for some time.“ „Also in<br />

new residential construction,“ notes Gabriela<br />

Hauer, Head of Real Estate Clients in ERSTE<br />

BANK‘s Commercial Housing team. „It is<br />

<strong>MIPIM</strong> | <strong>2023</strong><br />

31


Investing in Austria<br />

„Among our owners and<br />

customers, the topic of<br />

certification is becoming<br />

increasingly relevant.“<br />

Markus Huber,<br />

CC Real<br />

„Certificates are too<br />

building-specific and<br />

need a wider scope.“<br />

Nadja Hafez,<br />

Adeqat<br />

„Our customers are private<br />

investors. A certificate<br />

according to ÖGNI is completely<br />

irrelevant to them.“<br />

Peter Karl,<br />

Erste Immo KAG<br />

significantly more difficult in existing residential<br />

construction.“ Erste Bank is committed<br />

to „green“ new financing, she said. Large<br />

projects have also been certified in the past.<br />

Hauer also advocates standardization: „Standardization<br />

would make many things easier.“<br />

Are certificates too building-specific?<br />

„Certificates are too building-specific and<br />

need a wider scope,“ Hafez brings a new<br />

aspect into the discussion. ESG issues will<br />

increasingly factor into valuations. „We are<br />

at the beginning of the discussion,“ notes<br />

Anna Schimmer, an attorney at PwC Legal,<br />

„What is sustainable is, after all, very much in<br />

flux. What is green or considered sustainable<br />

today may be judged differently tomorrow.“<br />

All certificates have one shortcoming, and<br />

that is they lag behind technical developments.<br />

Nödl comments, „This is inevitably<br />

the case. Technical developments quickly<br />

overtake regulations. Ö or DIN standards, EU<br />

standards - everywhere the regulations are<br />

not up to date.“<br />

„The many different certificates lead to a considerable<br />

amount of consulting expenses,“<br />

says Schimmer. „There are details about EU<br />

taxonomy compliance, cost/benefit assessments,<br />

and investment as well as the improvement<br />

requirements.“ Increasingly, green<br />

leases are also being discussed but rarely concluded.<br />

After all, how could non-sustainable<br />

use be sanctioned? Schimmer sees mainly<br />

positive incentives here. „It‘s about creating<br />

incentives.“<br />

Pressure is increasing<br />

“The practice in contract drafting clearly<br />

shows that negative consequences for violating<br />

any specifications in that direction find<br />

virtually no consensus. This often results in<br />

failed deals, because many negotiating parties<br />

say. I will rent something else which is<br />

cheaper or where I do not have this contractual<br />

penalty or negative consequences. With<br />

rental agreements, it is generally difficult to<br />

establish sanctions,” the PwC legal expert<br />

continues. Many leases already contain a<br />

variety of contractual penalties that hardly<br />

have any effect. Generating grounds for termination<br />

from this is difficult.” “International<br />

corporations that I have had the privilege<br />

of assisting nevertheless stringently enforce<br />

this,” Kerbl notes. “There is actually an understanding<br />

of ESG within the group, and it<br />

is included in every contract. We’ve had more<br />

than one discussion with tenants, and one<br />

or two lease negotiations have broken down<br />

because the tenant said, ‘I’m not interested in<br />

working on your future ESG concepts out of<br />

the blue.<br />

For Hafez, at least, it’s clear that there will be<br />

more pressure to comply in the future. “The<br />

question at the end of the day will always be:<br />

Who pays for it? Who pays the consequen-<br />

ces or the certification? Who pays for the<br />

investments needed to obtain certification,”<br />

concludes Nödl.<br />

Do certificates have an expiration date?<br />

“Whether certificates are the end of the line<br />

is not yet clear. Perhaps we will see relevant<br />

monitoring instead. The only clear thing is<br />

that the topic of sustainability will continue<br />

to accompany us,” says Roman Eisenmagen,<br />

Head of Commercial Housing at Erste Bank,<br />

summing up the fundamental tone of Table<br />

D quite well. For example, Stephan Pasquali,<br />

Managing Director of New Construction at<br />

3SI Immogroup, also considers it possible<br />

that certificates could be replaced by another<br />

monitoring tool. Currently, certificates<br />

are still the best standard recognized on the<br />

market.<br />

However, the certification process, especially<br />

for smaller companies that do not employ<br />

their own experts, definitely involves some<br />

effort, Pasquali added. “But if the cooperation<br />

with the auditors works, then you also get<br />

constructive input - for example, regarding<br />

sustainable design options,” he suggests.<br />

Why do certificates, as they are currently<br />

known, have an expiration date? Wolfgang<br />

Fessl, managing director and partner Reinberg<br />

& Partner Immobilienberatung, believes<br />

that they will be obsolete in the foreseeable<br />

future for one reason and will have to be re-<br />

32 ImmoFokus


placed by another instrument or developed<br />

accordingly, “The long-term goal must be<br />

the circular economy, and here we will need<br />

different guidelines than those on which certificates<br />

are based today.”<br />

Crucial for financing<br />

But is it even possible without a certificate<br />

today? “The larger and more professional a<br />

company is, the less it can do without certification.<br />

The more it goes in the direction<br />

of medium-sized businesses or apartment<br />

sales, the more likely it is that you can get by<br />

without,” says Eisenmagen, only to add, “Financing<br />

large volumes without certifications<br />

actually doesn’t work anymore.”<br />

“In the investment sector, nothing works<br />

without certificates. EU taxonomy is also becoming<br />

increasingly important there,” says<br />

Kerstin Robausch-Löffelmann, Managing<br />

Director for Development at Value One. For<br />

domestic developers, one would have all projects<br />

certified without exception. “We often<br />

have them pre-certified, which gives us proper<br />

guidelines we can follow,” says Robausch-<br />

Löffelmann. Additionally, “It really pays off<br />

in terms of financing.”<br />

“I see the basic error of our thinking as being<br />

that it’s always just about being a bit ahead of<br />

the competition,” says Fessl, addressing an<br />

important point. In reality, this is entirely irrelevant.<br />

The question is not where I want to<br />

go next but where we have to go. And that, as<br />

I said, is the circular economy. “Now we have<br />

to take all the small, unpleasant steps to get<br />

there eventually,” Fessl says.<br />

Penalties for greenwashing<br />

Anna Geher, head of real estate valuation at<br />

Otto Immobilien, also believes a change in<br />

thinking is needed. “Energy costs are rising,<br />

and we’ve budgeted for that, but we haven’t<br />

„Building<br />

certifications are<br />

important to collect<br />

data and improve the<br />

planning proc.“<br />

Elisabeth Sardy-Rauter,<br />

EY<br />

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<strong>MIPIM</strong> | <strong>2023</strong><br />

33


Investing in Austria<br />

budgeted for the climate protection roadmap,”<br />

she says. It’s a matter of thinking more<br />

long-term, she adds. At the same time, she<br />

also believes positive feedback is necessary to<br />

motivate property owners - both private and<br />

institutional - to create and also implement a<br />

roadmap. “But there should also be negative<br />

feedback in the form of penalties for those<br />

who, for example, use certificates only for<br />

greenwashing,” Geher maintains.<br />

More than any other measure, Robausch-Löffelmann<br />

would like to see “much more clarity”<br />

from lawmakers. “We don’t know where<br />

the EU taxonomy is heading and what it will<br />

cover since the relevant guidelines have not<br />

yet been defined,” the expert explains. At<br />

Value One, we therefore assume that projects<br />

will have to exceed the current requirements<br />

by 30 percent so that the properties will still<br />

be valuable in ten or 15 years.<br />

Do certificates play a role in the valuation?<br />

Expert Fessl sees parallels with energy certificates.<br />

He says everyone believed they would<br />

bring something when they were introduced.<br />

“Both on the market and in valuation, however,<br />

no one was interested,” Fessl claims.<br />

Precious metal plaques would also have stood<br />

out in the market initially. However, they<br />

would not have played a role on the valuation<br />

side, only on the marketing side.<br />

Better property, more expensive<br />

“In the valuation, we can’t say, ‘This is a gold<br />

or platinum certificate, and this makes so and<br />

so much.’ We can only show what the market<br />

is willing to reward. And if it doesn’t reward<br />

it because there are enough buildings on the<br />

market with plaques, then that’s just how it<br />

is,” Fessl explains. At the end of the day, he<br />

says, it comes down to the better property.<br />

“And that is only partially expressed in criteria<br />

such as energy performance indicators,<br />

but more often than not, it’s the credit standing<br />

of the tenant or the location. “If a building<br />

sold for more, it’s usually because it’s the<br />

better property,” Fessl sums it up.<br />

“I see it in a more differentiated way in that<br />

we also have a feedback loop with the EU<br />

taxonomy for projects that are taxonomy-<br />

„Green leases are also<br />

increasingly being<br />

discussed. International<br />

corporations are stringently<br />

following through.“<br />

Gerald Kerbl,<br />

TPA<br />

34 ImmoFokus


„Financing might get<br />

even cheaper with<br />

‚sustainability-linked loans‘<br />

than with ‚green loans‘.“<br />

Tomas Tischler,<br />

ÖRAG<br />

„In institutional new<br />

residential construction,<br />

certificates are<br />

now the norm.“<br />

Gabriele Hauer,<br />

Erste Bank<br />

„There is a need<br />

for binding regulations<br />

that must also be<br />

adhered to.“<br />

Anita Körbler,<br />

trovato<br />

eligible,” Geher replies. She is not in a position<br />

to quantify how this will be reflected in<br />

the valuation. “Probably not yet,” she says.<br />

But it will undoubtedly have an impact on<br />

the values in the future. She says the feedback<br />

mentioned does not exist at all with the<br />

energy certificate. “That’s why it didn’t make<br />

any difference whether it had an A or a D on<br />

it,” Geher explains.<br />

Voluntary certificates remain<br />

“Voluntary certificates are by no means<br />

losing their importance due to the EU taxonomy.<br />

Since they are not in conflict with the<br />

EU taxonomy,” says Thomas Tischler, board<br />

member of ÖRAG, in the context of the discussion<br />

in Group G. “Real estate without certification<br />

and EU conformity will be unable to<br />

be financed or exploited in the future. In the<br />

long run, it will even be possible to finance<br />

more favorably with ‘sustainability-linked<br />

loans’ than now with ‘green loans’,” he adds.<br />

Alfred Ripka, Director of ESG Regulation and<br />

Audit at PwC, is convinced that the criteria<br />

behind the certificates will have to adapt to<br />

the EU taxonomy. The certificates will do<br />

their utmost to ensure they also meet the<br />

requirements of the EU taxonomy. However,<br />

this does not mean the EU taxonomy will<br />

replace the certificates for Fabian Weyss, Architect,<br />

Project Development Manager DLH<br />

Deutsche Logistik Holding. “The free choice<br />

between certificates will continue to be decisive.”<br />

However, there is no way around<br />

adjustments.<br />

Adjustment necessary<br />

Ripka reports customers who have little understanding<br />

that a building that used to be<br />

platinum-certified suddenly no longer complies<br />

with the EU taxonomy. “The criteria of<br />

the certificates need to be adapted or aligned<br />

with EU requirements,” he says. But he also<br />

sees that the EU criteria are constantly being<br />

adapted and tightened.<br />

The provisions of the EU taxonomy are going<br />

in the right direction, but one can see that<br />

technical expert groups are developing the<br />

conditions. “They see what is technically<br />

possible today, but they can’t judge whether<br />

that is realistic or what it will cost. But it looks<br />

good on paper.” Fundamentally, he doubts<br />

that the EU’s plan to make all buildings green<br />

will work. For existing buildings, taxonomy<br />

compliance will be challenging to establish.<br />

“A building with a glass façade can only be<br />

made climate compliant with immense investment.”<br />

“Even in new construction, there are limits<br />

that can’t be crossed,” Weyss cautions. Ripka<br />

is convinced that buildings that do not meet<br />

the strict requirements can still be financed<br />

in the future, but there will be different<br />

conditions. “However, it is not forbidden to<br />

construct buildings that are not taxonomy<br />

compliant.”<br />

Data needs structure<br />

Another problem with existing buildings is<br />

insufficient data: “Often there is too little or<br />

too inaccurate data. In many properties, there<br />

is only one meter and no sub-meters,” says<br />

Tischler, directing the discussion to the topic<br />

of data. He is convinced that the first step is<br />

to invest in data collection. Only then do you<br />

have a basis for developing strategies. For Manuel<br />

Oberaufner, Head of Product Development<br />

at IMMOUnited, the question is where<br />

the data comes from and how to bundle it.<br />

“There will still be a lot of development work<br />

to be done here; we are still at a very early<br />

stage.” For him, data collection is one thing,<br />

and structuring is another. “Optimally, you<br />

will be able to monitor the data in real-time.”<br />

For reporting, however, much more data will<br />

be needed in the future, he says, but opportunities<br />

can arise from this. Much of the data is<br />

currently analog, on paper or lists. “Solutions<br />

that automate, digitize and compile data are<br />

the challenge facing companies. Because<br />

numbers are becoming increasingly relevant<br />

for companies to manage,” the expert sums it<br />

up.<br />

In the future, many companies will also<br />

have to deal with the issue of mandatory<br />

reporting. “Since 2016, there has been the<br />

‘Non-Financial Reporting Directive,’ which<br />

all companies with more than 500 employees<br />

must report. From 2025, the ‘Corporate<br />

Sustainability Reporting Directive’ will oblige<br />

all other large corporations to produce annual<br />

sustainability reports,” Riepl explains.<br />

Reporting will drive corporate strategy, “but<br />

it will only look at what needs to be reported<br />

because you can then sell yourself better.”<br />

<strong>MIPIM</strong> | <strong>2023</strong><br />

35


Investing in Austria<br />

„At the moment,<br />

certificates are still<br />

the best standard<br />

recognized in the<br />

market.“<br />

Stephan Pasquali,<br />

3SI Immogroup<br />

„In the investment sector,<br />

nothing works without<br />

certificates. EU taxonomy is<br />

also becoming increasingly<br />

important there.“<br />

Kerstin Robausch-Löffelmann,<br />

value one holding<br />

„We would like to see<br />

a standardized building<br />

certification like the<br />

‚sticker‘ for cars.“<br />

Sebastian Sturmer,<br />

Erste Immo KAG<br />

Standardization is the order of the day<br />

For Franz Pöltl, managing partner at EHL<br />

Investment Consulting, standardization is<br />

the name of the game when it comes to certifications.<br />

“This is also what many market<br />

participants expect from the EU taxonomy.<br />

Especially on the part of developers, who cannot<br />

know to whom they will ultimately sell.<br />

Every investor has his own ideas,” he says.<br />

Wolfgang Scheibenpflug, Head of Real Estate<br />

and Location Management at the Vienna Airport<br />

(Flughafen Wien AG), sees himself in a<br />

unique position: “We don’t sell. We develop,<br />

build and operate the properties ourselves.”<br />

For the airport, the question is not who will<br />

buy the real estate if the worst comes to the<br />

worst.” However, in the competition between<br />

locations, a certificate is in high demand<br />

among international tenants. “For this reason,<br />

we had the Airport City certified according<br />

to ÖGNI as the first neighborhood in<br />

Austria.” For them, it was not enough to certify<br />

individual buildings. It was an important,<br />

correct step because more and more tenants<br />

- not just since the sharp rise in energy prices<br />

- are asking for certifications and energy<br />

figures. The fact that the airport has been<br />

CO2-neutral since the beginning of the year<br />

is another logical step toward sustainability.<br />

“Since we don’t have any investors or sell internationally,<br />

we decided very early on to get<br />

the ÖGNI certificate. It has a high value and<br />

„The free choice between<br />

certifications will continue<br />

to be crucial.“<br />

Fabian Weyss,<br />

DLH Estate Austria<br />

is ideally suited for our purposes,” explains<br />

Scheibenpflug.<br />

On the rise: Residential<br />

building certificates<br />

“Certificates are also very much on the<br />

rise in residential real estate,” notes Karin<br />

Schmidt-Mitscher, division manager for residential<br />

construction at Erste Bank. “Without<br />

certification, it will soon no longer work in<br />

residential construction. This applies both to<br />

financing and to residential construction as<br />

an investment product.”<br />

“Our customer is the private investor. He<br />

doesn’t care about a certificate, according<br />

to ÖGNI. He knows the eco-label from some<br />

products in the supermarket,” says Peter Karl,<br />

Managing Director of ERSTE Immobilien<br />

KAG, explaining why his company’s large<br />

retail funds are adorned with the eco-label.<br />

The exciting question for him is, “Which certificate<br />

will I use in the future?” He says the<br />

EU taxonomy will set a new standard sooner<br />

or later. “Like the sticker on cars,” Karl notes.<br />

“There are uniform standards there - no different<br />

weighing. If everything is okay - you<br />

get the sticker. If it’s not, you don’t.” What’s<br />

binding, however, is that the sticker comes<br />

from a specialist workshop. “It doesn’t matter<br />

who does the service; it just has to be a certified<br />

workshop. Whether it’s done by an ÖGNI<br />

auditor or a klimaaktiv auditor doesn’t matter.”<br />

The goal must be to make it as simple as<br />

possible: If there’s an EU taxonomy score of<br />

X, there’s an EU taxonomy certificate. Result:<br />

“If there’s no certificate, we’ll see clear markdowns.”<br />

Certificate comparison impossible<br />

“The problem is that the individual criteria<br />

are weighted differently - making it impossible<br />

to compare certificates,” interjects Pöltl.<br />

“Each certificate is a product of the region<br />

where it originated,” adds Scheibenpflug.<br />

Pöltl: “It’s no longer possible without it. Someone<br />

like Peter Karl expects that ‘building<br />

36 ImmoFokus


„For sustainability<br />

reporting, you will need<br />

much more data in the<br />

future.“<br />

Manuel Oberaufner,<br />

IMMOunited<br />

stickers’ will become a requirement. Who<br />

hasn’t got – will have to stay outside”.<br />

“In the residential sector, however,” says<br />

Peter Vcelouch, lawyer and partner at Cerha<br />

Hempel, “you have to distinguish between<br />

new and old buildings. In old buildings, you<br />

know anyway that it looks different. If someone<br />

absolutely wants this location, this apartment,<br />

he may accept the lack of an energy certificate<br />

or a less favorable energy certificate.”<br />

Weaknesses<br />

However, the EU taxonomy also has weaknesses.<br />

The performance of the 15 percent premium<br />

properties in each local market is to be<br />

used as a general benchmark. “But how is this<br />

supposed to work without a register?” wonders<br />

Karl. “In Slovakia, this register already<br />

exists.” “It’s also difficult to prove the degree<br />

of improvement in refurbishment,” Schmidt-<br />

Mitscher adds to the discussion. Tailwind in<br />

terms of certification, comes from soaring<br />

energy prices. “Now everyone is really aware<br />

that sustainability also has a very massive<br />

economic aspect,” Karl says. The question<br />

arises, “Are there really already so many wellcertified<br />

residential properties that I really<br />

have a choice?” asks Scheibenpflug.<br />

Binding rules needed<br />

“I am sure that the topic of certification will<br />

increasingly affect us in the future, especially<br />

when it comes to building in the existing<br />

stock because we are already realizing today<br />

that the further sealing of the soil cannot go<br />

on. But for this to change, binding regulations<br />

are needed, and these must be adhered<br />

to,” says Anita Körbler, founder and managing<br />

director of trovato GmbH, during the<br />

Group C discussion.<br />

“I represent the provocative thesis asking,<br />

what will change? Probably nothing. Cer-<br />

„A good database<br />

is the basis of any<br />

certification.“<br />

Lukas Weinwurm,<br />

IMMOunited<br />

„Market participants hope<br />

for standardization from the<br />

EU taxonomy.“<br />

Franz Pöltl,<br />

EHL Investment Consulting<br />

<strong>MIPIM</strong> | <strong>2023</strong><br />

37


Investing in Austria<br />

tificates and expert opinions have always<br />

existed. It’s just that the requirements have<br />

been raised. Possibly the thinking is that the<br />

requirements will be lowered again to meet<br />

certain criteria,” says Kurt Rusam, COO Eyemaxx<br />

Real Estate Group.<br />

„The criteria of many<br />

certificates need<br />

to be adapted and<br />

aligned with the EU<br />

taxonomy.“<br />

Alfred Ripka,<br />

PwC Österreich<br />

Sebastian Sturmer, Risk Management and<br />

Compliance ERSTE Immobilien KAG, emphasizes<br />

how important it is for Europeanlevel<br />

regulations to correspond with other<br />

rules. “It is no use if, on the one hand, I am<br />

supposed to prepare reports following the EU<br />

Taxonomy Regulation, with data that I do not<br />

have, and on the other hand, there is the Basic<br />

Data Protection Regulation, which makes it<br />

impossible for me to obtain such data,” Sturmer<br />

maintains. Furthermore: “We would like<br />

to see a standardized building certification<br />

similar to the (MOT) ‘sticker’ for cars.”<br />

„In part, only the<br />

costs are seen in<br />

certifications, but<br />

not the benefits.“<br />

Matthias Nödl,<br />

Cerha Hempel<br />

38 ImmoFokus


„In old buildings, too high<br />

sustainability standards<br />

can become a problem for<br />

private investors.“<br />

Peter Vcelouch,<br />

Cerha Hempel<br />

„The ÖGNI certificate has<br />

a high value and is ideally<br />

suited for our purposes.“<br />

Wolfgang Scheibenpflug,<br />

Flughafen Wien<br />

„Different certificates lead<br />

to a significant amount of<br />

consulting work.“<br />

Anna Schimmer,<br />

PwC Legal<br />

Sponsors<br />

DIAMOND<br />

PLATINUM<br />

GOLD<br />

SILVER<br />

FOUNDING PATRON<br />

SUPPORTING PARTNER<br />

<strong>MIPIM</strong> | <strong>2023</strong><br />

39


Investing in Austria<br />

“For us as ImmoUnited, it is important that we<br />

keep track of the many certificates. From what<br />

I have noticed so far, it is often difficult to compare<br />

the individual data,” Lukas Weinwurm,<br />

Chief Product Officer, IMMOunited GmbH,<br />

reports on his experience with the subject.<br />

“The problem is - and I know this from conversations<br />

with large Austrian project developers<br />

- that today you can no longer sell your<br />

buildings at all if you can’t provide evidence<br />

of a certificate. But often the question arises,<br />

which of the many certificates available on<br />

the market do I take at all?” said Stevan Tomic,<br />

Senior Business Development Manager<br />

PAYUCA Parking Solutions, on a key point<br />

discussed in the other groups. “It’s like this in<br />

Austria, when you sit across from an American<br />

investor, he doesn’t know klimaaktiv and<br />

ÖGNI. Only BREEM or LEED mean anything<br />

to him,” said Rosam about the certificate preferences<br />

of US investors. At the same time, an<br />

ÖGNI certificate has very high requirements<br />

compared to an international certificate. <br />

„The primary goal<br />

must be CO2 neutrality.“<br />

Karin Schmidt-Mitscher,<br />

Erste Bank<br />

„US investors only know<br />

BREEM or LEED certificates.“<br />

Kurt Rusam,<br />

Eyemaxx<br />

40 ImmoFokus


Hier geht‘s<br />

zum Video<br />

www.immo-timeline.at<br />

<strong>MIPIM</strong> | <strong>2023</strong><br />

41


Investing in Austria<br />

Influence of interest<br />

rate turnaround on the<br />

investment market<br />

Increasing investor enthusiasm. After a solid performance in the previous year despite many challenges,<br />

experts expect more momentum on the Austrian real estate investment market in <strong>2023</strong>.<br />

T<br />

he Austrian real estate investment<br />

market has had busier times in the<br />

past compared to 2022. Given the<br />

turnaround in interest rates - not<br />

to mention inflation, high commodity prices,<br />

economic weakness, supply chain problems<br />

and war in Ukraine - the transaction volume<br />

of just over four billion Euros, which is around<br />

ten percent down from the previous year but<br />

still in line with the ten-year average, it is still<br />

pretty respectable particularly because some<br />

forecasts had assumed a significantly worse<br />

result as a whole.<br />

It is undoubtedly a good sign that the market<br />

has gained further momentum in the fourth<br />

quarter. And as the experts at EHL Investment<br />

report, there is currently significantly more<br />

interest in investments than in the fall of 2022.<br />

However, the price expectations of potential<br />

buyers and sellers are still too far apart for<br />

deals to be concluded. „Experience shows that<br />

it takes around half a year for a new market<br />

equilibrium to form, so we expect a significant<br />

increase in transaction activity again from the<br />

middle of the year,“ said Franz Pöltl, managing<br />

partner of EHL Investment Consulting.<br />

Repricing continues in<br />

the first half of the year<br />

CBRE also expects the ongoing repricing<br />

process on the Austrian real estate market<br />

to continue, at least in the first half of the<br />

year. According to Lukas Schwarz, Head of<br />

Investment Properties, review processes and<br />

acquisitions are currently taking longer, and<br />

a clear focus by investors on good and convincing<br />

assets can also be discerned. „In addition<br />

to location and tenant structure, for example,<br />

ESG criteria play a particularly significant role,“<br />

he added. Furthermore, „Properties that do not<br />

meet these requirements are not shortlisted by<br />

investors or are only sold at large discounts.“<br />

„Properties in weaker locations, with difficult<br />

leasing situations or a greater need for action<br />

concerning ESG goals, will trade at lower<br />

prices,“ Pöltl also says. In the case of top properties,<br />

where indexation of rents can also be<br />

enforced, the inflation protection that real<br />

estate is known to offer will once again attract<br />

greater attention, he adds. „For these properties,<br />

the price adjustment will also be limited,“<br />

the EHL investment head maintains.<br />

„Whether there will be a revival in transaction<br />

activity from the third quarter onwards depends,<br />

particularly in the residential segment, on whether<br />

prices can adjust to the changed interest<br />

rate level,“ believes Christoph Lukaschek, Head<br />

of Investment at Otto Immobilien. The emphasis<br />

here is on residential real estate. With a<br />

share of more than 30 percent of the transaction<br />

volume, this asset class was number one in 2022,<br />

as in previous years. According to Lukaschek,<br />

this was primarily due to several large-volume<br />

sales. Office (20 percent), logistics (15 percent)<br />

and retail (10 percent) came in second.<br />

Further price adjustments<br />

Where are prices headed? The restrictive<br />

lending regulations by banks, combined with<br />

rising SWAP rates in all asset classes, negatively<br />

impact price development, according<br />

to EHL. This is reflected not only in higher<br />

interest rates but also in higher capital requirements<br />

and risk margins. In many cases, this<br />

leads to price adjustments.<br />

According to the experts at CBRE, the fact<br />

that prime yields in Austria were corrected<br />

upward by an average of 70 basis points in<br />

2022 - overall, office and residential buildings<br />

were affected the most with an adjustment of<br />

75 basis points - can even be considered moderate<br />

compared with other Western European<br />

countries. Further corrections are expected for<br />

<strong>2023</strong>, although they should be less drastic. At<br />

any rate, the prime yield in the residential segment<br />

is currently around 3.50 percent, while<br />

it is just under four percent in the office segment.<br />

Significantly more is to be earned with<br />

top logistics real estate, namely 4.5 percent.<br />

This is only topped by shopping centers (5.25<br />

percent) and retail parks with five percent.<br />

Austrians dominate<br />

Last year, Austrians were the most active players<br />

on the investment market, accounting for<br />

almost 70 percent of the transaction volume.<br />

Germans accounted for 26 percent, followed<br />

by international investors with five percent.<br />

Overall, it was primarily special funds, project<br />

42 ImmoFokus


developers and family offices that set the tone.<br />

As Pöltl confirms, institutional capital, which<br />

has been very active in Austria in recent years,<br />

has found its way into other markets and asset<br />

classes on a large scale, such as fixed-interest<br />

securities denominated in U.S. dollars and<br />

government bonds.<br />

In any case, the share of international investors<br />

is expected to increase further. EHL expects to<br />

see a number of joint ventures between local<br />

developers and institutional, well-capitalized<br />

investors, mainly from the UK and the US, in<br />

project development and revitalization of existing<br />

properties in the coming months. These<br />

investors are increasingly looking for suitable<br />

investment opportunities. They will be attracted<br />

not only by the higher yields but the returns<br />

on their investment will also play a role.<br />

The fact that international investors are<br />

partly filling the gap left by institutional<br />

investors can certainly speak slightly positively<br />

for <strong>2023</strong>. „Due to the currently robust<br />

demand on the tenant markets and the<br />

planned easing of real estate financing, we<br />

are cautiously optimistic about <strong>2023</strong>,“ says<br />

Markus Arnold, owner, and CEO of Arnold<br />

Immobilien. He points to the surprisingly<br />

good fourth quarter of 2022 as „possibly a<br />

good indication for <strong>2023</strong>.“ „We will only be<br />

able to make more precise assessments after<br />

<strong>MIPIM</strong> in Cannes,“ Arnold concludes. <br />

<strong>MIPIM</strong> | <strong>2023</strong><br />

43


Investing in Austria<br />

44 ImmoFokus


Selected investment transactions 2022<br />

Property Type of use Size/sqm Seller Buyer<br />

U6 Center Büro 24.800 Westcore Andromeda Exklusiv<br />

Modecenterstraße 12-14 Büro 24.000 KGAL AKRON<br />

Donau Business Center Büro 23.000 CA Immo Investorenkonsortium<br />

Green Worx Büro 17.000 Union Investment ARE Austrian Real Estate<br />

Simmeringer Hauptstraße 47-49 Büro 12.980 HIH Global Invest vivoreal<br />

Lassallestraße 7 Büro 6.000 Zürich Versicherung AG Bank Austria Real Investment<br />

Franzensbrückenstraße 5 Büro 2.140 S-Immo GPH<br />

Seestadt Aspern H1 Wohnen 26.416 Wien 3420 aspern Soulier<br />

Seestadt Aspern H5 Wohnen 24.505 Wien 3420 aspern Arch. Moser / STC<br />

High Five Wohnen 16.860 STC/Roombuus ZBI AG<br />

Lavater 2 Wohnen 15.970 invester United Benefits BA Real Invest<br />

Quadrill Bauteil Memphis & Boston Wohnen 11.800 Bodner Bau BA Real Invest<br />

Rennweg 72-74 Wohnen 9.040 Privatinvestor LNR<br />

Dresdner Straße 90 Gewerbliches Wohnen 21.000 S+B Gruppe Greystar<br />

Novovest Portfolio Logistik/Industrie 167.980 Palmira Soini Asset<br />

SkyLog Logistik/Industrie 24.500 DLH DEKA<br />

e-Log Park Vienna South Logistik/Industrie 19.000 DLH DEKA<br />

Cross Dock Logistik Enns Logistik/Industrie 12.980 Meier Immobilien-Gruppe KanAm Grund Group<br />

Trinity Park Linz Entwicklungsgrundstück 60.000 Privatinvestorenkonsortium Vermehrt Gruppe<br />

Wohnentwicklungsqt. „Alvorada“ Entwicklungsgrundstück 41.000 VD Development BUWOG<br />

Eagle Portfolio Einzelhandel 50.000 Pfeiffer Beteiligungs GmbH Soravia<br />

Haid-Center Linz Einzelhandel 44.240 ECE Real Estate Partners institutioneller Investor<br />

SC17 Einzelhandel 11.820 SERONE INTERNATIONAL FMZ Family Point<br />

TLAPA Gemischt genutzt 11.560 Vermehrt LLB<br />

Rossmarkthöfe Gemischt genutzt 9.000 SIGNA SÜBA<br />

Mechelgasse 1 Gemischt genutzt 6.500 CA Immo Peek & Cloppenburg<br />

Vienna Twenty Two (Bassena Hotel) Hotel 198 SIGNA / ARE Raiffeisen Immobilien KAG<br />

<strong>MIPIM</strong> | <strong>2023</strong><br />

45


Investing in Austria<br />

46 ImmoFokus


<strong>MIPIM</strong> | <strong>2023</strong><br />

47


Investing in Austria<br />

Vienna office market<br />

Vienna Research Forum. In the fourth quarter of 2022 take-up on the Vienna office market totaled 29,621 m² –<br />

around 35% less than in the third quarter of 2022 and 48% less than in the fourth quarter of 2021.<br />

T<br />

his is what the results of the Vienna<br />

Research Forum (VRF) show<br />

after evaluating the current key<br />

data of the Vienna office market.<br />

The VRF only takes into account modern office<br />

space built since 1990 or completely renovated<br />

and office space which meets certain quality<br />

criteria such as indoor climate, elevators or IT<br />

standards.<br />

According to the Vienna Research Forum, the<br />

largest take-up was the new lease of 4,035 m²<br />

in the Airportcity Vienna submarket. This corresponds<br />

to approx. 14% of the total take-up on<br />

the Vienna office market in the fourth quarter.<br />

Another large-scale letting was also registered<br />

in Erdberg submarket with 2,200 m².<br />

A total of 65 lettings were recorded in the<br />

fourth quarter – 10 less than in the previous<br />

quarter and 15 more than in Q4 2021.<br />

A closer look at take-up based on type of rental<br />

shows that 100% account for new leases and<br />

0% for pre-lets*.<br />

Vacancy rate is 3.9% in 4th quarter<br />

In the fourth quarter of 2022, the vacancy rate<br />

in the VRF portfolio of modern office buildings<br />

in Vienna stands at 3.9%, which is 0.7 percentage<br />

points less as in the same period of the previous<br />

year (Q4 2021) and 0.2 percentage points<br />

less than in the previous quarter.<br />

The submarket with the lowest vacancy rate<br />

was Central Station with 0.36% and the submarket<br />

with the highest rate was Airportcity<br />

Vienna with 13.32%<br />

For the first time in September 2016, the VRF<br />

collected the total stock of modern office space<br />

for Vienna which it updated at the end of the<br />

fourth quar-ter of 2022: it amounts to 5,946,993<br />

m²**, of which 63% belong to class A and 37%<br />

to class B real estate according to VRF standard.<br />

Analysis Submarkets Vienna Q4/2022<br />

Submarket name<br />

active properties<br />

total space<br />

active properties total<br />

space class A<br />

active properties total<br />

space class B<br />

vacancy rate<br />

in %<br />

Inner Districts - CBD 2,209,865 1,015,498 1,194,367 3,3% 5.702<br />

Donaucity 537,736 287,634 250,102 2,6% 0<br />

Prater/Lasallestraße 752,993 667,405 85,588 4,4% 7.452<br />

Erdberg - St. Marx (East) 677,152 570,989 106,163 4,1% 4.195<br />

Central Station 519,820 424,754 95,066 1,0% 2.482<br />

Wienerberg (South) 453,971 323,745 130,226 8,9% 437<br />

North 429,392 225,317 204,075 2,6% 315<br />

West 259,117 147,733 111,384 4,9% 4.175<br />

Airport City Vienna 106,947 70,147 36,800 13,3% 4.861<br />

Total 5,946,993 3,733,222 2,213,771 3,9% 29.619<br />

take-up<br />

48 ImmoFokus


Rentals 2022 (selected examples)<br />

Property Size sqm Address<br />

ISS Facility Services GmbH 6.200 m² 2; Quartier Lassalle 1<br />

NexCo Beteiligung GmbH 5.900 m² 23; Liesinger Flur-Gasse 2c<br />

ATOS Österreich 5.200 m² 22; IZD-Tower<br />

Rechtsanwaltskanzlei 4.400 m² 9; Doppio Due<br />

Austria Power Grid 3.300 m² 22; IZD-Tower<br />

DLA Piper Weiss-Tessbach 3.300 m² 1; Haus am Schottentor<br />

IWG Gruppe 3.300 m² 9; Francis<br />

MSC Österreich 2.200 m² 12; Inno Center<br />

Johnson Controls 2.100 m² 23; Brunnerstraße 81a<br />

PSD Psychosozialer Dienst 2.000 m² 21; Grand Central<br />

PSD Psychosozialer Dienst 1.900 m² 2; Lassallestraße 3<br />

Nuance Communications Austria 1.800 m² 12; Euro Plaza<br />

The Vienna Research Forum initiator is the<br />

Association for quality promotion in the<br />

real estate sector (immQu) with the leading<br />

Vienna commercial real estate companies,<br />

CBRE GmbH, Colliers International Immobilienmakler<br />

GmbH, EHL Immobilien GmbH,<br />

ÖRAG Immobilien Vermittlung GmbH, OTTO<br />

Immobilien GmbH and Spiegelfeld International<br />

GmbH. They provide anonymously and<br />

independently of each other key parameters,<br />

such as take-up, vacancy rates, completions, to<br />

the VRF database. The data is then published<br />

quarterly to provide a comparative analysis<br />

which helps investors and companies.<br />

www.viennaresearchforum.at<br />

Vienna Research Forum<br />

The Vienna Research Forum initiator is<br />

the Association for quality promotion in<br />

the real estate sector (ImmQu) with the<br />

leading Vienna commercial real estate<br />

companies, CBRE, Colliers International,<br />

Immobilienmakler, EHL Immobilien, ORAG<br />

Immobilien Vermittlung, OTTO Immobilien<br />

and Spiegelfeld International. They provide<br />

anonymously and independently of each<br />

other key parameters, such as take-up, vacancy<br />

rates, completions, to the VRF database.<br />

The data is then published quarterly<br />

to provide a comparative analysis which<br />

helps investors and companies.<br />

Completions 2022<br />

Completions <strong>2023</strong><br />

Quelle: EHL Market Research | Q2 2021<br />

Property Size sqm Address<br />

Quartier Lassalle 2 54.000 m² 2; Lassallestraße 5<br />

Quartier Lassalle 1 24.000 m² 2; Lassallestraße 1<br />

Twenty One/Innovation Hub 14.800 m² 21; Siemensstraße 87-89<br />

Das Lebendige Haus 9.000 m² 1; Postgasse 8-10<br />

Vienna Twenty Two (BT 1) 8.000 m² 22; Dr.-Adolf-Schärf-Platz 1<br />

Doppio Due 6.000 m² 9; Peregringasse 2-4<br />

F80 4.000 m² 15; Felberstraße 80<br />

Lukoil-Headquarter 3.800 m² 4; Schwarzenbergplatz<br />

Schreyvogelgasse 2 2.500 m² 1; Schreyvogelgasse 2<br />

Quelle: EHL Market Research | <strong>2023</strong><br />

Property Size sqm Address<br />

VIO Plaza 22.600 m² 12; Schönbrunner Straße 230<br />

myhive am Wienerberg, Urban Garden 15.000 m² 10; Wienerbergstraße 3-5<br />

Gösser Halle 4.700 m² 10; Laxenburger Straße 2 B<br />

Muthgasse 109A 3.500 m² 19; Muthgasse 109A<br />

Quelle: EHL Market Research | <strong>2023</strong><br />

<strong>MIPIM</strong> | <strong>2023</strong><br />

49


Investing in Austria<br />

Logistics / Industrial<br />

Market in Vienna<br />

I<br />

n the second half of 2022 take-up of<br />

logistics, production and industrial space<br />

in Vienna and the surrounding area<br />

amounted to 76,061 sqm. This is what<br />

the results of the Vienna Research Forum Logistics/Industrial<br />

(VRF-LI) show after evaluating<br />

the current key data. The VRF only considers<br />

logistics premises that meet certain quality<br />

criteria such as hall height, shunting area and<br />

distance from the motorway.<br />

the logistics and industrial market in the<br />

second half of 2022. Another major take-up<br />

was registered in the submarket Vienna<br />

South with 13,877 sqm.<br />

Looking at the take-up of space by type of use,<br />

98 percent of the space is accounted for by logistics<br />

space and 2 percent by production space.<br />

For the first time in November 2019, the VRF<br />

Logistics/Industrial collected the total stock<br />

of logistics, production and industrial space in<br />

Vienna and the sur¬rounding area. It has been<br />

updated at the end of the second half 2022 and<br />

amounts to 5,820,053 sqm, of which 51 percent<br />

belong to production and industrial space and<br />

49 percent to logistics space.<br />

The total logistics take-up incl. areas that<br />

are not considered by the VRF amounted to<br />

87,286 sqm.<br />

The highest quality standards are met by 52<br />

percent of the classified buildings, so-called<br />

logistics class A objects, while 32 percent are<br />

qualified as class B and 16 percent as class C.<br />

For the production and industrial premises,<br />

all properties that are currently used for this<br />

purpose and meet certain minimum criteria<br />

such as hall size were included.<br />

Vienna Surr. North<br />

Vienna North<br />

Vienna West<br />

Vienna East<br />

Vienna South<br />

According to the Vienna Research Forum<br />

Logistics/Industrial, the largest take-up<br />

comprised 25.200 sqm in the submarket<br />

Vienna Surrounding East. It corresponds to<br />

around 33 percent of the space take-up on<br />

Vienna Surr. South<br />

Vienna Surr. East<br />

About the Vienna Research Forum<br />

The Vienna Research Forum initiator is the Association for quality promotion in the real estate sector (ImmQu) with the leading Vienna commercial real<br />

estate companies, CBRE, Colliers International, Immobilienmakler GmbH, EHL Immobilien, ORAG Immobilien Vermittlung, Otto Immobilien and Spiegelfeld<br />

International. They provide anonymously and independently of each other key parameters, such as take-up, vacancy rates, completions, to the VRF<br />

database. The data is then published quarterly to provide a comparative analysis which helps investors and companies.<br />

50 ImmoFokus


Logistics Industrial Market Vienna: Submarkt second half of 2022<br />

Submarket name<br />

Objects<br />

Total area<br />

in sqm<br />

Logistics<br />

Objects<br />

Total area in<br />

sqm<br />

Logistics<br />

Objects<br />

Total area in<br />

sqm Class A<br />

Logistics<br />

Objects<br />

Total area in<br />

sqm Class B<br />

Logistics<br />

Objects<br />

Total area in<br />

sqm Class C<br />

Production<br />

/ Industrial<br />

Objects Total<br />

area in sqm<br />

Total<br />

space<br />

take-up<br />

H2 2022<br />

Vienna North 740,184 259,021 50,000 123,139 85,882 481,163 0<br />

Vienna East 704,512 279,882 39,770 228,622 11,490 424,630 0<br />

Vienna South 1,050,127 483,186 163,605 137,600 181,981 566,941 13,877<br />

Vienna West 44,823 21,823 0 7,500 14,323 23,000 5,552<br />

Vienna Surr. North 1,243,683 441,060 322,060 70,100 48,900 802,623 1,197<br />

Vienna Surr. East 895,637 705,637 560,837 70,800 74,000 190,000 35,188<br />

Vienna Surr. South 1,141,087 690,880 371,601 279,807 39,472 450,207 20,247<br />

Total 5,820,053 2,881,489 1,507,873 917,568 456,048 2,938,564 76,061<br />

<strong>MIPIM</strong> | <strong>2023</strong><br />

51


Investing in Austria<br />

VIENNA<br />

1–2 Romm apts: 59 %<br />

3 Romm apts: 30 %<br />

4+ Romm apts: 141 %<br />

All apartments on offer (n = 28.501)<br />

With loggia: 27 %<br />

With balcony: 57 %<br />

With terrace: 26 %<br />

With garden: 10 %<br />

With open space: 92 %<br />

(loggia/balcony/terrace/garden)<br />

All apartments on offer (n = 28.796)<br />

Apartments: 99 %<br />

Terrace house/Duplex: 1 %<br />

Detached house: 0 %<br />

All residential units in EXPLOREAL (n = 50.142)<br />

ø 50 Apartments / Project<br />

Arithmetic average of suitable<br />

projects (n = 993)<br />

ø 64,2 sqm Wohnnutzfläche<br />

Median of all residential units on<br />

offer (n = 8.154)<br />

ø 8,9 sqm Freiflächen<br />

(Loggia/Balkon/Terrasse)<br />

Median of all residential units<br />

on offer (n = 8.154)<br />

ø 0,77 PKW-Stellplätze / Wohnung<br />

Arithmetic average of suitable projects<br />

(n = 1.003)<br />

ø Land cost share: 1.046 €/sqm<br />

Arithmetic average of suitable<br />

projects (n = 543)<br />

Source: EXPLOREAL/Stand: 18.08.2022<br />

Projects in marketing (Marketing Start 2021)<br />

WE<br />

WE/<br />

1.000<br />

EW*<br />

Bev´.<br />

Prog.<br />

2030**<br />

Projekte<br />

Projekte<br />

WE<br />

WE/<br />

1.000<br />

EW*<br />

Bev´.<br />

Prog.<br />

2030**<br />

Wien 256 13.281 2,29 103,7<br />

Wien 256 13.281 2,29 110,5<br />

Wien 1., Innere Stadt 4 29 1,8 94,4<br />

Wien 2., Leopoldstadt 7 1286 12,3 112,1<br />

Wien 3., Landstraße 12 1235 13,2 108,3<br />

Wien 4., Wieden 3 111 3,4 107,4<br />

Wien 5., Margareten 3 38 0,7 109,8<br />

Wien 6., Mariahilf 5 98 3,2 111,3<br />

Wien 7., Neubau 6 150 4,8 109<br />

Wien 8., Josefstadt 3 37 1,5 109,1<br />

Wien 9., Alsergrund 3 45 1,1 111,2<br />

Wien 10., Favoriten 24 1151 5,4 113,3<br />

Wien 11., Simmering 6 542 5,1 110,4<br />

Wien 12., Meidling 11 608 6,2 108,1<br />

Wien 13., Hietzing 9 354 6,6 99,3<br />

Wien 14., Penzing 17 766 8,2 107,4<br />

Wien 15., Rudolfsheim-<br />

Fünfhaus<br />

7 132 1,7 111,8<br />

Wien 16., Ottakring 10 287 2,8 110,3<br />

Wien 17., Hernals 10 191 3,4 108,3<br />

Wien 18., Währing 8 232 4,6 104,2<br />

Wien 19., Döbling 13 153 2,1 103,3<br />

Wien 20., Brigittenau 4 568 6,7 113,5<br />

Wien 21., Floridsdorf 22 840 4,7 114,3<br />

Wien 22., Donaustadt 54 3.792 18,6 117,2<br />

Wien 23., Liesing 15 636 5,5 108,5<br />

Fotos: pixLab, StudioVlayStreeruwitz, Squarebytes, Labvert, Dietrich Untertrifaller<br />

52 ImmoFokus


Completions &<br />

Pipeline<br />

Owned property Private financed rental Subsidized rental Other Other<br />

Top-3-Projects in Completion <strong>2023</strong> ff.<br />

KUKU<br />

Completion Q4 2024<br />

1230 Wien, Gastgebgasse Bauplatz 3<br />

Danube Flats<br />

Completion Q4 2024<br />

1020 Wien, Wagramer Straße 2<br />

The One<br />

Completion Q1 <strong>2023</strong><br />

1030 Wien, Modecenterstrasse 20<br />

Developer<br />

Heimbau, Gemeinnützige Bau-, Wohnungs- und<br />

Siedlungsgenossenschaft<br />

Gemeinnützige Siedlungs-Genossenschaft<br />

Altmannsdorf und Hetzendorf<br />

Apartments subsidized rent 98 bzw. 110<br />

Apartements for rent<br />

Superförderung<br />

99 bzw. 122<br />

Net rent €/sqm 5,63<br />

Developer<br />

S+B Gruppe - Soravia<br />

Apartments privately<br />

financed<br />

550<br />

Apartments subsidized rent 40<br />

Base Costs €/sqm 250<br />

Asking price €/sqm 10.959<br />

Selling pricepreis €/sqm 9.659<br />

Developer<br />

Wohnbauvereinigung für Privatangestellte<br />

Gemeinnützige GmbH.<br />

Gemeinnützige Bau-, Wohn- und<br />

Siedlungsgenossenschaft „Neues Leben“<br />

registrierte Genossenschaft mbH<br />

Apartments privately<br />

financed<br />

Apartements for rent<br />

freifinanziert<br />

224<br />

170<br />

Base Costs €/sqm 556<br />

Net rent €/sqm 11,64<br />

Asking price €/sqm 6.097<br />

<strong>MIPIM</strong> | <strong>2023</strong><br />

53


Investing in Austria<br />

LOWER AUSTRIA<br />

1–2 Romm apts: 35 %<br />

3 Romm apts: 36 %<br />

4+ Romm apts: 29 %<br />

Apartments: 80 %<br />

Terrace house/Duplex: 18 %<br />

Detached house: 2 %<br />

All residential units in EXPLOREAL (n = 21.009<br />

ø 21 Apartments / Project<br />

All apartments on offer (n = 14.696)<br />

With loggia: 19 %<br />

With balcony: 43 %<br />

With terrace: 50 %<br />

With garden: 37 %<br />

With open space: 97 %<br />

(loggia/balcony/terrace/garden)<br />

All apartments on offer (n = 14.961)<br />

ø 1,68 PKW-Stellplätze / Wohnung<br />

Arithmetic average of suitable projects<br />

(n = 1.013)<br />

Arithmetic average of suitable<br />

projects (n = 988)<br />

ø Land cost share: 474 €/sqm<br />

Arithmetic average of suitable<br />

projects (n = 233)<br />

ø 75,2 sqm Wohnnutzfläche<br />

Median of all residential units on<br />

offer (n = 14.958)<br />

ø 11,8 sqm Freiflächen<br />

(Loggia/Balkon/Terrasse)<br />

Median of all residential units<br />

on offer (n = 14.961)<br />

Source: EXPLOREAL/Stand: 18.08.2022<br />

Projects in marketing (Marketing Start August 2021)<br />

WE<br />

WE/<br />

1.000<br />

EW*<br />

Bev´.<br />

Prog.<br />

2030**<br />

Projekte<br />

Projekte<br />

WE<br />

WE/<br />

1.000<br />

EW*<br />

Bev´.<br />

Prog.<br />

2030**<br />

Niederösterreich 232 5.299 1,04 105<br />

Niederösterreich 232 5.299 1,04 105<br />

Amstetten 12 240 2,1 102,6<br />

Baden 24 469 3,2 107,7<br />

Bruck an der Leitha 13 358 3,4 110,6<br />

Gänserndorf 12 262 2,5 109,6<br />

Gmünd 96,1<br />

Hollabrunn 8 183 3,5 101,4<br />

Horn 4 34 1,1 100,4<br />

Korneuburg 12 369 4 109,9<br />

Krems an der Donau<br />

(Stadt)<br />

4 88 3,5 104,9<br />

Krems (Land) 7 125 2,2 102,7<br />

Lilienfeld 98,8<br />

Melk 14 211 2,7 101,3<br />

Mistelbach 11 118 1,6 103,7<br />

Mödling 16 401 3,4 108,5<br />

Neunkirchen 10 137 1,6 102,2<br />

Sankt Pölten (Land) 20 526 4 103,9<br />

Sankt Pölten (Stadt) 10 635 11,3 103,7<br />

Scheibbs 4 62 1,5 99,9<br />

Tulln 20 382 3,6 110,3<br />

Waidhofen an der Thaya 1 12 0,5 96,2<br />

Waidhofen an der Ybbs<br />

(Stadt)<br />

1 17 1,5 99,2<br />

Wiener Neustadt (Land) 14 246 3,1 103,7<br />

Wiener Neustadt (Stadt) 12 402 8,5 111,1<br />

Zwettl 3 22 0,5 95,6<br />

Fotos: Tobias Singer, ZOOM VP<br />

54 ImmoFokus


Completions &<br />

Pipeline<br />

Owned property Private financed rental Subsidized rental Other Other<br />

Top-3-Projects in Completion <strong>2023</strong> ff.<br />

St. Pölten XIX/1+2+3<br />

Completion März <strong>2023</strong><br />

3100 St. Pölten, Niederösterreichring 5<br />

Steingötterhof<br />

Completion Q3 2024<br />

3100 St. Pölten, Dr. Wilhelm-Steingötter-Str. 25<br />

Fliegergasse 15-35<br />

Completion Q1 2024<br />

2700 Wr. Neustadt, Fliegergasse 15-35<br />

Developer<br />

Gemeinnützige Bau-, Wohn- und<br />

Siedlungsgenossenschaft „Alpenland“<br />

Apartments privately<br />

financed<br />

Apartments subsidized 46<br />

Apartments subsidized rent 148<br />

Base Costs €/sqm 235<br />

68<br />

Developer<br />

6B47 Real Estate Investors<br />

Owner-occupied apartment 191<br />

Asking price €/sqm 3.948<br />

Base Costs €/sqm 346<br />

Selling price €/sqm 4.125<br />

Developer<br />

MITRAS Holding und ELK BAU<br />

Apartments privately<br />

financed<br />

126<br />

Asking price 3.707<br />

Net rent €/sqm 6,99<br />

Asking price €/sqm 3.614<br />

Selling price €/sqm 3.557<br />

<strong>MIPIM</strong> | <strong>2023</strong><br />

55


Investing in Austria<br />

BURGENLAND<br />

1–2 Romm apts: 43 %<br />

3 Romm apts: 30 %<br />

4+ Romm apts: 27 %<br />

All apartments on offer (n = 2.708)<br />

With loggia: 51 %<br />

With balcony: 35 %<br />

With terrace: 49 %<br />

With garden: 40 %<br />

With open space: 97 %<br />

(loggia/balcony/terrace/garden)<br />

All apartments on offer (n = 2.819)<br />

Apartments: 74 %<br />

Terrace house/Duplex: 24 %<br />

Detached house: 2 %<br />

All residential units in EXPLOREAL (n = 3.485)<br />

ø 13 Apartments / Project<br />

Arithmetic average of suitable<br />

projects (n = 278)<br />

ø 74,2 sqm Wohnnutzfläche<br />

Median of all residential units on<br />

offer (n = 2.819)<br />

ø 11,0 sqm Freiflächen<br />

(Loggia/Balkon/Terrasse)<br />

Median of all residential units<br />

on offer (n = 2.819)<br />

ø 1,73 PKW-Stellplätze / Wohnung<br />

Arithmetic average of suitable projects<br />

(n = 289)<br />

ø Land cost share: 431 €/sqm<br />

Arithmetic average of suitable<br />

projects (n = 56)<br />

Source: EXPLOREAL/Stand: 28.10.2022<br />

Projects in marketing (Marketing Start Oktober 2021)<br />

WE<br />

WE/<br />

1.000<br />

EW*<br />

Bev´.<br />

Prog.<br />

2030**<br />

Burgenland 103 904 1,01 103,7<br />

Eisenstadt (Stadt) 6 88 5,8 109.3<br />

Eisenstadt-Umgebung 12 161 3,6 108.0<br />

Güssing 12 68 2,6 98.7<br />

Jennersdorf 3 26 1,5 99.5<br />

Mattersburg 13 132 3,3 101.9<br />

Projekte<br />

Projekte<br />

WE<br />

WE/<br />

1.000<br />

EW*<br />

Bev´.<br />

Prog.<br />

2030**<br />

Burgenland 103 904 1,01 103,7<br />

Neusiedl am See 18 156 2,6 108.2<br />

Oberpullendorf 16 81 2,2 102.4<br />

Oberwart 23 192 3,5 99.8<br />

Rust (Stadt) 108.0<br />

Fotos: K3 Immobilien, Michael Pinzolits Fotografie, TheHeyon<br />

56 ImmoFokus


Completions &<br />

Pipeline<br />

Owned property Private financed rental Subsidized rental Other Other<br />

Top-3-Projects in Completion <strong>2023</strong> ff.<br />

Bischof Stefan Laszlo-Straße<br />

Completion Q3 2025<br />

7000 Eisenstadt, Bischof Stefan Laszlo-Straße<br />

Developer<br />

Neue Eisenstädter Gemeinnützige Bau-, Wohnund<br />

Siedlungsgesellschaft m.b.H.<br />

Dorfsiedlung Markt Allhau<br />

Completion Q2 2024<br />

7411 Markt Allhau, Hochstrasse 47<br />

Developer<br />

Plus-Immobilien GmbH<br />

Bahnhofsplatz 5<br />

Completion Q3 2024<br />

7000 Eisenstadt, Bahnhofsplatz 5<br />

Developer<br />

K3 Immobilienentwicklungs GmbH<br />

EISK3 Projektentwicklung GmbH<br />

Apartements for rent 69<br />

Net rent €/sqm 9,56<br />

Owner-occupied apartment 45<br />

Asking price €/sqm 4.192<br />

Apartments privately<br />

financed<br />

45<br />

Base Costs €/sqm 864<br />

Asking price €/sqm 4.413<br />

<strong>MIPIM</strong> | <strong>2023</strong><br />

57


Investing in Austria<br />

STYRIA<br />

1–2 romm apts: 45 %<br />

3 romm apts: 39 %<br />

4+ romm apts: 16 %<br />

All apartments on offer (n = 9.861)<br />

With loggia: 6 %<br />

With balcony: 58 %<br />

With terrace: 37 %<br />

With garden: 22 %<br />

With open space: 96 %<br />

(loggia/balcony/terrace/garden)<br />

All apartments on offer (n = 10.097)<br />

Apartments: 96 %<br />

Terrace house/Duplex: 3 %<br />

Detached house: 1 %<br />

All residential units in EXPLOREAL (n = 17.040)<br />

ø 26 Apartments / Project<br />

Arithmetic average of suitable<br />

projects (n = 649)<br />

ø 62 sqm Wohnnutzfläche<br />

Median of all residential units on<br />

offer (n = 10.091)<br />

ø 13,8 sqm Freiflächen<br />

(Loggia/Balkon/Terrasse)<br />

Median of all residential units<br />

on offer (n = 10.097)<br />

ø 1,37 PKW-Stellplätze / Wohnung<br />

Arithmetic average of suitable projects<br />

(n = 661)<br />

ø Land cost share: 641 €/sqm<br />

Arithmetic average of suitable<br />

projects (n = 285)<br />

Source: EXPLOREAL/Stand: 28.10.2022<br />

Projects in marketing (Marketing Start Oktober 2021)<br />

WE<br />

WE/<br />

1.000<br />

EW*<br />

Bev´.<br />

Prog.<br />

2030**<br />

Projekte<br />

Projekte<br />

WE<br />

WE/<br />

1.000<br />

EW*<br />

Bev´.<br />

Prog.<br />

2030**<br />

Steiermark 169 4.707 1,25 103,7<br />

Steiermark 169 4.707 1,25 103,7<br />

Bruck-Mürzzuschlag 13 227 2,3 95,2<br />

Deutschlandsberg 4 74 1,2 98,8<br />

Graz (Stadt) 62 2636 9 113<br />

Graz-Umgebung 30 712 4,4 106,2<br />

Hartberg-Fürstenfeld 8 103 1,1 98,4<br />

Leibnitz 11 313 3,6 101,6<br />

Leoben 7 98 1,7 94,5<br />

Liezen 6 76 1 95,8<br />

Murau 91,7<br />

Murtal 3 58 0,8 94,9<br />

Südoststeiermark 9 125 1,5 97,7<br />

Voitsberg 6 107 2,1 97,7<br />

Weiz 10 178 1,9 102,5<br />

Fotos: C & P Immobilien, Telegram 71, trivalue<br />

58 ImmoFokus


Completions &<br />

Pipeline<br />

Owned property Private financed rental Subsidized rental Other Other<br />

Top-3-Projects in Completion <strong>2023</strong> ff.<br />

Gate 17<br />

Smart Quadrat<br />

Jakomini Verde<br />

Completion November <strong>2023</strong><br />

8055 Graz, Triester Straße 432<br />

Developer<br />

C&P Bauträger GmbH<br />

Apartments subsidized 510<br />

Base Costs €/sqm 345<br />

Asking price €/sqm 3.872<br />

Selling price €/sqm 4.434<br />

Completion Q3 <strong>2023</strong><br />

8020 Graz, Waagner-Biro-Straße 126-134<br />

Developer<br />

Smart City Graz Wohnbau GmbH, TRIVALUE<br />

Manamagment GmbH<br />

Apartements for rent 291<br />

Owner-occupied apartment 69<br />

Base Costs €/sqm 838<br />

Asking price €/sqm 4.954<br />

Completion Q4 2024<br />

8010 Graz, Kasernstraße 24<br />

Developer<br />

Periscon GmbH, ARE Austrian Real Estate GmbH<br />

Apartments subsidized<br />

Bauherrenmodell<br />

570<br />

Base Costs €/sqm 321<br />

<strong>MIPIM</strong> | <strong>2023</strong><br />

59


Investing in Austria<br />

CARINTHIA<br />

1–2 Romm apts: 33 %<br />

3 Romm apts: 44 %<br />

4+ Romm apts: 23 %<br />

All apartments on offer (n = 1.606)<br />

With loggia: 10 %<br />

With balcony: 41 %<br />

With terrace: 53 %<br />

With garden: 33 %<br />

With open space: 96 %<br />

(loggia/balcony/terrace/garden)<br />

All apartments on offer (n = 1.729)<br />

Apartments: 93 %<br />

Terrace house/Duplex: 5 %<br />

Detached house: 2 %<br />

All residential units in EXPLOREAL (n = 7.858)<br />

Vergleich Ferienwohnungen (n = 131)<br />

ø 21 Apartments / Project<br />

Arithmetic average of suitable<br />

projects (n = 218)<br />

ø 76,4 sqm Wohnnutzfläche<br />

Median of all residential units on<br />

offer (n = 1.724)<br />

ø 19,3 sqm Freiflächen<br />

(Loggia/Balkon/Terrasse)<br />

Median of all residential units<br />

on offer (n = 1729)<br />

ø 1,76 PKW-Stellplätze / Wohnung<br />

Arithmetic average of suitable projects<br />

(n = 226)<br />

ø Land cost share: 548 €/sqm<br />

Arithmetic average of suitable<br />

projects (n = 62)<br />

Source: EXPLOREAL/Stand: 30.05.2022<br />

Projects in marketing (Marketing Start Mai 2021)<br />

WE<br />

WE/<br />

1.000<br />

EW*<br />

Bev´.<br />

Prog.<br />

2030**<br />

Projekte<br />

Projekte<br />

WE<br />

WE/<br />

1.000<br />

EW*<br />

Bev´.<br />

Prog.<br />

2030**<br />

Känten 91 1.765 1,04 105<br />

Känten 91 1.765 1,04 105<br />

Feldkirchen 3 18 0,6 99<br />

Hermagor 1 92,5<br />

Klagenfurt Land 18 248 4,1 100,4<br />

Klagenfurt (Stadt) 18 827 8,1 107,6<br />

Sankt Veit an der Glan 7 66 1,2 94,4<br />

Spittal an der Drau 14 162 2,1 94,3<br />

Villach Land 6 51 0,8 98,8<br />

Villach (Stadt) 15 320 5 104,1<br />

Völkermarkt 6 42 1 97,2<br />

Wolfsberg 3 31 0,6 94,4<br />

Fotos: Kollitsch Gruppe GS Visuals<br />

60 ImmoFokus


Completions &<br />

Pipeline<br />

Owned property Private financed rental Subsidized rental Other Other<br />

Top-3-Projects in Completion <strong>2023</strong> ff.<br />

Das Maxpalais<br />

Completion Februar 2024<br />

9020 Klagenfurt, Friedensgasse 20-24<br />

Developer<br />

Antares Bauträger und Beteiligungs GmbH<br />

GM Generationenpark GmbH<br />

Adris Immobilien<br />

Matrix Immobilien und Bauträger GmbH<br />

Owner-occupied apartment 105<br />

Asking price 8.211<br />

Verkauspreis 5.214<br />

Base Costs €/sqm 392<br />

Net rent 15,64<br />

Origen - Wohnen im<br />

Welzenegg<br />

Completion März <strong>2023</strong><br />

9020 Klagenfurt, Schachterlweg<br />

Developer<br />

Innovation Wohnen Nageler GmbH<br />

Apartements for rent 112<br />

Base Costs €/sqm 236<br />

Net rent €/sqm 9,46<br />

Unsereins 1<br />

Completion Q4 2024<br />

9020 Klagenfurt, Feschnigstrasse 151-181<br />

Developer<br />

KEF Bauträger<br />

Owner-occupied apartment 99<br />

Asking price €/sqm 4.640<br />

<strong>MIPIM</strong> | <strong>2023</strong><br />

61


Investing in Austria<br />

UPPER AUSTRIA<br />

1–2 Romm apts: 36 %<br />

3 Romm apts: 43 %<br />

4+ Romm apts: 21 %<br />

All apartments on offer (n = 3.913)<br />

With loggia: 48 %<br />

With balcony: 43 %<br />

With terrace: 31 %<br />

With garden: 25 %<br />

With open space: 98 %<br />

(loggia/balcony/terrace/garden)<br />

All apartments on offer (n = 3.383)<br />

Apartments: 94 %<br />

Terrace house/Duplex: 5 %<br />

Detached house: 1 %<br />

All residential units in EXPLOREAL (n = 30.449)<br />

ø 23 Apartments / Project<br />

Arithmetic average of suitable<br />

projects (n = 1.170)<br />

ø 75 sqm Wohnnutzfläche<br />

Median of all residential units on<br />

offer (n = 3.781)<br />

ø 8 sqm Freiflächen<br />

(Loggia/Balkon/Terrasse)<br />

Median of all residential units<br />

on offer (n = 3.383)<br />

ø 1,71 PKW-Stellplätze / Wohnung<br />

Arithmetic average of suitable projects<br />

(n = 1.054)<br />

ø Land cost share: 495 €/sqm<br />

Arithmetic average of suitable<br />

projects (n = 240)<br />

Source: EXPLOREAL/Stand: 18.01.2022<br />

Completions 2020-2022 (Erster österreichischer Neubaubericht 2022)<br />

WE<br />

WE/<br />

1.000<br />

EW*<br />

Bev´.<br />

Prog.<br />

2030**<br />

Projekte<br />

Projekte<br />

WE<br />

WE/<br />

1.000<br />

EW*<br />

Bev´.<br />

Prog.<br />

2030**<br />

Oberösterreich 701 15.280 3,38 104<br />

Oberösterreich 701 15.280 3,38 104<br />

Braunau am Inn 61 1.043 3,27 104,7<br />

Eferding 11 151 1,51 102,8<br />

Freistadt 20 309 1,54 101,3<br />

Gmunden 57 1.273 4,15 101,8<br />

Grieskirchen 33 539 2,75 102,4<br />

Kirchdorf an der Krems 15 328 1,91 99,8<br />

Linz (Stadt) 93 3.355 5,41 109,4<br />

Linz-Land 90 1.981 4,33 108,2<br />

Perg 29 531 2,55 103,6<br />

Ried im Innkreis 26 471 2,53 100,2<br />

Rohrbach 12 178 1,05 98,4<br />

Schärding 16 272 1,58 101,2<br />

Steyr (Stadt) 11 252 2,21 101,2<br />

Steyr-Land 35 584 3,19 100,3<br />

Urfahr-Umgebung 41 644 2,49 103,8<br />

Vöcklabruck 78 1.515 3,65 103,2<br />

Wels (Stadt) 26 844 4,47 107<br />

Wels-Land 47 1.010 4,51 104,3<br />

