CEDER 2025 in review: Building Better: The Future of Residential Real Estate in Romania
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.
