The U.S. Embassy’s 2026 Independence Day Reception marked the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence – Freedom 250 – and was the largest Independence Day reception ever hosted by the Embassy in Hungary, welcoming 1,024 guests from government, diplomacy, business, civil society, and academia. The event celebrated the enduring partnership between the United States and Hungary while highlighting the important role of the American business community in strengthening bilateral relations.

Held at the Várkert Bazár, the reception featured remarks by Chargé d’Affaires Caroline Savage, senior Hungarian government officials, cultural performances, and networking among leaders from both countries. As part of the broader Freedom 250 celebrations, the week also included public concerts, commemorative events, and cultural programs across Hungary, emphasizing the shared history and people-to-people ties between the two nations.

It was an honor for the Newmark VLK Hungary team to attend this landmark celebration and to support an event that brought together leaders from across Hungary and the United States. We extend our sincere thanks to Chargé d’Affaires Caroline Savage, the U.S. Embassy team, and everyone involved in organizing such a memorable evening. We look forward to continuing to strengthen the partnership between the U.S. and Hungarian business communities.

To find out more visit: https://hu.usembassy.gov/remarks-by-charge-daffaires-caroline-savage-at-the-freedom-250-independence-day/

As part of its strategic growth plan, Newmark VLK Hungary is strengthening its tenant advisory business line. Edina Fodor joins the company as Head of Occupier Services, bringing more than ten years of experience in commercial real estate and business development.

“We are delighted to welcome Edina to our team,” said Valter Kalaus, Managing Partner of the company. “Her professional experience and strategic mindset add significant value to our Occupier business line. Our goal is to support our clients with increasingly complex, business-focused advisory services — from location and portfolio strategy through negotiation processes to long-term value creation.

Edina’s arrival marks an important milestone in our development and aligns well with Newmark’s European growth strategy, while further strengthening our presence and service offerings in Budapest. Welcome aboard!”

Edina Fodor added: “I am very pleased to continue my career at Newmark VLK Hungary. The company stands on strong professional foundations and is supported by numerous long-term client relationships. In line with Newmark’s European growth strategy, my goal is to actively contribute to the further development of the Budapest office and to strengthening its market position.

I firmly believe that in today’s complex economic environment, strategically focused real estate advisory creates tangible business value and provides meaningful support in achieving corporate objectives.”

Market Outlook: Stronger Fundamentals, More Conscious Decision-Making

The domestic commercial real estate market is showing signs of gradual stabilization by 2026. Demand is increasing in both the office and industrial segments for high-quality, energy-efficient, and flexibly adaptable spaces. Corporate decision-making is increasingly driven by the alignment of value preservation, cost efficiency, and business performance.

A strategic turning point can be observed in Budapest’s office market: tenants are optimizing through more conscious space utilization, smaller yet more efficient footprints, and modern workplace solutions. At the same time, demand for logistics and industrial properties remains strong, supported by e-commerce growth, supply chain transformation, and the strengthening of regional manufacturing capacities.

In this environment, high-level, data-driven tenant advisory services and tailored workplace strategies play a key role in enhancing corporate competitiveness — areas where Newmark VLK Hungary plans further development and team expansion.

https://www.officerentinfo.hu/article/officemarket-news/strategic-appointment-at-newmark-vlk-hungary-new-head-of-occupier-services

For the tenth time, Portfolio Ingatlan presents the most prominent and influential figures of the Hungarian real estate market—those whose names have been associated with the year’s most significant developments, including transactions, projects, regulation, financing, advisory, and thought leadership.

We are proud to share that Valter Kalaus, MRICS, has been included in the TOP50 list for the 5th time this year.

This recognition reflects not only individual professional achievement, but also the core values that have defined Valter’s work since founding the firm: independence, transparency, and an unwavering commitment to ethical real estate advisory.

From the very beginning, Valter’s conviction has been clear—true integrity in real estate consultancy is only possible when the client’s interests come first, always. This recognition confirms that staying true to these principles is not only the right approach, but also a sustainable path to long-term success.

Our sincere thanks go to our team, to our clients for their continued trust, to our global partner Newmark, and to the organizers of Portfolio for this recognition.