Fotos: EbsterLiving, WIMBERGER<br />

62 ImmoFokus


Completions &<br />

Pipeline<br />

Owned property Private financed rental Subsidized rental Other Other<br />

Top-3-Projects in Completion <strong>2023</strong> ff.<br />

Wohnen im Stadtzentrum<br />

Completion Juli 2024<br />

4840 Linz, Vöcklabruck<br />

Developer<br />

„Gemeinnützige Siedlungsgesellschaft für den<br />

Bezirk Vöcklabruck<br />

Apartments subsidized rent 82<br />

Gartenstrasse<br />

Completion Q2 <strong>2023</strong><br />

4810 Ried im Innkreis, Gartenstrasse 36-38<br />

Developer<br />

Ebster Living Bauträger<br />

Gorilla Immobilien<br />

Apartements for rent 73<br />

Veichter/Hagenberg<br />

Completion <strong>2023</strong><br />

4020 Hagenberg im Mühlkreis,<br />

Schmidbauernweg<br />

Developer<br />

Wimberger Immobilien<br />

Owner-occupied apartment 25<br />

<strong>MIPIM</strong> | <strong>2023</strong><br />

63


Investing in Austria<br />

SALZBURG<br />

1–2 Romm apts: 40 %<br />

3 Romm apts: 34 %<br />

4+ Romm apts: 26 %<br />

All apartments on offer (n = 532)<br />

With loggia: 19 %<br />

With balcony: 47 %<br />

With terrace: 46 %<br />

With garden: 20 %<br />

With open space: 98 %<br />

(loggia/balcony/terrace/garden)<br />

All apartments on offer (n = 482)<br />

Apartments: 98 %<br />

Terrace house/Duplex: 2 %<br />

Detached house: 0 %<br />

All residential units in EXPLOREAL (n = 9.235)<br />

ø 21 Apartments / Project<br />

Arithmetic average of suitable<br />

projects (n = 475)<br />

ø 70,6 sqm Wohnnutzfläche<br />

Median of all residential units on<br />

offer (n = 532)<br />

ø 13,4 sqm Freiflächen<br />

(Loggia/Balkon/Terrasse)<br />

Median of all residential units<br />

on offer (n = 482)<br />

ø 1,77 PKW-Stellplätze / Wohnung<br />

Arithmetic average of suitable projects<br />

(n = 435)<br />

ø Land cost share: 989 €/sqm<br />

Arithmetic average of suitable<br />

projects (n = 114)<br />

Source: EXPLOREAL/Stand: 10.05.2022<br />

Completions 2020-2022 (Erster österreichischer Neubaubericht 2022)<br />

WE<br />

WE/<br />

1.000<br />

EW*<br />

Bev´.<br />

Prog.<br />

2030**<br />

Salzburg 271 4.912 2,91 104,0<br />

Hallein 24 440 2,41 107,1<br />

Salzburg (Stadt) 57 1.290 2,77 103,2<br />

Salzburg-Umgebung 87 1.437 3,10 106,8<br />

Projekte<br />

Projekte<br />

WE<br />

WE/<br />

1.000<br />

EW*<br />

Bev´.<br />

Prog.<br />

2030**<br />

Salzburg 271 4.912 2,91 104,0<br />

Sankt Johann im Pongau 44 836 3,42 102,2<br />

Tamsweg 7 91 1,50 94,8<br />

Zell am See 52 818 3,10 102,0<br />

Fotos: SIGES Salzburger Immobilien GesmbH, Myslik<br />

64 ImmoFokus


Completions &<br />

Pipeline<br />

Owned property Private financed rental Subsidized rental Other Other<br />

Top-3-Projects in Completion <strong>2023</strong> ff.<br />

Paracelsus Garten<br />

Wohnpark Thalgau<br />

Duett Moarhaus<br />

Completion Juni <strong>2023</strong><br />

5500 Bischofshofen, Josef-Leitgeb-Strasse<br />

Developer<br />

Hans Myslik Betriebs GmbH<br />

Gemeinnützige Wohn- und<br />

Siedlungsgenossenschaft „Salzburg“<br />

Apartments subsidized rent 14<br />

Apartments privately<br />

financed<br />

44<br />

Base Costs €/sqm 632<br />

Asking price €/sqm 7.578<br />

Selling price €/sqm 7.474<br />

Completion Q2 2024<br />

5304 Thalgau am Fuschlsee<br />

Developer<br />

SIGES Salzburger Immobilien GesmbH<br />

Apartements for rent 10<br />

Apartments privately<br />

financed<br />

70<br />

Base Costs €/sqm 614<br />

Asking price €/sqm 5.682<br />

Selling price €/sqm 5.379<br />

Completion Q3 2024<br />

5111 Bürmoos, Moarhaugasse<br />

Developer<br />

gswb - Gemeinnützige Salzburger<br />

Wohnbaugesellschaft mbH<br />

Owner-occupied apartment 41<br />

Base Costs €/sqm 245<br />

Asking price €/sqm 5.297<br />

Selling price €/sqm 4.973<br />

<strong>MIPIM</strong> | <strong>2023</strong><br />

65


Investing in Austria<br />

TYROL<br />

1–2 Romm apts: 35 %<br />

3 Romm apts: 43 %<br />

4+ Romm apts: 22 %<br />

All apartments on offer (n = 1.193)<br />

With loggia: 6 %<br />

With balcony: 45 %<br />

With terrace: 46 %<br />

With garden: 22 %<br />

With open space: 94 %<br />

(loggia/balcony/terrace/garden)<br />

All apartments on offer (n = 1.239)<br />

Apartments: 97 %<br />

Terrace house/Duplex: 2 %<br />

Detached house: 1 %<br />

All residential units in EXPLOREAL (n = 12.465)<br />

Vergleich Ferienwohnungen (n = 185)<br />

ø 21 Apartments / Project<br />

Arithmetic average of suitable<br />

projects (n = 600)<br />

ø 75 sqm Wohnnutzfläche<br />

Median of all residential units on<br />

offer (n = 1.240)<br />

ø 13,3 sqm Freiflächen<br />

(Loggia/Balkon/Terrasse)<br />

Median of all residential units<br />

on offer (n = 1.239)<br />

ø 1,67 PKW-Stellplätze / Wohnung<br />

Arithmetic average of suitable projects<br />

(n = 563)<br />

ø Land cost share: 943 €/sqm<br />

Arithmetic average of suitable<br />

projects (n = 95)<br />

Source: EXPLOREAL/Stand: 17.09.2021<br />

Completions 2020-2022 (Erster österreichischer Neubaubericht 2022)<br />

WE<br />

WE/<br />

1.000<br />

EW*<br />

Bev´.<br />

Prog.<br />

2030**<br />

Tirol 424 7828 3,41 106,5<br />

Imst 38 506 2,77 103,7<br />

Innsbruck-Land 103 1.872 3,43 108,1<br />

Innsbruck-Sadt 52 1.418 3,6 113,3<br />

Kitzbühel 38 484 2,49 101,1<br />

Kufstein 63 1383 4,15 109,1<br />

Projekte<br />

Projekte<br />

WE<br />

WE/<br />

1.000<br />

EW*<br />

Bev´.<br />

Prog.<br />

2030**<br />

Tirol 424 7828 3,41 106,5<br />

Landeck 27 492 3,69 100,4<br />

Lienz 22 317 2,17 96,3<br />

Reutte 16 315 3,17 101,5<br />

Schwaz 65 1.041 4,1 105,8<br />

Fotos: Pendlarchitects, beaufort Architekten ZT,<br />

66 ImmoFokus


Completions &<br />

Pipeline<br />

Owned property Private financed rental Subsidized rental Other Other<br />

Top-3-Projects in Completion <strong>2023</strong> ff.<br />

Bichlinger Strasse 89<br />

Innsbruck Pradler Saggen<br />

T 459 Integrationshaus<br />

Completion März 2024<br />

6363 Westendorf, Bichlinger Strasse 89<br />

Developer<br />

Neue Heimat Tirol - Gemeinnützige<br />

WohnungsGmbH<br />

Owner-occupied apartment 33<br />

Apartments subsidized rent 17<br />

Base Costs €/sqm 419<br />

Net rent €/sqm 6,81<br />

Asking price €/sqm 4.262<br />

Completion Q1 2024<br />

6063 Rum, Steinbockallee<br />

Developer<br />

Neue Heimat Tirol - Gemeinnützige<br />

WohnungsGmbH<br />

Apartements for rent 151<br />

Completion Q3 <strong>2023</strong><br />

6020 Innsbruck, Gumppstrasse 71<br />

Developer<br />

Aplenländische Gemeinnützige WohnbauGmbH<br />

Apartments subsidized rent 73<br />

<strong>MIPIM</strong> | <strong>2023</strong><br />

67


Investing in Austria<br />

VORARLBERG<br />

Completions 2020-2022 (Erster österreichischer Neubaubericht 2022)<br />

WE<br />

WE/<br />

1.000<br />

EW*<br />

Bev´.<br />

Prog.<br />

2030**<br />

Vorarlberg 281 4868 4,04 106,1<br />

Bludenz 28 415 2,15 101,2<br />

Bregenz 80 1.374 3,38 106,4<br />

Projekte<br />

Projekte<br />

WE<br />

WE/<br />

1.000<br />

EW*<br />

Bev´.<br />

Prog.<br />

2030**<br />

Vorarlberg 281 4868 4,04 106,1<br />

Dornbirn 64 1.295 4,77 109,2<br />

Feldkirch 109 1784 5,45 105,9<br />

Fotos: Haberl Baugesellschaft, Wohnbauselbsthilfe Vorarlberger gem. reg. Gen.m.b.H., Rhomberg<br />

68 ImmoFokus


Completions &<br />

Pipeline<br />

Owned property Private financed rental Subsidized rental Other Other<br />

Top-3-Projects in Completion <strong>2023</strong> ff.<br />

Drei Häuser in Vorach<br />

Completion September <strong>2023</strong><br />

6890 Lustenau, Vorachstrasse 62+62a-b<br />

Developer<br />

Wohnbauselbsthilfe Vorarlberger gemeinnützige<br />

Gen.m.b.H.<br />

Bludenz Quartier Brunnenbach<br />

Completion Q4 2022<br />

6700 Bludenz, Wichnerstrasse<br />

Developer<br />

Haberl Baugesellschaft<br />

Wohnen an der Furt<br />

Completion Q2 2025<br />

6850 Dornbirn, Rohrbach<br />

Developer<br />

Rhombergbau Bau GmbH<br />

Owner-occupied apartment<br />

gefördert<br />

55<br />

Owner-occupied apartment<br />

frefinanziert<br />

42<br />

Apartments privately<br />

financed<br />

42<br />

Asking price €/sqm 5.359<br />

Selling price €/sqm 4.808<br />

Base Costs €/sqm 1.452<br />

Asking price €/sqm 6.289<br />

Base Costs €/sqm 1.777<br />

Asking price €/sqm 7.305<br />

<strong>MIPIM</strong> | <strong>2023</strong><br />

69


Investing in Austria<br />

ImmoFokus asks …<br />

... … and real estate experts answered. The real estate market is in upheaval. Rising interest rates, high<br />

construction costs and almost exploding energy costs, accompanied by tighter lending policies, have the real<br />

estate industry firmly in their grip. But what do the real estate professionals think? We asked the local experts.<br />

Questions:<br />

1<br />

How optimistic or pessimistic are you going into the new year?<br />

Which asset class will be the favorite for investors in <strong>2023</strong>?<br />

2<br />

What do you see as the<br />

biggest challenges this year?<br />

3<br />

Rising interest rates and construction<br />

costs and almost exploding energy<br />

costs, accompanied by tighter lending<br />

regulations – the real estate market party<br />

is over for the time being. How would<br />

the parameters have to change to get<br />

the party going again?<br />

4<br />

What three issues will have the most significant impact<br />

on the real estate industry in <strong>2023</strong>?<br />

5<br />

What are the plans and goals for your company in <strong>2023</strong>?<br />

70 ImmoFokus


1<br />

At present we are optimistic about the new year in all situations and market<br />

phases. Even if the outlook is perhaps somewhat gloomier as a result of<br />

macroeconomic developments, pessimism would be exaggerated and also<br />

inhibiting. Regarding asset classes, logistics real estate, among others, was<br />

again very much in demand last year. We expect this trend to continue.<br />

But also the asset class “residential” is a classic investor favorite due to the<br />

stability of the Austrian market and the segment. The main reason for the<br />

partially collapsed transaction density in the large-volume area was the<br />

fact that the price expectations between buyers and sellers (still) differ<br />

significantly in some cases. Some consolidation is expected here in <strong>2023</strong>.<br />

2<br />

Helmut Beer,<br />

TPA<br />

From a consultant’s perspective, we are currently experiencing a certain<br />

tension between financing costs on the one hand and expected sales<br />

returns on the other. These diverging expectations will probably continue<br />

to be a significant challenge. On the seller side, expiring financing could<br />

be a task to be solved. Also, capacity limitations and cost increases -<br />

e.g., in material (supply chains), personnel or energy costs - will play a<br />

decisive role. Last but not least, other forms of investment have become<br />

more attractive in the meantime, which will also have interesting effects.<br />

3<br />

A party is actually only ever over when all the guests have left.<br />

However, this does not seem to be the case in the real estate<br />

market at the moment, so we assume that the party on the<br />

real estate market is not over but that it will perhaps continue<br />

somewhat subdued at the moment. As far as the parameters<br />

are concerned, I think it will be the interplay of all the factors<br />

that will settle down in the short to medium term.<br />

4<br />

In view of the current situation, it is<br />

often apparent that above all<br />

- ESG criteria and environmental aspects,<br />

- efficiency (e.g., energy) and<br />

- interest rate development<br />

will play a decisive role.<br />

5<br />

As in previous years, in <strong>2023</strong> we will continue to<br />

provide all of our clients with the best possible<br />

personal support on all issues relating to taxes and<br />

financing in the real estate sector, from transaction to<br />

ongoing support. We also will continue reporting on<br />

all news and changes with our tax services (newsletters,<br />

webcasts, etc.). Finally, we will increasingly advise<br />

clients in the context of the digital transformation and<br />

all activities related to ESG. There will be an enormous<br />

demand for this service in the coming periods and<br />

clients are already increasingly asking for it.<br />

Within the TPA Group, we will continue to pursue<br />

the goal of consistently implementing ESG and EU<br />

taxonomy topics within the company and offer our<br />

employees secure, varied and promising job prospects.<br />

<strong>MIPIM</strong> | <strong>2023</strong><br />

71


Investing in Austria<br />

1<br />

<strong>2023</strong> will definitely be a challenging year for the real estate industry; personally, I am<br />

optimistic! Interest rate developments and inflationary events have put the brakes<br />

on market activity - and further interest rate steps are expected. Adjustments to this<br />

situation will still take some time and therefore the question of favorite asset classes<br />

cannot be answered with any certainty at the moment.<br />

Astrid Grantner-Fuchs,<br />

EHL Immobilien Bewertung<br />

4<br />

2<br />

The changed interest rate environment<br />

with all the associated developments<br />

is undoubtedly the key challenge - in<br />

addition to real estate investments, other<br />

investments have also become more<br />

attractive again, and the capital market is<br />

reorienting itself accordingly.<br />

Rising interest rates, the development of inflation<br />

with increasing prices in all possible areas of life<br />

and a continuing tense geopolitical situation will<br />

continue to occupy us and harbor imponderables<br />

and uncertainty - and this affects those actively<br />

involved in the industry as well as the consumers<br />

or final users.<br />

3<br />

A mindset that is forward-oriented and<br />

less nostalgic about the past - hoping that<br />

“things will go back to the way they were” is<br />

definitely too simplistic.<br />

5<br />

As the Austrian market leader in real<br />

estate valuation, we want to continue to<br />

be a reliable partner for our customers,<br />

especially in such challenging times.<br />

We will maintain our solid growth<br />

course of the past years and see<br />

ongoing training and qualification of<br />

our team as an essential requirement.<br />

In addition, our proximity to the<br />

market helps us even more now to<br />

provide well-founded valuations.<br />

72 ImmoFokus


1<br />

According to some predictions, <strong>2023</strong> is going to be a challenging year. Even without gazing into the magic<br />

crystal ball, I think we can all agree that the current circumstances will continue to affect all our (working)<br />

lives. Nevertheless, I am optimistic about the year <strong>2023</strong> - on the one hand, because we are well positioned as<br />

BUWOG, and on the other hand, because the year offers us the opportunity to scrutinize and, if necessary,<br />

optimize processes and strategies. We will also use the time to bring some projects in our development<br />

pipeline to construction readiness so that we can continue building directly as soon as the situation has<br />

somewhat eased.<br />

Although investors are currently somewhat more reluctant to buy residential real estate, I am confident that<br />

this situation will soon change again, partly due to a forthcoming easing of financing conditions - residential<br />

real estate therefore continues to be a good and secure form of investment in my view.<br />

Andreas Holler,<br />

Buwog Group<br />

2<br />

One factor of uncertainty that will accompany<br />

us in <strong>2023</strong> is the question of how the<br />

market will develop in terms of recovery.<br />

The current situation is that institutional<br />

investors have become temporarily more<br />

cautious. At the same time, owner-occupiers<br />

with the necessary financial resources continue<br />

to show a high level of interest in new<br />

apartments. The current strictly regulated<br />

financing conditions and the smoldering<br />

interest rate uncertainty are causing the<br />

financing process to drag on - but more light<br />

should be shed on this soon and more accessible<br />

lending to get the market moving again.<br />

3<br />

I see a lot of potential to revive the current somewhat tense market<br />

situation - as developers, however, we will soon reach our limits, even<br />

if we can achieve cost optimization in new construction; for example,<br />

through modular construction, the use of resource-saving materials, and<br />

a focus on digitization throughout the value chain and in the interests<br />

of our customers. However, Housing <strong>2023</strong> is likely to be much more of<br />

a challenge for policymakers. In my opinion, they could intervene at<br />

the right moment to promote the development of new housing and at<br />

the same time contribute to easing the price situation. This includes<br />

accelerating the issuing of permits and the completion of classification<br />

procedures but also funding programs for decarbonization and<br />

climate protection measures. Sustainability has become a key issue in<br />

residential construction, and it must be ensured that new, sustainable<br />

housing is affordable for most of the society in the future.<br />

4<br />

In a nutshell: sustainability, digitization, and in connection with this: cost optimization.<br />

5<br />

We want to continue our growth course of recent years. To achieve this, we are relying on new ways of thinking and finding solutions and are<br />

using the time to think outside the box. Although BUWOG is broadly and securely positioned as a full-service provider in Austria, we intend<br />

to respond to the changing market conditions and adjust our business model in order to expand our competitive advantages further. We will<br />

address the issue of sustainability in the portfolio with a renovation offensive: thermal renovations and the conversion to modern heating<br />

systems in several hundred apartments are planned here. In addition, despite the current circumstances, we are pleased to be able to bring<br />

more than 650 new apartments onto the market this year, thus ensuring a quality offering for apartment seekers in Vienna. Although there<br />

will be no new construction starting in <strong>2023</strong>, we will not be sitting still: Our goal is therefore to do everything necessary to be able to resume<br />

our development activities as quickly as possible seamlessly. Here we can access an extensive portfolio of properties that we can continue<br />

planning and bring into development by then. Overall, BUWOG will push the further general development of the organization - we want to<br />

become more digital and efficient and thus create an improved customer experience and increase the satisfaction of our employees even more.<br />

<strong>MIPIM</strong> | <strong>2023</strong><br />

73


Investing in Austria<br />

1<br />

We are a thoroughly optimistic company - crises create new challenges, which bring new<br />

ideas, new approaches, and new solutions. Vienna had an increase in the population of over<br />

50,000 people last year, and due to high construction costs and subsidized housing rates,<br />

much less is being built than is necessary. For investors, therefore, the residential asset class<br />

is still very interesting - especially if the challenges of home offices were taken into account<br />

when planning the apartments<br />

2<br />

Innovation, creativity and of course, ESG - implementing<br />

routines to translate our data into numbers is our focus. Of<br />

course, this is only alongside our desire to develop the best<br />

buildings for specific properties.<br />

4<br />

Wolfdieter Jarisch,<br />

S+B Gruppe<br />

Even more so than in recent years: Quality,<br />

exclusivity, innovation, environmental protection.<br />

3<br />

We leave the partying to others; we see opportunities in challenging<br />

times to develop new concepts and realize new innovative ideas.<br />

We celebrate first and foremost with our employees to thank them<br />

for their immeasurable commitment - this is an essential part of<br />

our corporate philosophy, which is also why many of them have<br />

been working for us for over 16 years on average.<br />

5<br />

To bind our employees further and even closer together into<br />

an S+B family because together we are (almost) unbeatable!<br />

And, of course, the topic of children’s rights - now legally<br />

required by ESG - will demand a lot from us.<br />

74 ImmoFokus


Bringen Sie Work und Life<br />

nachhaltig in Balance.<br />

• gute Erreichbarkeit<br />

• flexible Bürogrößen<br />

• optimale Infrastruktur inkl. Gastro<br />

• multifunktionale Gemeinschaftsflächen<br />

• E-Ladestationen<br />

• Green Lease<br />

• begrünte Terrassen-Landschaft<br />

myhive-offices.com<br />

myhive am Wienerberg | myhive Ungargasse | Eine Marke der IMMOFINANZ<br />

<strong>MIPIM</strong> | <strong>2023</strong><br />

75


Investing in Austria<br />

1<br />

I am both optimistic and pessimistic.<br />

Pessimistic because I believe that the interest rate rally is not yet over and that<br />

interest rates will continue to rise. Inflation will be with us for longer than most<br />

think, and energy costs in particular will remain at a high level after a brief period<br />

of relief. At the same time, I am also optimistic because I believe that many who<br />

bought their properties with borrowed capital will run into budgetary difficulties.<br />

This creates opportunities for our involvement in the market and good purchases.<br />

However, these purchases require the right timing, and you also need the necessary<br />

equity. We have that, and that’s why I’m optimistic that we’ll be able to find and take<br />

advantage of good opportunities next year, especially in the second half of the year.<br />

3<br />

Daniel Jelitzka,<br />

JP Immobilien<br />

2<br />

We will continue to implement the ESG and make sure that all existing and new<br />

projects comply with ESG requirements and EU taxonomy in order to make our<br />

contribution to the necessary environmental goals.<br />

We are operating in a challenging capital market, which means the value of capital is<br />

high. Therefore, one must have the necessary capital need when opportunities arise.<br />

4<br />

Those would be interest rates, then<br />

inflation and energy prices, and finally<br />

the available liquidity of buyers. 5<br />

The party won’t be back anytime soon. But<br />

the market will become more dynamic if<br />

some parameters develop positively. For<br />

this to happen, the Euribor should settle at<br />

a tolerable level, let’s say at 200 basis points.<br />

Inflation would have to fall to the EU target<br />

of 250 basis points, and energy costs should<br />

not be higher than twice the pre-crisis level.<br />

Then there will be a positive mood on the<br />

market again, and that is ultimately a very<br />

important parameter for good economic<br />

development.<br />

We will continue to follow our path consistently.<br />

That means reacting flexibly to the market and<br />

ensuring that we have enough equity “in our petty<br />

cash” to take advantage of opportunities that come<br />

our way at the right time.<br />

76 ImmoFokus


1<br />

The first half of the year will undoubtedly be characterized by a wait-and-see attitude. The<br />

big question is whether the markets can adjust to the multiple crises, which I assume they<br />

will. We are already hearing cautiously positive signals from Germany. It cannot be ruled<br />

out that the situation will improve considerably as early as the second quarter. I think <strong>2023</strong><br />

will be the year of opportunities across all asset classes. The downward trend at Zoom, the<br />

video conferencing provider, suggests that office real estate might positively surprise us.<br />

2<br />

A significant issue will be rapidly rising rents due to inflation,<br />

both residential and commercial, as well as rising operating<br />

costs. Priority goals must therefore be to curb inflation and<br />

stabilize energy prices. The dependence on Russian gas in<br />

Austria and Germany must be reduced rapidly. However,<br />

the challenges posed by the incipient retirement wave of<br />

the baby boomer generation must also not be overlooked.<br />

4<br />

1. the interest rate level<br />

2. requirements for private loans<br />

3<br />

Developments pertaining to interest<br />

rate levels and inflation need to become<br />

reasonably predictable again. The<br />

opinions of experts, some of which diverge<br />

considerably, point to uncertainty that<br />

is making investors cautious. Ultimately,<br />

however, investment pressure remains<br />

high and real estate is still a safe investment,<br />

this will not change. There may be a slight<br />

consolidation in the coming months, but<br />

I do not expect a collapse. We don’t have<br />

a real estate crisis but multiple external<br />

crises that have shaken the overall<br />

structure<br />

3. inflation and construction costs<br />

5<br />

Mark Krenn,<br />

Cerha Hempel<br />

True to our guiding principle, ‘Quality matters!’ we want to continue on our<br />

growth path with the highest quality standards and customer satisfaction.<br />

This year, we are also devoting more attention to sustainability in all<br />

areas. We are also continuously evaluating and implementing legal tech<br />

tools to increase our efficiency in providing legal advice.<br />

<strong>MIPIM</strong> | <strong>2023</strong><br />

77


Investing in Austria<br />

1<br />

The year <strong>2023</strong> will certainly be a very exciting year for the investment market due to<br />

the many challenges. Nevertheless, we are optimistic about the year, as challenging<br />

times always offer opportunities that need to be identified and exploited. With regard<br />

to the question of the most popular asset class in <strong>2023</strong>, it is still too early to venture a<br />

forecast here. At the moment, many investors are focusing on asset classes that have<br />

fundamentally strong demand from occupiers, such as residential, logistics and prime<br />

offices.<br />

2<br />

3<br />

Markus Mendel,<br />

EHL Investment Consulting<br />

The end of the ECB’s zero interest rate policy, which<br />

was initiated in the middle of last year due to the sharp<br />

rise in inflation, and the gradual interest rate increases<br />

that have continued to this day are certainly the biggest<br />

challenges that will demand quite a bit from market<br />

participants. In addition, high construction costs, supply<br />

bottlenecks, high energy prices and a very cautious<br />

financing environment on the part of banks continue to<br />

exacerbate the situation.<br />

One thing is clear in any case, simply turning back the wheel is not possible!<br />

It is necessary to find new ways to cope with the current situation and still be<br />

successful on the market. This will certainly pose a great challenge to one or<br />

the other market participant, but those who are financially sound and use the<br />

available potential will be able to dive through the existing trough. When there<br />

is clarity again regarding the interest rate situation on the capital markets, the<br />

currently prevailing restraint of investors will ease, and the market will settle at<br />

a new level.<br />

4<br />

The further development of the interest rate<br />

landscape, all topics around ESG and EU taxonomy<br />

as well as the general inflation, especially in the area<br />

of energy and construction costs are the topics that<br />

have a huge impact on the real estate industry and<br />

will have a positive or negative effect on market<br />

events depending on the development.<br />

5<br />

In such a volatile market phase, it is important to be very close to what is<br />

happening in the market, to identify potential opportunities at an early<br />

stage and to manage risks. It is our goal to continue to expand EHL’s market<br />

leadership in <strong>2023</strong> and to initiate the best possible transactions for our clients.<br />

With our long-standing team of dedicated and well-connected investment<br />

experts, we will certainly succeed in doing so. Therefore, we have already<br />

started the new year with full commitment and a good pinch of optimism.<br />

78 ImmoFokus


1<br />

We have all become more cautious about forecasts due to the events of the last<br />

few years. But we are optimistic - partly because 2022 was a very successful<br />

year for us. After all, we showed an 18% increase in sales. This assures us that<br />

there is an increasing need for current and valid data, especially in volatile<br />

times. In <strong>2023</strong>, we will therefore continue to invest in the area that ensures<br />

transparency and stability in the market: real estate data.<br />

2<br />

Our data shows: in 2022, the number of registered properties decreased by about 11%.<br />

Of course, if fewer are being bought or sold, property prices may fall as well in some<br />

places. However, this is not yet reflected in the transaction data currently available.<br />

How the development will continue depends on several economic (energy), political<br />

and ecological factors. I think that this year, in addition to general market factors, we<br />

will also have to deal with new regulations within the industry, such as the proposed<br />

change in who covers the broker costs in a property transaction (das Bestellerprinzip).<br />

Roland Schmid,<br />

IMMOunited<br />

3<br />

I wouldn’t say the party is over,<br />

but a wait-and-see attitude and<br />

uncertainty are already apparent.<br />

This is why it is so essential that<br />

relevant market information<br />

continues to be available. Because<br />

only then can well-founded<br />

business decisions be made. This<br />

in turn creates security - even in<br />

challenging times. If the economic<br />

situation also stabilizes to some<br />

extent again, nothing will stand in<br />

the way of a pleasant and secure<br />

mood, despite possible changes in<br />

the general conditions.<br />

4<br />

I think that long-term developments<br />

in particular, such as technological<br />

progress, social trends and climate<br />

change will have a strong impact on<br />

the market. These are definitely not<br />

new topics, but they are precisely<br />

those that bring with them the<br />

greatest potential for change.<br />

5<br />

We have now been on the market for more<br />

than 15 years, have established IMMOunited<br />

and have made a name for ourselves. That’s<br />

a good starting point, of course. But we also<br />

need to consolidate our market-leading<br />

position consistently. That’s why we are<br />

focusing more on research and innovation<br />

this year and investing a substantial amount<br />

in product development - both internally<br />

and externally. In addition to extensive<br />

innovations in our existing services, there<br />

are also numerous other ideas, some of<br />

which we are pursuing together with<br />

universities. This is particularly important<br />

to us because innovation secures the future.<br />

<strong>MIPIM</strong> | <strong>2023</strong><br />

79


Investing in Austria<br />

1<br />

Given the prevailing conditions, it is difficult to say whether optimism or pessimism is<br />

appropriate. Since I am personally always optimistic, I will approach <strong>2023</strong> with optimism as<br />

well. In any case, <strong>2023</strong> will be exciting, especially as it is still difficult to predict how the interest<br />

rate situation and inflation will develop. However, I am convinced that the real estate industry<br />

will show the creativity necessary for successful projects, especially in difficult times. In my<br />

opinion, predicting which asset classes will come up as winners is difficult. Only logistics will<br />

remain highly in demand, in my view.<br />

2<br />

The biggest challenge I see is the confluence<br />

of several unfavorable circumstances,<br />

such as rising interest rates,<br />

high inflation, increased energy prices,<br />

more restrictive lending (KIM-VO) and<br />

high construction prices. As a result, a<br />

corresponding level of uncertainty and<br />

restraint can be perceived in the market.<br />

Another major challenge will be the<br />

higher equity requirement for project<br />

financing.<br />

3<br />

Peter Fassl,<br />

HSP<br />

It is important that the parameters that are currently difficult to predict (interest<br />

rates, inflation) become predictable and assessable again for market participants.<br />

