The number of DDA transactions increased by 54.3% during the period of reduction of the key rate

The number of equity participation agreement (DDA) transactions in cities with a population of one million increased by 54.3% during the period of reduction in the key rate. Ufa has become the leader in terms of their growth and the total area of primary real estate sold among the million-plus cities. This was reported to Izvestia in the Pulse of New Building Sales and Yandex Real Estate services.

According to their market research, in January 2026, 24 thousand DDU transactions for the sale of apartments in new buildings were concluded in million-plus cities. This is 54.3% more than in May 2025, from the moment when the gradual reduction of the Central Bank's key rate began. The most significant increase in the number of DDU transactions from May to January, twofold or more, was recorded in five million-plus cities — Ufa (+178.3%), Krasnodar (+174.1%), Perm (+134.5%), Nizhny Novgorod (+128.9%) and Chelyabinsk (+117.6%).

The total area of apartments in new buildings sold in January 2026 under housing and communal services transactions in million-plus cities amounted to 1.1 million square meters, which is 40.9% more than the sales results in May 2025. The most noticeable increase in the total area of real estate sold in January 2026 compared to May 2025 was noted in Ufa (+161.9%), Krasnodar (+144.8%), Yekaterinburg (+112.1%), Perm (+109.5%) and Nizhny Novgorod (+104.5%).

Average cost of sq.m. The profit in DDU transactions in cities with a population of 191 thousand rubles, compared to May 2025, it increased slightly - by 5.6%. The most noticeable increase in the average cost of sq.m. The increase in DDU transactions relative to May in January 2026 was noted in Krasnoyarsk (by 12.8%, to 150 thousand rubles), St. Petersburg (by 12.7%, to 315 thousand rubles) and Novosibirsk (by 10.2%, to 162 thousand rubles).

"During the period of lowering the key rate, we have seen a continuous increase in activity in the market of new buildings in cities with millions of residents. By January 2026, the number of DDU transactions had increased significantly. In some million-plus cities, there has been a more than twofold increase in the number of contracts signed, and the number of views of developer contacts in ads in million-plus cities has increased by 69% over the past 9 months. We expect that in the coming months, the market for new buildings will continue to grow smoothly in consumer activity," explained Evgeny Belokurov, commercial Director of Yandex Real Estate.

According to him, preferential mortgage programs with a lower interest rate, special promotions and discounts on a dedicated list of apartments from developers will continue to be an incentive. The expectation of a further reduction in the key rate of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation, which dropped to 15.5% in early 2026, will also play a role, the expert believes.

"In January 2026, more than 24 thousand equity participation agreements were concluded in total for all million-plus cities, which is 54.3% more than in May 2025. An increase in sales is recorded in almost all million-plus cities. The main focus of buyers, even despite the softening of conditions and discounts from developers, falls on functional formats and more compact lots. The average area of facilities sold in cities with a population of one million in January 2026 was 45.7 square meters, which is 8.6% less than in May 2025. At the same time, the average transaction amount for residential buildings in cities with a population of one million in January 2026 is slightly higher than it was in May 2025, by 1.3%," Artem Advisers, head of the Pulse Sales service for New Buildings, told Izvestia.

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Analysts at Metrium, who conducted market research in the region, reported on February 18 that the number of real estate transactions in the Moscow Region fell by 44% in January. According to their data, a total of 4.6 thousand equity participation agreements were registered (-44% per month), 82 transactions were registered with apartments, 4.5 thousand with apartments. At the same time, over the year, the DDU growth amounted to 38%.

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