It is no secret to any of us that real estate in Moscow and the nearest suburbs is considered one of the most expensive in the world, especially when it comes to such a prestigious direction as Rublevo-Uspenskoye and Novorizhskoye Shosse or about the historical center of Moscow. The cost of the Moscow apartment is sometimes comparable even with the cost of a luxurious villa on the seashore in some sunny European country and is certainly not inferior to prices in Paris, London, New York and Munich, whose real estate has always been considered an excellent way to invest, thanks to its high liquidity and stable price increase. And such a trend has existed for a long time.
I wonder what happens to real estate prices in former union republics? May their capital are not as prestigious as the capital of Russia, but still we were once the same country with unique and very diverse territories. We will try to study today’s real estate market in the largest and close to us republics such as Belarusia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, Moldova, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan. Given the fact that, as in Russia, prices in the capital can differ by an order of prices in other cities remote from the center of the Republic, we propose to focus on the central part of the country, since we are interested in comparing it precisely with Moscow.
Belarus
One of the countries closest to Russia, which still has an open border with us. If you want to go to rest in one of the European countries, for example, within the framework of the bus tour, then the most convenient option (after the plane, of course) will be the path through Brest, from where it is literally a stone’s throw to the Polish border. It is this fact that determines the greater Europeanism of Belarus regarding other republics. Only living here, you can afford a pleasant trip by car in Europe. In the same way as the historical monuments of this country attract the attention of foreign tourists.
The center of the camp is the city of Minsk, which in its appearance is not inferior to many world capitals, and has its own specific architecture, which is something common between Moscow and St. Petersburg. What real estate can you find in Minsk, and who has the right to buy it? The pleasant news for Russians will be the absence of any restrictions on the purchase of apartments and cottages both in the secondary market and in the new buildings market, as well as the possibility of buying a plot of land for development. That is, your rights will not be different from residents’ rights.
The largest volume of transactions of sale and rental, of course, accounts for Minsk, where more than 2 thousand objects of residential and commercial real estate are sold monthly. The cost of a square meter of housing in February this year for the secondary market amounted to 42,400 rubles, and on the market of new buildings 39,800 rubles, which is much lower than the cost of a square meter in Moscow. A three -room apartment in a brick house with excellent repair, built -in furniture and equipment in the city center will cost you about 3,800,000 Russian rubles.
Turning to almost any large Belarusian real estate agency, you can quickly choose a suitable option for a typical apartment in a new house or in the old housing stock, elite housing, Townhouse or a cozy cottage in the nearest suburbs of Minsk. In addition, real estate agents will definitely offer you to consider options in other large cities, for example, in Brest, Gomel or Vitebsk, where real estate prices are even lower. So to acquire quite affordable housing in Belarus can even an ordinary average Muscovite. With the execution of a mortgage loan, if necessary, there will be no special problems. Some Belarusian real estate agencies work remotely, and they can choose options for you while you are at home. It will be necessary to come to Belarus already to directly view the options you like and the execution of the purchase and sale transaction.
Ukraine
This country is firmly associated with Russians with the Black Sea, magnificent mountain massifs, beautiful landscapes and the hot sun. Rest in Crimea or the Sea of Azov for many decades has become a real family tradition for many of our compatriots. But besides the resort zone, there are also medieval castles, wonderful original cities (one Odessa is worth Lviv) and one of the most beautiful cities of the former USSR Kyiv. What real estate objects can be found in the Ukrainian capital?
Firstly, it is worth immediately making a reservation that, as in Belarus, there are no restrictions on the purchase of real estate in Ukraine for Russians. An ordinary Russian passport is enough to make a transaction. Secondly, Russian rubles here, as you know, do not accept, however, as in all other former union republics, so you will have to use one of the local exchangers or bring with you the necessary amount already in hryvnias. Thirdly, the cost of a square meter of housing will pleasantly surprise you. When transferring to us, on average, it is 62,500 rubles on average. Of course, the area of the city and its prestige are of great importance. So the cost of the apartment on the right bank and in the center will be noticeably higher than the left bank.
The local Ukrainian real estate agency will offer you a wide variety of options for buying and renting apartments, elite real estate, as well as new towhouses in the nearest suburbs of Kyiv. The choice remains for you. If you give specific examples, then buy a one -room apartment of increased comfort, with an excellent repair, a total area of 60 square meters in a new modern brick house in convenient transport accessibility from the city center can be for 2,890,000 thousand rubles. That is, at the price of an apartment of even smaller area in the near Moscow Region.