We are proud of the work we do, the community initiatives we support, and the values we consistently represent.

For more information, please click the link below:

https://www.portfolio.hu/ingatlan/20251216/vannak-meg-meglepetesek-az-ingatlanpiacon-806154

There was a distinct improvement in the mood and feeling at Expo Real 2025 compared to the previous year. The cautious attitude from investors has bottomed out, and the only way is upwards regarding investor sentiment, says Péter Takács, partner at Newmark VLK Hungary.

The annual international real estate and investment event in Munich is seen as an excellent barometer of the mood of professionals at a time of upheaval in the markets concerning ESG, technology usage and international socio-political instability. Around 42,000 participants from 70 countries attended the threeday event at the Messe München exhibition center. Newmark VLK Hungary participated as part of the first Newmark stand at Expo Real with around 70 representatives from the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Poland, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States, as well as Hungary.

Takács sees a reactivation of the investment markets in Central Europe, with the region back on the radar screen of international investors. Once transactions have been completed, there will be increased liquidity and, therefore, the markets will be able to attract even more investment. However, to put the recovery in Hungary in context, the recent purchase of the Palladium shopping center in Prague by Reico (a fund owned by Erste Group) for a reported EUR 700 million is equal to recent total investment volumes for Hungary. The Czech Republic and Poland are currently the favored Central European investment destinations, which is reflected in annual investment volumes and the significant yield differentials between Hungary and these leading CEE markets.

To find out more visit bbj.hu

The Top Real Estate Executives magazine is a special annual publication of the Budapest Business Journal.

The magazine presents the profiles of the most influential real estate executives working in the Hungarian economy. It puts a human face on the local development market, focusing on leading personalities’ profiles and outstanding achievements. We also look at incentives and tax breaks for construction, and examine how the Hungarian market is developing, among other things. The selection is unashamedly subjective, having been made by the editorial team of the Book of Lists and the BBJ, and draws on our 30-year-history of providing unparalleled business news and analysis. The readership of Top Real Estate Executives mirrors much of that of the BBJ, including many of the country’s leading business executives, diplomats and decision makers.

Robin Marshall MBE, Editor-in-chief
Budapest Business Journal

VALTER KALAUS (5th time on the list)
Newmark VLK Hungary

BACKGROUND INFO

Valter Kalaus is a prominent figure in the Hungarian commercial real estate market. By day, he serves as managing partner of Newmark VLK Hungary, a leading advisory firm in the sector; by dawn, he’s in the water training for his next international swimming competition.

Sport has been a defining force in his life, shaping the discipline and determination that underpin Newmark VLK Hungary’s winning business mindset. Kalaus began swimming at the age of five and was a member of Hungary’s national team at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games. He continues to compete at a high level in the Masters category, holding numerous World and European Championship titles.

Most recently, he represented the Honvéd Masters Swim Team at the 2024 World Aquatics Masters Championships in Doha, where he won two gold, two silver, and two bronze medals, also setting a new World Championship record. Kalaus currently serves on the board of the Hungarian Swimming Federation, bringing both his athletic and international business acumen to Hungary’s most successful sport.

He holds a degree from the University of Wisconsin- Madison in the United States and began his career in America as a commercial real estate advisor, primarily working with Fortune 500 and Fortune 1000 companies. After returning to Budapest in 2001, he focused on advising corporate real estate occupiers across Central Europe.

In 2008, he founded VLK Real Estate Consulting, which later became Newmark VLK Hungary through a strategic partnership with Newmark. With 29 years of global experience in corporate real estate and tenant representation, Kalaus offers an unmatched combination of local expertise and international perspective. Earlier in his career, he was a vice president at Equis Corporation, where he launched and managed the company’s Central and Eastern European operations. He also served as director of real estate at KPMG Hungary, where he established a new service line and unified the firm’s real estate advisory services.

Kalaus is a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. Outside of work and swimming, he’s a dedicated father to his nine-and-a-half-year-old son, Vilmos. He is also a certified master scuba diver and enjoys riding motorcycles and playing golf in his spare time.

To read more click on the following link: https://bbj.hu/shop/top-real-estate-businesses-executives/