According to analysts of aggregator services, demand growth during this time is estimated in the range of 18-25%, which is about 90% higher than in 2019. Taking into account the fall in oil prices and the weakening of the ruble, real estate has become the most stable form of investment. Among the most popular destinations in Moscow is the Rublevo-Uspensky exclave.
Dynamics in numbers
In general, in February the market showed a 70% growth in demand in Russia for long-term rent and for city apartments and for suburban facilities. Only in Moscow and St. Petersburg there was a decrease in interest in rent by 18% and 16%, respectively. The cost of rent, in turn, increased by March, depending on the region, from 5% to 10%.
WHO declared a coronavirus pandemic on March 11, and by March 13, analysts at real estate services noted the first peak of growth in interest in suburban lots. In just 8 days, demand has grown 4-5 times in comparison with similar indicators of the last year. They stabilized only by April 29. It is worth noting that the cost of renting city apartments in a given period decreased by 20-30%, and housing outside of megacities rose in price by an average of 32%.
Those who met the pandemic with savings are seriously thinking about purchasing suburban housing in the property. Purchase demand increased by 25%. The supply, in turn, has increased commensurately, since March in comparison with last year the number of houses, townhouses, summer cottages, cottages for sale also increased by 25%.
However, the rest of the interest in real estate only declined. In the segment of new buildings, demand for housing decreased by 5-10%, even taking into account the new state program of preferential mortgages with a rate of up to 6.5%. The secondary housing market also showed negative dynamics - two quarters of 2020 showed a 29% decrease in the number of transactions compared to 2019. This is an average figure, while for Moscow the number of sales in the secondary real estate market fell by 65%.
Complex of factors
The strengthening of the position of suburban real estate is due to a number of reasons:
- Price. The cost of a small apartment on the outskirts of the city is several times higher than the cost of a country house in SNT in a satisfactory condition. According to a study carried out by the scientific and technical center "Perspektiva", 63.6% of the population of Russia have no savings at all. Of those who met the pandemic with a financial cushion, only 18% can live on these funds for more than a year. Against the backdrop of economic instability, many rushed to invest their scarce funds profitably.
- Information noise. News of the epidemiological situation, travel restrictions for urban residents as part of the mandatory self-isolation regime and daily reports on hospitalization with COVID-19 have fueled interest in real estate, which allows access to fresh air and effectively limit the time spent in crowded places.
- Economical work. The remote work mode was appreciated by both employers and employees. Reduce associated costs on weekdays for employees and the opportunity to save on office rent for companies. Optimizing both personal and business budgets is not the last argument in how organizations will return to their “normal” work rhythm.
Demanding customer and market prospects
A critically important factor in the selection of both rental and purchase facilities is the availability of developed infrastructure: roads, grocery stores, the remoteness of settlements with prompt access to medical services, etc. The first wave of demand was more spontaneous, realtors note that even options in a substandard state found their client.
Emotional decisions were followed by weighted and more demanding ones. Due to the restriction of movement, many could not personally assess the condition of the objects, therefore, in fact, the growth could be much higher. With the abolition of restrictive measures, another surge in the number of transactions is expected, which will unite both the group of buyers who planned to buy during the period of self-isolation and new customers.
The cost of renting out-of-town facilities, in turn, continues to grow. The average rate in annual terms increased by 8.6%. The most significant growth is noted in the Tver region, it amounted to 19%.
As for the priority areas, in the Moscow region, objects along the Novorizhskoe highway (24%) and on the territory of the Rublevo-Uspenskoe exclave (13%) are still popular. In the given directions, low-rise buildings of the house-cottage category are already widespread. Berezka, ParkVille (Parkville), Aleksandrovsky, FuturoPark (Futuro Park) are some of the many already established villages. Already, new development projects with the integration of complex infrastructure like "Life Everywhere" and construction with the provision of basic communications with service maintenance, but without frills like "Eremeevo Life" ("Eremeevo Life") are already in the works.
A separate advantage is not only the image, the ecological situation and the rather developed infrastructure of these areas in general, but also the availability of recreational zones and cultural heritage objects in the access zone. Buyers are evaluating the prospects for a comfortable life in their new home, including the opportunity to relax without returning to the metropolis. For example, on the territory of the Rublevo-Uspenskoe exclave there is the village of Konezavoda (MKZ No. 1), the Prishvin house-museum, the village of Uspenskoe and other attractions.
At the moment, experts believe that interest in suburban real estate will continue until the end of the year. Taking into account the tightening of requirements for objects, the secondary market of country houses in a satisfactory condition will not be enough to cover demand, which will lead to an increase in the number of private developers "for themselves" on plots transferred from the category of agricultural land to the land of settlements. An increase in the number of centralized low-rise buildings in popular directions is also possible.
