With every crisis comes opportunity

More exhibitors and visitors turned up than last year for Expo Real 2023, the largest real estate fair in Europe. However, in terms of numbers, the 2019 event remains without doubt the biggest of them all. But this year, the word crisis was being uttered openly. “The real estate sector finds itself facing one of the toughest periods it has seen in a long time. Rising interest rates, stagnating construction projects, inflation – the problems are manifold. And these were among the main issues discussed over the three days by those attending here in Munich, as they exchanged their ideas on what to do next,” commented Stefan Rummel, the CEO of Messe München. Many pointed to financing as one of the most urgent problems, along with the lack of asset liquidity and the geopolitical uncertainty. Even though many saw the glass as half-empty, others could see new opportunities. This division not only cuts across the different sectors of the market, but also to a large exte