The residential real estate market in Romania is moving beyond mere construction to a focus on quality and sustainability. As Daniel Tudor, Founder & CEO of The Concept Group and moderator of the “Sector-Specific Trends part 2” panel discussion held at CEDER 2025, put it, “the real challenge is no longer just about building more, but it’s about building better”. This sentiment resonates across industry leaders, highlighting a shift towards creating enduring value and shaping future cities.

Quality in residential development is not merely about aesthetically pleasing renders or marketing, but rather the proven experience of the developer and general contractor. Adrian Stoichina, Co-CEO & Partner at Prima Development Group, stressed that “The only thing that makes for a good project is a good experience of the developer and a good experience of the general contractor who is doing the construction”. This is crucial for buyer confidence, especially given past market incidents.

Large developers have been paying increased attention to construction quality, focusing not just on building materials, equipment, finishes and fits, but also on a flawless execution. In the words of Andreea Dumitru, Chief Marketing Officer at Hagag Development Europe, “real estate investor-developer Hagag focuses on investing in, creating and developing forward-looking living spaces that are both financially sound and of superior quality, regardless their addressability or price range”. She also notes a “vivid interest in the market for really good product” and says that Hagag “develops really good product at all price points; projects with great locations, great layouts, modern security and privacy features, qualitative finishes, amenities and, very important, prime services”.

Victor Terheș, Sales Director at Bellemonde, reinforced this, stating that “people […] will selectively buy from the ones that usually deliver. […] You have to see the background of the developer. You have to know the level of quality that the developer delivers. […] I think most of us that do quality real estate will go further”. Hence, developers with strong portfolios and credentials are seen as more resilient and less impacted by market fluctuations.

Beyond construction quality, the industry is embracing sustainability as a core principle. Leonidas Anastasopoulos, Co-Founder & Managing Partner at Alesonor, exemplified this through projects like Amber Forest, characterized as “building green, smart and long-term sustainable communities”. He stated that “we have been very dedicated to sustainability […] and we have expanded further and further with every project.” He then detailed practical implementations, such as performing “blower door tests” to ensure low air losses and “thermal scanning to all of our buildings”, even beyond current legislation requirements and standards like the NZEB.

This emphasis on quality and sustainability translates into long-term value for residents. Luciana Giurea, Head of Residential at AFI Europe Romania, articulated a commitment to building for longevity, stating, “especially when we are talking about real estate, we are generally building for the next 100 years”. On this topic, Leonidas Anastasopoulos added that “developers will have a very strong responsibility towards what we deliver, because it’s something which will be used for decades to come. We take that responsibility very seriously and we value the customers that are coming to us.”

Adrian Stoichina observed a positive trend across the industry: “I think it’s amazing that we see more and more buildings which have architecture, which have green areas, which are built according to high efficiency standards. […] I think it’s less and less about apartments and more about building quality projects”. This commitment to quality and sustainability is seen as vital for continued growth and buyer trust.

REDPORT, in partnership with Dan Șucu, has received approval for the Detailed Urban Development Plan (PUD) covering Phases I and II of the INFINITY NORD project, one of the largest urban regeneration initiatives currently underway in Bucharest.

The project represents an estimated investment exceeding EUR 180 million and is planned across three development phases. Upon completion, it will comprise approximately 2,000 residential units and 20,000 square meters of commercial space. Situated in the northern part of Bucharest, in the Străulești – Petrom City area, INFINITY NORD will be developed on a 44,000 square meter site, with a total buildable area of 123,000 square meters. The project is set to include residential housing, commercial zones, medical and educational facilities, and approximately 1,500 parking spaces.

Dan Șucu, founder and CEO of Mobexpert Group, stated that the PUD approval marks a significant milestone for the project. He emphasized that INFINITY NORD is designed to align with the principles of the 15-Minute City, aiming to create a modern urban environment featuring green spaces, advanced amenities, and architectural elements intended to distinguish it within the Romanian real estate market.

As of now, 60% of the apartments in the first phase of the development have been pre-sold, and 95% of the available retail space has already been leased.

The price of older apartments in Bucharest continues to climb amid declining availability of new housing. Data from the ZF Real Estate Index, compiled in collaboration with SVN Romania, shows that the average price for an old three-room apartment built between 1978 and 1990 reached EUR 127,462 in June 2025. This represents an increase of nearly EUR 4,400, or 3.6%, compared to May, and a rise of over EUR 18,500, or 16.8%, compared to June 2024.

Andrei Sârbu, CEO of SVN Romania, noted that residential market demand has returned to typical levels after experiencing a slowdown during the period surrounding the May elections.

