Developments in the Market for New Real Estate

Programma

“Dienas Bizness” publishing house is holding a conference called “Developments in the Market for New Real Estate” in collaboration with CBRE Baltics and experts of real estate market 29th April, 2021.

The real estate market is facing major changes, affected by a variety of factors, such as the limitations and consequences caused by the pandemic, technological development, the availability of funding, the demographic aspect, the overall economic situation in the country, and political decisions. Current ongoing activities are, therefore, fluid and subject to rapid change.

The Covid-19 crisis has dramatically accelerated changes that had already commenced in certain real estate market segments. Physical restrictions have also negatively affected shopping centres and hotels, polarizing public debate on the proportionality of restrictions and state aid and changing the current business model in the industry. At the same time, rental demand for private houses and small apartments has increased. The impact of the Covid crisis on the real estate market is clearly visible in land registry data on apartment sales: the number of property purchase deals fell by half in the 2nd quarter of 2020. However, numbers returned to their previous level in the third quarter and at the end of the year. Currently, there is high demand for economy class apartments in the market. More and more people are favouring new projects in the first home market, those available from 2017 – 2020. There is also a lot of activity from institutional investors, willing to invest in rental houses, which then produce a stable cash flow.

It is very difficult to predict the development of future events, but the crisis and the changes outlined are creating new opportunities to increase competitiveness on a larger scale. What developments will 2021 and the new decade bring to the market for new real estate? How will they affect the demand and supply of real estate and what is the current market situation? These are the topics of discussion for the conference.

Dienas Bizness will bring industry leaders together at the conference to talk about the current situation in the industry, perspectives for 2021 and the challenges of the new decade in the market for new real estate.

AGENDA:

9.25 – 9.30 AM

Joining the online conference

9.30 – 9.35 AM

Opening of the conference

PART I / NEW REAL ESTATE PROJECTS IN LATVIA: THE CURRENT SITUATION

9.35 – 10.05 AM

Scenarios relating to the economy and competitiveness in Latvia

Dainis Gašpuitis, Economist at SEB banka

Moderator: Matīss Kukainis, Partner, Attorney at Law at Spīgulis &Kukainis

10.05 – 10.30 AM

Investment in real estate
Changes in traditional and alternative real estate sectors – what 2020 and 2021 tell us?
Vineta Vigupe, Senior Director of Investment Properties at CBRE Baltics

10.30 – 11.20 AM

Discussion. Towards sustainability and climate neutrality – the future is now
The impact of green energy on the economy and the development of infrastructure and real estate
EU Green Deal

Discussion moderator: Pauls Miklaševičs, Chief Asset Management Officer at BlueOrange Bank

Discussion participants:

Arūnas Dzikas, Member of the Board of LIDL Latvija (ZOOM);
Natalija Monkevičiene, Head of Business Development at Eastnine (ZOOM);
Jānis Ikaunieks, Director at Riga Energy Agency.

11.20 – 11.55 AM

Discussion. New housing projects in changing market conditions

Discussion moderator: Matīss Kukainis, Partner, Attorney at Law at Spīgulis &Kukainis

Discussion participants:

Mikus Freimanis, Director of Real Estate Development at Merks;
Mareks Kļaviņš, Chairman of the Board at Bonava Latvija;

11.55 AM – 12.40 PM

Rental houses – development perspectives for new concepts. Changes to the Rental law.

Discussion moderator: Matīss Kukainis, Partner, Attorney at Law at “Spīgulis &Kukainis”

Participants:

Mārtiņš Auders, Director of the Housing Policies Department at the Ministry of Economy (ZOOM);
Inita Jurka, Partner at Ellex Kļaviņš;
Martin Rekor, Partner at Lumi Capital (ZOOM).

12.40 PM – 12.45 PM

Break

PART II / CHALLENGES AND PERSPECTIVES FOR REAL ESTATE PROJECTS

12.45 – 1.25 PM

Discussion. The new territorial plan of Riga city
The new spatial vision for Riga;
Planning and development of the urban environment.

Discussion moderator: Andis Kublačovs, Chairman of the Board of the Association of Territorial Planners of Latvia;

Discussion participants:

Gvido Princis, Riga City Architect, Director at Riga Municipal Architecture Office;
Mārtiņš Vanags, Chairman of The Alliance of Real Estate Developers;
Māra Liepa-Zemeša, Head of Territorial Planning Division · ‎Riga City Council City Development Department

1.25 – 2.00 PM

Discussion. Reforms in Riga – from planning to works
Establishment of an investment agency;
Territorial plan;
Mobility working group, experiments in the city;
Joining together the Construction Board / Architects’ Office / Development Department;
Green corridor.

Discussion moderator: Mārtiņš Vanags, Chairman of The Alliance of Real Estate Developers

Discussion participants:

Inese Andersone, Chairwoman of the City Development Committee at Riga City Council;
Jānis Belkovskis, Head of the Riga City Construction Board.

PART III / INVESTMENTS AND FUNDING IN THE NEW REAL ESTATE PROJECT MARKET

2.05 – 2.40 PM

Discussion. Lending for new projects: the current situation and potential developments
home loan | mortgage loan;
the results of the previous year in Latvia;
Funding for real estate developers in constructing new projects and renovations.

Discussion moderator: Māris Ķirsons, Journalist at Dienas Bizness

Participants:

Aleksandrs Mežapuķe, EstateGuru Country Manager of Latvia;
Sergejs Maļikovs, Chairman of The Board at West Kredit;
Jānis Ozoliņš, Head of Real Estate Financing at SEB banka.

2.40 – 2.45 PM

Closing

Note: The organizers reserve the right to change the list of lecturers and topics if the need arises.

TIME: 29th of April, 2021

VENUE: Online | www.db.lv

TARGET AUDIENCE: Real estate developers and representatives from the industry, business managers, as well as representatives and executives in construction, municipality and state institutions.

CONFERENCE LANGUAGES: Latvian and English (translation in English will be provided)

PARTICIPATION FEE:

Participation fee per person: 140 EUR + VAT
Subscribers of Dienas Bizness, CBRE Baltics corporate clients and members of Latvian Real Estate Association LANĪDA 15% discount: 119 EUR + VAT

CONTENT PARTNER: