By the beginning of July 2020, demand for the purchase of suburban real estate in Russia grew by 77.7% compared to the same period in 2019. At the same time, the number of rental transactions for such housing increased by 35%. This is stated in the Avito Real Estate study.

“At the beginning of quarantine in April and May 2020, there was a boom in demand for rental cottages, which exceeded 3.2 times the pre-crisis levels, and after the cancellation of the self-isolation regime, the purchase of suburban real estate became the top priority format,” the authors of the study note.

According to experts, in April - June in Russia, the average cost of renting a country house and cottage grew by a third - up to 20 thousand and 80 thousand rubles, respectively. In turn, the price per month of residence in the country increased by 17.7% - up to 20 thousand rubles, and in a town house - by 10%, up to 50 thousand.

At the same time, housing prices outside the city showed mixed dynamics. So, for example, over the past year, the average cost of a summer residence in Russia has not changed and amounts to 500 thousand rubles, suburban homes have fallen in price by 2.9% to 1.7 million, and cottages and townhouses have risen in price by 2.7% and 4.4 % - up to 5.65 million and 4.7 million rubles, respectively.

As RT told Avito Real Estate, currently the most sought-after type of suburban housing in Russia remains houses with a high level of comfort, which account for up to 65% of rental transactions and up to 59% of sales. The second most popular type of real estate outside the city is a summer residence, as the most budget accommodation option.

The sharp increase in demand is largely due to the decision of some Russians to leave the city and thereby minimize the risk of coronavirus infection with COVID-19. This was in an interview with RT said the chairman of the board of directors of BEST-Newbuilding Irina Dobrokhotova.

“Even after the quarantine was lifted, demand for this type of housing continued to grow: compared with May, interest in cottages increased by another 10-15%. This is due to the fact that part of the restrictions are still in effect, and the borders are still closed, ”the expert noted.

According to analysts, the increased demand for suburban real estate may persist until the end of 2020. Against the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic, many Russians switched to remote employment and, if possible, prefer to equip the workplace in their homes rather than apartments, said Anna Radzhabova, director of the elite real estate department at Metrium Premium. 

“The need for daily trains to the office disappears, therefore, the main drawback of suburban real estate - the longer road to the destination - is fading into the background. Moreover, a part of the Russians who made self-isolation in the country, having rented a house, can reconsider their priorities and choose to buy a cottage, ”said Rajabova in an interview with RT.

In general, following the results of 2020, the volume of sales of suburban real estate in Russia can grow by 15-20% compared with 2019. About this RT told the elite real estate agency Knight Frank.

In addition to the impact of the pandemic, analysts explain the high demand for suburban homes as a sharp decrease in housing loan rates. According to the Central Bank, in May 2020, the average mortgage rate in Russia dropped from 8.32% to 7.4% per annum. The value became the lowest for all time of observations. Moreover, by the end of the year, the indicator may decline to 6.5% per annum. This opinion was expressed in an interview with RT by the vice president of the International Academy of Mortgage and Real Estate, Irina Radchenko.

“Reducing the cost of a mortgage loan will reduce the cost of families paying a loan and significantly expand the choice for buying a home, including suburban real estate,” the expert added.

According to her, new measures to support young families have become an additional driver of increasing interest in suburban real estate. Recall that in early 2020, the authorities expanded the program of maternity capital. So, from January 1, families received the right to receive 466 thousand rubles when the first-born appeared, and payments for the birth or adoption of a second child were increased to 616 thousand rubles.

“Russians can spend the capital on a down payment on a mortgage, not only for an apartment, but also for a house or a plot. Also, at the birth of the third child, the authorities extinguish 450 thousand rubles of her mortgage loan for the family. It turns out that a family with three children can, with the help of the state, invest over 1 million rubles in buying a house. For this money you can buy a full-fledged house in some regions, ”concluded Irina Radchekno.