Sârbu also indicated that the current pace of price growth has exceeded earlier forecasts from SVN, which had projected an average increase of approximately 15% for the year. He attributed the stronger-than-expected rise to a significant reduction in new housing supply and higher prices in the new-build segment, prompting some buyers to turn to the secondary market.

Source: zf.ro

Businessman Ionuț Negoiță, through his company Edificia Construct, is preparing to launch a large-scale residential project in Bucharest.

Edificia Construct has acquired a 12-hectare site on the former Cesarom industrial platform in the Preciziei area of Sector 6 for EUR 24 million. The site has the potential to accommodate approximately 3,000 apartments, with total development costs projected to exceed EUR 200 million.

Negoiță intends to replicate the type of residential complexes previously developed or currently under construction in the Pallady area. The planned project includes the construction of eleven residential buildings, each with 11 storeys and designed as duplex high-rises. The buildings will also feature six commercial spaces on their ground floors.

Beyond residential units, the development plans include a school complex comprising a kindergarten, primary school, and sports field. Additionally, an 11-storey multifunctional building is proposed, intended to house office spaces and various services.

Source: economica.net

Discussions among industry experts during the “Sector-Specific Trends part 2” panel held at CEDER 2025 revealed that, while the general market may face fluctuations, success and strategy often lie in diversification and in the details of specific developments.

Andreea Dumitru, Chief Marketing Officer at Hagag Development Europe, highlighted their diverse residential portfolio covering from middle-market products to premium and upper-premium developments, noting significant pre-sales figures across different segments. She stated, for instance, that “we have about 50% out of the over 400 units in H Pipera Lake reserved. And now that we have received the building permit, we are signing the pre-SPAs as we speak. This means that over the next couple of months, all these reservations will turn into pre-sold units.” There is also strong demand in other areas, with about 160 units reserved or pre-sold for their middle market H East Residence project in Obor. In the upper-premium segment, even though two ongoing projects under development in the Primăverii neighbourhood are “on hold” due to the urbanistic situation, there is a list of 70 people that are waiting for just 53 apartments. This indicates there is serious demand for the right product.

Leonidas Anastasopoulos, Co-Founder & Managing Partner of Alesonor, spoke about the success of their sustainable Amber Forest project, which has been “a tremendous commercial success over the years”, reporting that they are 85-86% pre-sold and they have started to deliver. He emphasized building a comprehensive living environment, explaining that covering the needs of the client means building by “focusing on all the elements that a functional neighbourhood should have: […] the school, […] the sports club, […] the agora”. This focus on creating a community and addressing the specific needs of families, including areas “where kids can grow up and can play around”, is a key strategy for them.

Regarding the premium market, Victor Terheș, Sales Director at Bellemonde, discussed their project in Pipera, noting their ability to adapt to buyer needs and the boost in confidence once construction is visible. He explained that this focus on a specific, higher-end location is partly driven by the challenges faced in central Bucharest and stated that “building […] in Pipera is […] a natural way for keeping our colleagues in plug”, due to permits being on hold elsewhere. He also mentioned their plans to enlarge the project: “we’ll nearly double it or more than that”.

Beyond traditional sales, the built-to-rent segment is gaining traction. Luciana Giurea, Head of Residential at AFI Europe Romania, detailed their AFI Home North project, aiming to replicate success seen in other European markets. She revealed their ambitious goal to “take this project and to have it in every sector of Bucharest in the following years”. She emphasized the unique value proposition of this niche, stating that “even if [the tenants] are not owning the home in which they are staying, we believe they need to own the time. They need to own the relationships that they are going to make inside the like-minded community of professionals. We believe that they need to own a quality of life that we are very happy to offer to them.”

Diversification across locations and asset classes also serves as a stability strategy. Yannick Van de Parre, Country Manager at Speedwell, highlighted their approach: “We are now in Poland, we are in Timișoara, we’re doing offices, we’re doing residential, we’re doing retail, we’re also doing industry. So, even if an asset class or a city is underperforming, it gives us the breathing room and the stability to keep on constructing”.

These examples demonstrate that while the market faces challenges, successful developers are navigating it through strategic project development, focusing on specific market niches, and delivering value and quality within those segments.

Parliamentarians who own or co-own a home with their spouse in Bucharest or Ilfov County will no longer receive a lump sum from the Legislative budget to cover accommodation expenses in the Capital. The decision was made through a legislative project adopted in a joint session by deputies and senators.

According to the project, the lump sum for the duration of the mandate, based on a self-declaration, which represents a supporting document, will no longer benefit from: “The deputy and senator who has his/her domicile or who owns, he/she or his/her spouse, a real estate property intended for housing, their own property or their common property, in the municipality of Bucharest or in Ilfov County”. Recently, new cases have been reported in which parliamentarians with their own homes in the capital simultaneously received money to rent another home.

Source: Profit.ro