Only then will it be possible to calculate projects reliably again, which will<br />

ultimately lead to investors becoming more active as well.<br />

4<br />

Interest rates, inflation and<br />

sustainability (taxonomy, ESG).<br />

5<br />

We attach great importance to high-quality<br />

and personal advice for our clients. We have<br />

always strived to improve this in the past.<br />

This will not change in <strong>2023</strong>.<br />

80 ImmoFokus


SIEMENSSTRASSE 89 1210 WIEN<br />

WWW.TWENTYONE.IMMO<br />

48° 16' 15.052"<br />

CENTRAL HUB<br />

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ABER TWENTY ONE<br />

IST COOLER.“<br />

EIN PROJEKT VON BONDI CONSULT<br />

<strong>MIPIM</strong> | <strong>2023</strong><br />

81


Investing in Austria<br />

1<br />

This year has already started very positively for us, as the demand for<br />

office and logistics space in Vienna AirportCity continues to be strong,<br />

and we have already been able to attract several new international<br />

companies to our location. In particular, the demand for modern<br />

logistics space and land very often exceeds the available supply.<br />

2<br />

The rising interest rates and construction costs are one concern. Due to the war<br />

events in Ukraine, the continuing international tensions have also led to changes<br />

and uncertainties on the real estate market. The players in the real estate sector<br />

will have to react to those two factors.<br />

3<br />

I am convinced that all of the above factors need<br />

to calm down, as they are having a negative<br />

impact not only on the real estate sector, but on<br />

our entire society. Therefore, countermeasures<br />

by all key stakeholders are urgently needed to<br />

ensure sufficient construction activity and, thus,<br />

a secure supply of living and working space.<br />

5<br />

4<br />

Wolfgang Scheibenpflug,<br />

Flughafen Wien<br />

Inflation trends, ESG and construction cost increases can be considered as<br />

the three most important issues. These three factors in particular will lead<br />

to rapid and necessary changes within the industry.<br />

This year, we will continue to push the<br />

expansion of Vienna AirportCity with great<br />

commitment. For example, we are looking<br />

forward to the groundbreaking ceremony for<br />

the new “Vienna House Easy” hotel in the fall.<br />

This will provide our customers with over 1,400<br />

hotel rooms, directly at the location in three<br />

hotels, from spring 2025. However, we also<br />

want to further expand our range of modern<br />

office space to meet the high demand in the<br />

future. Concrete plans for an “Office Park 5” are<br />

already well advanced.<br />

82 ImmoFokus


1<br />

Only optimists succeed. As a real estate consultancy that does<br />

not specialize in just one area, such as transaction business, for<br />

instance, we do not see a slump in demand for our services but<br />

rather a shift within our service portfolio. The favorites of investors<br />

in all asset classes will be sustainable properties in particular, but<br />

also those that can be developed there with realistic outlay.<br />

2<br />

Considering that the prime rate is currently at 3%, some business models or real<br />

estate investments simply no longer pay off from an investor’s point of view, and<br />

company values are also falling. Refinancing costs for bonds are also only possible<br />

at significantly higher coupon rate than a year ago, making capital market<br />

financing more complex and more expensive. In any case, the biggest challenge in<br />

<strong>2023</strong> will be to ensure the robustness of the respective business models.<br />

4<br />

3<br />

The wild party is over, but the music is still playing. The current<br />

financing situation is nothing new; rather, we are back to the<br />

regular interest rate situation we were used to for decades. We<br />

were simply too spoiled in recent years and now have to plan more<br />

efficiently again and make well-considered purchases.<br />

Due to the current situation on the transaction market and the capital market,<br />

companies will have to focus much more on the real estate itself again and work<br />

on the properties to make them climate-ready as well as transaction-ready. The<br />

due diligence phases are becoming longer again, and more minor issues that<br />

were considered insignificant in recent years are once again being negotiated<br />

more intensively in transactions. Additionally, the key topics for <strong>2023</strong> are the<br />

ESG, digitization of asset management and portfolio management data, and<br />

more substantial stakeholder dialogue.<br />

5<br />

Marius Richter,<br />

PwC<br />

In <strong>2023</strong>, we want to further expand our<br />

PwC Real Estate platform to broaden<br />

our full-service offering. The platform<br />

comprises real estate lawyers, tax advisors,<br />

auditors and business consultants<br />

specializing in the sector. We want to work<br />

together with the industry on intelligent<br />

and smart ESG solutions and jointly<br />

promote standardization in this area.<br />

In my opinion, there are still too many<br />

and too few coordinated solutions and<br />

measurement criteria within the industry.<br />

We want to work on more transparent<br />

and uniform guidelines, especially with<br />

the interest groups of the real estate<br />

industry and contribute our ESG knowhow.<br />

Working together is the only way to<br />

manage the energy transition in the real<br />

estate industry.<br />

<strong>MIPIM</strong> | <strong>2023</strong><br />

83


Investing in Austria<br />

1<br />

From an investor’s point of view, residential real estate will continue to be the focus as an asset<br />

class in <strong>2023</strong>, with a strong emphasis on location and sustainability. Demand has decreased<br />

significantly, but at the same time, due to high construction costs, supply is also reducing, and<br />

fewer construction projects are being realized. Some planned new construction projects are being<br />

postponed while expanding and refurbishing existing properties is gaining importance. In the<br />

case of office properties, it is clear that despite changes in working environments and adapted<br />

office concepts, the office remains central to the exchange of ideas and good cooperation between<br />

employees. Therefore, the following applies more than ever for both asset classes: an attractive<br />

and central location and convenient accessibility will prevail on the market.<br />

Günther Sturm,<br />

AKS<br />

2<br />

The real estate sector is currently facing several of challenges: high<br />

construction and energy costs, the interest rate situation, and stricter<br />

lending guidelines are significant obstacles on the domestic real estate<br />

market - those factors that will create a noticeable impact in <strong>2023</strong> that<br />

only increasingly stabilize in the second half of the year. Nevertheless,<br />

it is still true that real estate remains an attractive asset class, especially<br />

given of the sharp increase in rent due to inflation. ESG factors and the<br />

Taxonomy Regulation also continue to gain relevance for the real estate<br />

sector. Energy-efficient building designs that integrate geothermal solutions,<br />

PV systems, and sustainable materials such as aluminum and steel<br />

are standard, with no way around it for the entire construction industry.<br />

4<br />

The entire construction industry faces the task of<br />

significantly reducing the carbon footprint of new<br />

constructions and existing buildings. Energy-optimized<br />

concepts, as well as the use of more renewable energies<br />

and sustainable materials such as aluminum and<br />

steel have priority and will continue to shape the real<br />

estate industry this year. Alukönigstahl has already<br />

been focused for a while on future-oriented products<br />

and services that actively promote climate-friendly<br />

construction. Above all, implementing processes towards<br />

circular construction - for example, with the cradle-tocradle<br />

approach in our Schüco aluminium systems is a<br />

trend-setting sign against a resource-intensive linear<br />

economy. In addition, aluminum and steel have a long<br />

service life and an exceptionally high recycling potential<br />

- in some cases, up to 100 percent.<br />

5<br />

3<br />

The current economic mood in Austria will only<br />

brighten up slowly in <strong>2023</strong> and will also be transferred<br />

to the construction and real estate industry with<br />

some delay. The sharp rise in financing costs and<br />

construction prices combined with high inflation<br />

will require further measures - such as increased<br />

subsidies or relief through adjusted specifications.<br />

This is offset by the explicit goal of constructing<br />

smart and climate-friendly buildings with high<br />

functionality and open spaces that also ensure costefficient<br />

operation. <strong>2023</strong> will therefore lead to a<br />

balance, and the market will adapt and consolidate.<br />

One of our highlights is BAU <strong>2023</strong>, which is taking place<br />

again this year after a four-year break. We are taking the<br />

opportunity to meet face-to-face with customers and<br />

partners from all our markets and are looking forward to<br />

presenting Schüco’s and Jansen’s product innovations in<br />

Munich. In addition, we will focus on sustainability, and<br />

we devote more attention to digitalization. As a team with<br />

the necessary expertise, we will continue to forge ahead<br />

with sustainable innovation and technologies in the areas<br />

of design, health, safety and energy efficiency - from smart<br />

planning, construction and operation to highly functional<br />

façades and window solutions with integrated ventilation<br />

systems or accessibility in windows, doors and sliding doors.<br />

84 ImmoFokus


1<br />

As I am a fundamentally optimistic person, I am pretty positive about this year. In challenging<br />

times, it’s essential to think in a more complex manner and in new directions to take advantage<br />

of the opportunities these times can bring. Identifying the investor’s favorite for this year is still<br />

difficult for me from the current perspective, as the interest rate situation and inflationary events<br />

will still have a lasting impact on this topic.<br />

2<br />

In addition to identifying the opportunities<br />

to emerge from the crisis stronger,<br />

ESG in real estate is undoubtedly one of<br />

the main topics in <strong>2023</strong>. Of course, this is<br />

in addition to our main goal of providing<br />

the best possible support to our customers<br />

in their search for the perfect office<br />

and retail space. This is the most essential<br />

task for this year in the current market<br />

environment, where we are faced<br />

with very low production of new space.<br />

Stefan Wernhart,<br />

EHL Gewerbeimmobilien<br />

3<br />

In commercial leasing, times have<br />

been turbulent for a bit longer since the<br />

COVID-19 pandemic. We have used the time<br />

intensively to position ourselves in the best<br />

possible way in all areas. In the challenging<br />

economic environment, we are even closer<br />

to our customers in order to accompany<br />

them in all matters and to jointly develop<br />

innovative and target-oriented solutions.<br />

4<br />

For me, the topics of<br />

sustainability, the further<br />

development of inflation,<br />

especially concerning energy<br />

and construction costs, and<br />

quality - whether in services<br />

or the development of real<br />

estate - are the cornerstones<br />

that will accompany us very<br />

intensively this year.<br />

5<br />

In difficult times, it is all the more important to thank our<br />

employees for their tireless efforts to date and to bind<br />

them even more strongly to the company so that together<br />

we can emerge from this challenging, temporary phase<br />

motivated and strengthened. In addition, it is of course<br />

our essential ambition to maintain our outstanding<br />

performance in the area of commercial leasing, which<br />

we have been able to achieve thanks to our long-standing<br />

and loyal customers and to expand this even further by<br />

going the extra mile with our employees.<br />

<strong>MIPIM</strong> | <strong>2023</strong><br />

85


IMPRESSUM<br />

Vorschau<br />

Lesen Sie im ImmoFokus<br />

Ausgabe 02/<strong>2023</strong><br />

Finanzierung. Das große Interview mit ... Zu Tisch mit<br />

... Einfluss von ESG und EU-Taxonomie; Strukturierte<br />

Finanzierungen; Restrukturierungen; Non-Performing Loans;<br />

Vorteile von Mezzanine-Finanzierungen; Finanzieren über<br />

die Crowd; Blockchain in der Immobilienwirtschaft; Software<br />

für Makler; Real Estate Asset Management; Fuhrparkund<br />

Gerätemanagement; Baustellenlogistik, die große<br />

ImmoFokus Umfrage ...<br />

Medieneigentümer<br />

Real Estate Media Group GmbH<br />

Handelskai 94-96<br />

1200 Wien<br />

Tel. +43 1 890 18 26-100<br />

office@media-group.immo<br />

www.media-group.immo<br />

Herausgeber<br />

Mag. Michael Neubauer<br />

Chefredaktion<br />

Mag. Lisa Grüner<br />

Art Director<br />

Jelio Stefanov<br />

Lektorat<br />

Michaela Hocek<br />

Ingeborg Morawetz, BA<br />

Autoren dieser Ausgabe<br />

Mag. Patrick Baldia,<br />

Mag. Lisa Grüner,<br />

Mag. Michael Neubauer, Gerhard Fritz, Heimo<br />

Rollett sowie die Kommentatoren<br />

Sales & Relation<br />

Rudolf E. Oezelt<br />

ERSCHEINUNGSTERMIN: April <strong>2023</strong><br />

Täglich top informiert: www.immo-timeline.at<br />

Den ImmoFokus jetzt immer und überall lesen, mit der REMG-App.<br />

Relations Management<br />

Tanja Klingseis<br />

Fotos<br />

wenn nicht anders angegeben:<br />

Real Estate Media Group/Katharina Schiffl,<br />

Michael Hetzmannseder, Richard Tanzer,<br />

Gabriel Alarcón-Rizar<br />

Druck<br />

Ferdinand Berger & Söhne Ges.m.b.H<br />

Der IMMOFOKUS wendet sich im Sinne der<br />

Gleichstellung gleichermaßen an Frauen<br />

und Männer. Aus Gründen der Übersichtlichkeit<br />

und Verständlichkeit kann es bei den<br />

Beiträgen vorkommen, dass nur die maskuline<br />

Ansprechform verwendet wird.<br />

ImmoFokus ist Mitglied bei:<br />

86 ImmoFokus


Wir leben<br />

Immobilien.<br />

Wir leben<br />

Know-how.<br />

Den Durchblick behalten.<br />

Mit den EHL Marktberichten.<br />

Büro | Einzelhandel | Wohnen | Vorsorge | Zinshaus<br />

Die ständige Beobachtung und Analyse des Marktes durch unser Market Research Team sowie<br />

der laufende Dialog mit unseren KundInnen sind die Grundlage für die EHL Marktberichte.<br />

Unsere Marktberichte bieten einen umfassenden Einblick in die aktuelle Marktsituation im<br />

Gewerbe-, Wohn- und Investmentbereich und stellen eine solide Basis für gezielte Investitionsund<br />

Standortentscheidungen dar. Denn wir leben Know-how.<br />

Wir leben<br />

Wir leben<br />

Substanz<br />

Office<br />

Büromarktbericht<br />

Wien |Herbst 2022<br />

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Wir leben<br />

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Österreich|2022/23<br />

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Wien | 2022<br />

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Immobilien.<br />

Alle EHL Marktberichte<br />

jetzt online abrufen oder<br />

kostenlos bestellen:<br />

ehl.at/research<br />

Ausgabe 01|<strong>2023</strong><br />

87


New at <strong>MIPIM</strong> <strong>2023</strong>! The Road to Zero area<br />

<strong>MIPIM</strong> <strong>2023</strong><br />

14-17 MARCH <strong>2023</strong><br />

CANNES, FRANCE<br />

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Greater Impact.<br />

Stronger Business.<br />

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A new dedicated 400 sqm zone to help<br />

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towards a more sustainable model.<br />

Exhibition<br />

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Conferences on the new «Road to Zero<br />

stage» with a focus on practical methods<br />

to decarbonise the real estate industry.<br />

Road to Zero sponsors:<br />

Content partners:<br />

Ausgabe 01|<strong>2023</strong><br />

88


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89 ImmoFokus


Ausgabe 01|<strong>2023</strong><br />

90

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