Azerbaijan
This country is associated with sultry and sunny people, the mentality of which is quite different from the Russian. On the territory of Azerbaijan you can find many interesting historical and natural attractions. The capital of the country Baku attracts the attention of many tourists, thanks to its unusual appearance and soft climate. In Baku you can find everything for an excellent ski or sea vacation. A large number of parks make this city a beautiful place not only for relaxation, but also for year -round residence. But the cost of housing remains at a fairly high level and is inferior only to Moscow and St. Petersburg, which is largely due to an oil factor that has a fairly strong effect on the real estate market. The cost per square meter ranges from 1 to 4 thousand dollars. A two -room apartment located next to the park area and metro station can be bought for $ 67,000 or for 2,100,000 rubles. But this is a typical option. Elite housing in the historical center, with renovation and full furniture with the same number of rooms will cost 8,300,000 rubles already. You can buy an apartment in Baku without any legal restrictions, moreover, the state offers special credit programs for foreigners on very favorable terms. In recent years, Turkey and the UAE have become the main “competitor” of the Azerbaijani real estate market, which attract foreign investors more by their territorial location, and housing prices are in about the same range.
Uzbekistan
The climate of this republic is radically different from the usual middle strip and even from the Black Sea coast, where the temperature regime is completely different. Not only Russians seek to visit Uzbekistan, but also many foreign tourists. After all, such a mixture of different architectural styles and specific natural landscapes cannot be found anywhere else.
Tashkent is a unique city with a very beautiful and unusual oriental architecture. Today’s real estate market is represented mainly by apartments and apartments of the secondary market. New buildings are practically not found here, since local authorities are very monitoring the preservation of the historical appearance of the city.
In addition to ordinary apartment buildings, you can also find private possessions fenced with a separate fence. The purchase of real estate in Uzbekistan attracts, first of all, its fairly low cost, which still has not returned to the previous level after the crisis. But the main difficulty is that foreigners have no right to buy housing. Only legal entities or private individuals who have a residence permit can acquire any real estate objects. Variants of two -room apartments will cost you from 20,000 to 85,000 dollars, depending on a specific area, condition, such as home and housing category. The upper price range refers to apartments located in new modern brick houses business and premium classes, in which designer repair is made.
Lithuania
The cold Baltic country was once very popular among Russian tourists who prefer a vacation on the sunny beach of the Black Sea, impregnable Baltic. The capital of Lithuania Vilnius has become a full -fledged European city, which is completely different from either other capitals of the former USSR or Moscow. But real estate prices here will pleasantly please you, as they are favorably different from similar offers in European cities.
Buying an apartment or apartment in the old city of Vilnius can be an excellent investment. The most affordable offers are found in the secondary housing market. For the acquisition of real estate in this country, very convenient transport accessibility from Moscow (800 km on the road), the possibility of obtaining the Schengen multivisia and low tax rates (only 1% of the value of the acquired property) is said. One-room apartment in a new house located in convenient transport accessibility from the center of Vilnius will bypass you about 38-40 thousand dollars.
Tajikistan
Now people from this republic can be found quite a lot on the streets of the Russian capital, and the attitude towards them is often not very friendly. It is believed that the work that Muscovites do not want to take on can always be given to Tajik. But Tajikistan, although it is not the same rich in a country as Russia, Lithuania, Latvia, Belarus or Ukraine, but also has its own unique features. Thinking about the possible cost of housing in the capital of the Republic of Dushanbe, it seems that prices here should be very affordable and very small, since even the smallest Moscow salaries are quite satisfied with migrants of this country.
Entire residential quarters of affordable housing are really actively built in the city, the cost of which is about $ 552 per square meter. So you can well buy a one -room apartment (34 kV. m) for 18836 dollars, two -room (58 square meters. m) for 32,000 dollars and three -room (85 kV. m) for $ 47,000. In the city center, the cost increases to $ 800-1000 per square meter. The cost of elite real estate reaches 130-250 thousand dollars. An interesting feature of local residents is the desire to have their own separate housing and the absence of communal services.
