In Ukraine, the demand for suburban housing is growing rapidly - every third Ukrainian is considering buying a property for living outside the big city. Most often, compact townhouses are bought for a price of up to 100,000 USD, while large villas for 200,000-250,000 USD are sold much more difficult. This was announced by the Chairman of the Board of the Union of Real Estate Consultants Ivan Kudoyar. Even before 2020, only 15-16% of Ukrainians dreamed of living in a private home. Before the war, they were 25%. And now they are already over 35% of them, notes Kudoyar. “Before, people chose an apartment because it was more convenient, closer to work. And now it is possible to work remotely, and housing outside the city seems safer and more comfortable“, the expert explains.
The need for personal space, the desire for nature and silence, as well as the fear of attacks on cities - all this pushes Ukrainians to replace a multi-storey building with their own house with a small plot. However, despite the growing interest, the real estate market in suburban areas is not experiencing a boom.
The reasons are political instability and a general slowdown in the construction industry. According to Kudoyar, “the real estate market has calmed down“, although the demand for country houses continues to grow. The most popular format is townhouses up to 100,000 USD.
“People want a comfortable life in nature, their own office. But at the same time, they are not ready to pay more than 100,000-150,000 USD“, says Kudoyar. The average buyer is looking for a house of 100-120 square meters with a plot of 2-4 acres. Large estates of 200 sq.m. or more cost 200,000-250,000 USD and are much harder to sell. The reason is not only the price, but also the awareness of the surplus of large areas and maintenance costs.
A modern home must meet new realities. According to the expert, private homes are increasingly equipped with shelters, solar panels and charging stations for electric vehicles. The approach to design has also changed. Young people, who most often buy country houses, “travel a lot and have certain aesthetic requirements“. So new houses become not only functional, but also beautiful.
Another popular format is cottage villages. They are bought by those who value infrastructure, security, their own shop or cafe on the territory. “This is a slightly different concept, it is more expensive. But people like it and are willing to pay for comfort“, notes Kudoyar.
At the same time, there are disadvantages - houses in such complexes are built slowly and new residents can live for years among construction, noise and trucks. Modular or prefabricated houses, popular in Europe, have not become a mass phenomenon in Ukraine. The reason is not only the lack of habit, but also technical limitations.
“Modular houses here are perceived as temporary housing - a summer house, a bathhouse, a summer kitchen“, explains the expert. Such houses have a light foundation, often on piles, which does not meet the conditions of the Ukrainian climate. For example, sewer pipes must go to a depth of more than 1.2 m - otherwise everything will simply freeze. And a modular house cannot provide this.
In addition, the savings in construction are minimal: if a capital house costs 150 thousand dollars, then a modular house costs 130-140 thousand. Therefore, the logic of buying “simplified“ housing for almost the same money disappears.
Real estate in suburban areas remains attractive for investors, especially when it comes to houses, the price of which will grow over time or will be rented out. But the success of such an investment depends on the location, infrastructure and maintenance costs.
As OBOZ.UA reported earlier, apartments in new buildings in Kiev have become noticeably more expensive. Over the past year, the price per square meter in them has increased by 6.46%, or by more than 3,000 UAH - on average from 50,300 to 53,550 UAH (the price of all housing on the market is taken into account, excluding the number of rooms).
Detailed statistics on the average prices of properties in Bulgaria by cities and neighborhoods can be seen HERE