Secondary apartments are looking for buyers – Business – Kommersant

Although the average cost of secondary real estate in the largest regional markets in Russia is stagnating, analysts and consultants note the first signs of a recovery in demand – interest in housing listings is growing. By the end of the year, these dynamics are unlikely to lead to an increase in prices: the low purchasing power of the population and the increased volume of supply remain a natural barrier for them. But the average size of the discount at the conclusion of transactions, according to analysts, can still be reduced.

The average cost of secondary real estate in the 18 largest regional markets of Russia (16 million-plus cities, Moscow and Leningrad regions) in November amounted to 122.8 thousand rubles. per sq. m, decreasing by 0.1% compared to October. Such data is provided by CIAN.Analitika, calling the price fluctuations insignificant. In “Etazhy” the average cost of “secondary” in Russia as a whole is estimated at 93.5 thousand rubles. per sq. m. Over the month, the indicator increased, but again insignificantly – by 0.43%. Avito Real Estate is talking about an increase in the average cost of secondary housing in the country by 0.3% per month, but a decrease in the supply budget by 1.8%. “The first indicator could increase due to the increased share of the supply of larger apartments,” explains Sergey Khakhulin, head of the secondary and out-of-town areas of Avito Real Estate.

According to CIAN.Analytics, the most pronounced decline in average prices on secondary housing for the last month happened in St. Petersburg: the indicator decreased by 1.2%, to 201.5 thousand rubles. per sq. m. In the “Floors” pay attention to a decrease of 0.7% over the same period in Krasnodar, up to 103 thousand rubles. per sq. m. Although in Chelyabinsk, according to analysts, the average cost of housing per month, on the contrary, increased by 1.2%, to 60.6 thousand rubles. per sq. m. In outskirts of Moscow, according to CIAN.Analitiki, secondary housing now costs an average of 159.5 thousand rubles. per sq. m, in the Leningrad region – 138 thousand rubles. Relative to October, these values ​​decreased by 1.2% and 0.9%, respectively.

In the secondary market “old” Moscow The average cost of the offer, according to the calculations of the director of the secondary market department of Inkom-real estate, Sergey Shloma, is now 277.9 thousand rubles. per sq. m. For the month, this figure decreased by 1%, and for the year increased by only 0.5%. But the price of transactions on the market, according to him, continues to be regulated by the discount: 80% of sellers understand that now it is impossible to do without price reduction.

The expert believes that the demand for real estate in Moscow is gradually recovering, but the market is still playing out the “bubble” effect. Housing prices last year were overestimated by about 30%.

“This year the bubble has already deflated by 15–20%, it will deflate a little more, and nothing terrible will happen,” says Mr. Shloma.

Market demand is also recovering in other regions: in early November, the number of ad views and calls was 15% higher than in the first half of October and 25% higher than the local lows of the first days after the start of mobilization, says Alexei Popov, head of CIAN.Analytics. Although the expert warns that these indicators do not directly indicate an increase in the number of transactions. Sergey Khakhulin speaks of an increase in user activity by 2.5% per month, but the indicator lags behind last year by 18.9%.

There are more offers: over the month, the number of ads, according to Mr. Khakhulin, increased by 0.7%, over the year – by 15.3%. Although Alexey Popov believes that there is no single trend here. So, for example, in Krasnodar, Novosibirsk, Perm, Samara, Ufa and Chelyabinsk, there have been fewer offers over the past month, but in other cities the number of offers has increased. The expert does not rule out that some owners have temporarily postponed transactions, deciding to rent out their property for the time being.

Although the director of “Etazhi” Ildar Khusainov states that the average discount for the sale of secondary housing is now gradually declining: “This is one of the indicators of the recovery of buying activity.” The dynamics, however, is still insignificant: the monthly discount decreased from 5.9% to 5.7%. But in general, the positive dynamics, according to the expert, are facilitated by lower prices for secondary housing, increased supply and softened conditions of banks regarding mortgage loans.

The emerging signs of recovery, according to Mr. Khusainov, suggest that it is not worth waiting for a decline in prices for secondary real estate in the short term. However, the expert also does not predict their growth.

Until the end of the year, in his opinion, the average supply price will be kept by the limited purchasing power of people considering buying a home. Sergey Khakhulin believes that further movements of the secondary market are highly dependent on the general political and economic situation, support measures. At the same time, Mr. Shloma notes that the purchase of an apartment for many compatriots under the current conditions remains the most reliable, safe and liquid investment. “Now it is difficult to consider any alternative to real estate,” he argues.

Alexandra Mertsalova