Russians named the best months to buy an apartment

Buying real estate in Russia can be much cheaper during periods of seasonal decline in buyer activity, when sellers are more likely to accept discounts and developers offer special conditions. Mikhail Klimenkov, CEO of the online real estate agency Welcome24, told Izvestia about this on December 24.

According to him, in order to determine the most favorable time for a deal, it is necessary to analyze price dynamics, market activity and mortgage lending conditions.

"According to Rosreestr data, the peak demand for residential real estate traditionally falls in the autumn months — from September to November. For example, in October 2025, 16.6% more transactions were registered in Moscow than in September. At the same time, minimal activity is observed in January-February, as well as in the summer period from June to August," he said.

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According to the expert, it is these months that provide buyers with the opportunity to purchase an apartment at a significant discount, since sellers in the secondary market often reduce prices by 10-15% in conditions of low demand to speed up sales, especially if the object has been on display for more than three to six months.

According to Klimenkov, seasonality is less pronounced in the primary market, as it is more strongly influenced by banking programs and developer promotions, which are often launched just during periods of recession — in winter and summer — to stimulate demand. Instead of direct discounts, bonuses are usually offered here: installments, reduced mortgage payments in the early years, or finishing promotions. An important factor remains the high average mortgage rate, which constrains the activity of buyers. The launch of preferential programs, however, may temporarily boost demand beyond traditional seasonal peaks.

"The optimal periods for buying an apartment in terms of price and bargaining opportunities are January-February and July-August, when low demand gives buyers an advantage. The autumn months, on the contrary, are characterized by maximum demand and price increases, which makes bidding less likely," the expert said.

The final decision, according to Klimenkov, should be made by combining reasonable prices and sellers' willingness to make concessions during periods of low activity with the possibility of using available financial instruments in less competitive conditions.

Analysts from Metrium and SIS Development told Izvestia on December 12 that the Southeastern Administrative District of Moscow has become the leader in price increases for massive new buildings over the past year. Over the past 12 months, the average cost per square meter here has increased by 25%. A significant increase was also recorded in the Northern Administrative District, where prices increased by 24% — from 311.6 thousand to 387.5 thousand rubles.

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