The war has changed Ukrainians’ criteria for housing purchases.

The war has affected the perception of housing value in both the primary and secondary markets, and for both purchase and rent. Factors such as physical security and mass migration have become decisive elements.

In addition, investors who buy real estate intending to resell it have disappeared from the market. Today, no one invests in a building that has not yet been constructed, though two or three years ago, this willingness stimulated the country’s construction business significantly. The key criteria for choosing apartments were high project readiness and stable construction dynamics. Today, real estate buyers are not investors but internal migrants.

On the secondary market, apartments are bought and rented, ready for occupation and freshly renovated. Buyers also pay attention to amenities, such as a parking lot, and schools and kindergartens, which should be within walking distance. At the same time, housing should be located as far as possible from critical infrastructure facilities that may be targeted in attacks. Old, Soviet-era buildings are not trusted because they tend to collapse during shelling, and older basements are unsuitable as shelters.