The average price of a "square" in the premium class for the first time in Moscow exceeded 900 thousand rubles.

According to the results of February, the weighted average price per square meter in the primary premium housing market in Moscow for the first time exceeded the threshold of 900 thousand rubles, the experts of the company "Metrium" calculated. Over the past three years, the figure in the premium class has increased by 48%, while in the business class - by 30%, in the elite segment — by 48%. The weighted average price per square meter increased more strongly only in the mass segment — by 54%.

"The premium segment is becoming the main beneficiary of market changes today. Buyers are willing to pay extra for the quality of the environment and reliability, especially since the budget difference between business class and premium class may not be so critical, and the product level differs significantly. According to our forecasts, the trend towards higher prices for premium projects ahead of inflation will continue. This is due, among other things, to an increase in construction costs: in the premium segment, the key remains the choice of proven manufacturers and high quality standards," Marina Gritskova, head of the STONE analytical center, explained to Izvestia.

There is also a significant increase in consumer activity in the premium new building market. In February 2026, clients registered 346 equity participation agreements. In turn, in February 2023, buyers signed 130 equity participation agreements (DDU) in premium-class new buildings in the capital. That is, over the past month, 2.6 times (166%) more transactions were recorded than in the same period three years ago.

"Against the background of tightening monetary policy and the completion of the program of mass preferential mortgages, developers are increasingly refocusing on the implementation of projects of business class and higher. At the same time, the solvent audience is actively investing in premium real estate assets in conditions of uncertainty. In addition, the premium segment is the least dependent on housing loans," said Yana Sosoreva, Director of Strategic Development at Grad Development.

According to the results of February 2026, a square meter in the market of massive new buildings in "old" Moscow will cost an average of 421 thousand rubles against 272.9 thousand rubles in February 2023. Thus, the "square" of primary housing in the historical borders of the capital has risen in price by 54%. This is the maximum increase among all segments. In February 2026, clients purchased only 1 thousand apartments and apartments under the DDA, whereas three years ago — 2.9 thousand. That is, demand has almost tripled relative to February 2023, by 65.5%. However, the sharp decline is due to a significant exhaustion of supply — over the past year, the volume of exposure in massive new buildings in "old" Moscow has halved.

"In the long term, new buildings in all segments of the primary market of "old" Moscow are becoming more expensive at least at the level of inflation. The fact is that the capital's new-build market has a high capacity and demonstrates stability even during periods of turbulence. However, fluctuations in the market, of course, affect the dynamics. The maximum real price growth is usually typical for more expensive segments, which are less dependent on mortgage demand. At the same time, new comfort-class buildings may also have significant liquidity. However, as a rule, capitalization above inflation is typical only for massive projects in rapidly developing locations, for example, in areas where new metro stations are being built, as well as modern social and recreational infrastructure facilities," Ruslan Syrtsov, Managing Director of Metrium, summed up.

Housing surge: weak demand forced developers to make more discounts

But such lots may turn out to be substandard.

Analysts at the Redcat aggregator of new buildings reported on March 11 that demand for new buildings in the Moscow region had fallen to lockdown levels. A total of 5,48 thousand were registered in the Moscow region. This is 30% less than it was in January, and 48% less than it was in February 2025. Historically, the current level corresponds to the indicators that were recorded during the first covid lockdown in May—June 2020 (5.1-5.6 thousand DDU).

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