Armenia
Armenia is a rather colorful sunny country with its unique customs and traditions, as well as with extraordinary nature and original cities. The most profitable real estate investments are concentrated in Yerevan, which is considered the cultural, political and business center of the country. A feature of local architecture is the direct neighborhood of old private houses and ultramodern new buildings and townhouses. You can choose housing in the capital for almost every taste and wallet. A distinctive feature of today’s real estate market is its relatively low cost. Having sold a three -room apartment in Yerevan, you can buy one -room in one of the sleeping areas of Moscow with great difficulty.
In addition to economical housing options, in Yerevan you can also find unique offers of two -level apartments with excellent species characteristics that allow you to admire the changing views of Mount Ararat during the day. The cost per square meter is very dependent on the specific area of the city, but if you averaged it, you can find an apartment of increased comfort for yourself within 50-70,000 dollars. It is customary to bargain in Armenia, so the final price can differ greatly from the initially indicated.
Latvia
This is another Baltic country that hundreds of Russian tourists visit annually, and which attracts Russians affordable real estate prices, comfortable climatic conditions, lack of a language barrier and a European way of life. In addition, by purchasing an apartment, apartments or cottage in Latvia worth over 120 thousand euros, you get the right to make a residence permit, which also acts as an undeniable bonus for those who want to find their second house here. The most expensive real estate is concentrated in Riga and its suburbs, as well as in Jurmala. For a better understanding of the price order, we give an example of the cost of a four -room apartment in the very center of Riga, located in a historical building. It is 200,000 – 250,000 euros. That in general there are not so many relatively familiar Moscow prices.
Estonia
Even the very name of the capital of this country sounds beautiful and attractive. Tallinn fully corresponds to its beautiful name. Indeed, on its territory there are two magnificent lakes of Harku and Yumelist, and the monuments of medieval architecture are protected by UNESCO, which emphasizes their historical value and uniqueness. The period of mass mainly low -rise construction of new housing was quite sharply stopped by the 2008 crisis, but gradually the real estate market began to restore, and today in Tallinn they practically do not remember the recent unfavorable conditions for the sale and purchase of residential and commercial real estate. When making a decision on the purchase of real estate in this country, it is worth paying attention to the lack of real estate tax and any legislative restrictions on the purchase of houses and apartments by foreigners. Plus, you get the opportunity to arrange a Schengen multivisa, which gives you the right of multiple entrance not only to Estonia, but to all countries of the Union.
All residential real estate of the city can be conditionally divided into the following categories: the houses of the old “Soviet” buildings located in the sleeping areas of the city; Houses in the historical center and modern low -rise buildings, Townhouse and private cottages located in the coastal and forest parts of the city. The cost of housing directly depends on which of these categories you are interested in. The main distinguishing feature of housing in new buildings will be that apartments and cottages are rented out with a high -quality finish that allows the owner to enter his new house in the shortest possible time. At the same time, you yourself can choose an option either in the form of a repair already made with certain color and interior solutions, or in the form of “white walls”, which you yourself can be painted in the tones suitable for your taste. The average cost of a one -room apartment, with an area of 35 to 50 square meters ranges in the interval between 50,000 -100,000 dollars. A two -room apartment will cost a little more from 70,000 to $ 150,000. So you can easily choose the option that suits you.
Kazakhstan
Russians in the Kazakh real estate market, first of all, are attracted by low housing prices, convenient territorial location and remoteness from Moscow, as well as the growing quality of construction and life in general. A fairly wide selection of panel high -rise buildings is presented in the secondary market. If you are more attracted by housing of a higher class, then you should pay your attention to business class objects and elite housing, which, of course, does not reach its status to the usual European understanding, but is still favorably distinguished by its quality from comfort-and Moreover, economy class.
Interestingly, the most expensive real estate is not concentrated in the capital of Astana, but in Almaty, where the most interesting and prestigious objects of residential and commercial real estate are located. Buying an apartment in Astana, even in a new building of a business class, is not as profitable as in Almaty, but you get the opportunity to constantly be in the capital, near the International Airport and the Center for Political and Cultural Events. There are no restrictions on buying an apartment or house in Kazakhstan. The cost per square meter of housing traditionally depends on the type of house and remoteness from the center. According to the end of February, the average figure is 56,000 rubles. Most of the most interesting options are sold directly from developers.
Moldova
Chisinau indigenous people give more preference to country houses, although they value the usual city comfort. The cost of a square meter of housing in the historical center of the city can reach up to 1200 euros per square meter, but here we are talking about either a housing of increased comfort, or about restored old buildings. In sleeping areas, the cost of a square meter of housing is hardly reached 800 euros.
Georgia
Despite some aggravation of relations between Russia and Georgia, real estate of this country continues to be of interest to foreign investors, including our compatriots. In Georgia, a very favorable year -round warm climate, excellent mountain air, original traditional cuisine and tolerance to various cultural and religious traditions. An interesting fact that buying Georgian real estate is sometimes even easier for a foreigner than a radical resident of the country. At the same time, foreigners do not ask for any confirmation of his official income, and are more loyal in terms of taxation system. Most of the transactions take place with the participation of professional realtors who take from 5 to 10% of the final value of the residential or commercial real estate for their services. If you want the house or apartment you like to be reserved for you and officially removed from the sale, for this you will have to pay about 20-30% of its cost.
It is noteworthy that the whole main package of the documents necessary for the transaction is prepared by the seller, and not the buyer. So the purchase procedure itself is quite simple. The main distinguishing feature of the Georgian real estate market from markets of other countries is the predominant use of real estate objects for their own living or business. So among residential real estate objects 90% is used to live its owner with the family and only 10% are rented out in order to get additional profit. And among commercial real estate, 47% of office and retail premises belong to the business owner himself, which is also completely not typical of the modern market. In addition, there are very few new modern housing in Georgia. Basically used the buildings of the old housing stock. The most prestigious is real estate in Tbilisi. Moreover, both in the small market of new buildings and in the secondary market. One -room apartment can be bought within 30 thousand dollars. A two-room and three-room room will cost a little more than 50-120 thousand dollars. As you yourself see, the prices are quite reasonable and affordable.
Turkmenistan
Unfortunately, this is probably one of the least successful countries of the former USSR. The total standard of living here still remains at a fairly low level, and average salaries are $ 200-300. It is precisely this circumstance that is due to interest in local real estate by residents of Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Indeed, with such salaries, the local population can hardly afford to buy their own apartment, especially in the elite houses of improved layout, and for foreigners housing prices are quite attractive and affordable. A two-room apartment in a new house in Ashgabat can be bought for $ 50-60,000. Investment purchases among this category of buyers are very developed, and rental business allows you to receive stable income from purchased real estate.
As in Moscow, in the capital of Turkmenistan, the demolition program for dilapidated housing is actively implemented among apartment buildings and among private possessions. Moreover, residents of private houses are relocated to new apartments depending on the number of family members, which was spelled out in the house. The state actively encourages young specialists who have the opportunity to buy an apartment with a 50% discount, having issued part of the amount on preferential lending conditions. If you are interested in really high -quality elite housing in Ashgabat, then you should pay attention to new residential complexes, where the average apartment area is 200 square meters. The cost of acquiring such pleasure will cost you about 230 thousand dollars.
Kyrgyzstan
In this friendly and bright country with an excellent climate there is a cozy place for everyone who wants to purchase a second house. At the same time, Kyrgyzstan is quite conservative and closed in the sense of buying and selling real estate to foreigners. To make a sales transaction, it is necessary to obtain an official permit, which will be considered individually. Here is a very similar economic situation, as in Turkmenistan, and in Uzbekistan, and in Tajikistan. The cost of an apartment or house in Bishkek will require you to minimal savings in the amount of 20-30 thousand. euro in case of purchase of an apartment and 40-50 thousand. euro to purchase a site with a house. This amount is not so small for local residents, but, of course, attracts the attention of foreigners, for whom it is more than affordable. The cost of a square meter of housing in the center of Bishkek is only 30 thousand. Russian rubles.
As you can see, the cost of a square meter of housing in the capitals of the former Soviet republics is indeed inferior to Moscow, but also the features of the local mentality, the standard of living and income here is also a slightly different. Buying real estate of another country is much easier and safer through a large local or international real estate agency. This will allow you to speed up the purchase process and simplify the collection of the necessary package of documents. Somewhere to buy an apartment, a Russian will not compose any problems, and somewhere our former allies are not so happy for us. But, in general, we can conclude that investing funds in the Baltic countries, Belarus and Ukraine can be quite profitable, given the potential for the development of these countries and a stable increase in prices. There is something to think about, especially if you, according to an already established habit, spend your annual vacation in one of these countries. Maybe it’s time to move from hotels and boarding houses to your own house, which the rest of the time can be rented quite profitably?