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- Price of popularity: the cost of the "square" studios exceeded the average market price by 23%
Price of popularity: the cost of the "square" studios exceeded the average market price by 23%
The capital's studios have become the most expensive format of mass housing in terms of square meter. In 2026, its average cost reached 513 thousand rubles, which is 23% higher than the average price in this segment of real estate. Experts attribute this gap to a shortage of compact housing amid consistently high demand. In the business class, multi-room apartments remain the leaders in this indicator: +16% to the average market price. Why compact apartments are becoming more expensive faster than other formats and how the market for new buildings is changing — in the Izvestia article.
What are the price surcharges?
Mass-market studios are leading in terms of the premium to the average market price per square meter: it reaches 23%, analysts at Metrium told Izvestia. In the premium and high-budget segments, multi—room apartments demonstrate the largest premium to the market - 21% and 15%, respectively.
"In compact formats, a meter is almost always more expensive, since the cost of basic apartment filling is distributed over a smaller area," said Yulia Ivanova, director of the analytics and consulting department at Metrium.
Experts compared the average cost per square meter of housing in different formats — from studios to multi—room apartments - in all market segments.
So, in the mass segment, the average cost per square meter in studios reached 513 thousand rubles against 418 thousand on average in the market of new buildings of this class. In the business, premium and high-budget segments, the highest price of a "square" is fixed in multi-room apartments.
But by purchasing a two-bedroom apartment in the mass segment, buyers begin to save on the price per square meter: its average cost is 392 thousand rubles, which is 6% lower than the market average. In three—room apartments — an average of 372 thousand rubles - 11% less than the average. And in multi-room apartments, savings have already reached 14%, analysts say.
In the comfort class segment, the price per square meter of studios is 25.4% higher than the average for all apartments, one-bedroom apartments are 13.8% more expensive, Natalia Shatalina, CEO of the Redcat aggregator of new buildings, confirmed.
Multi-room apartments are the leaders in the business, premium and high-budget segments, Metrium analysts noted. However, the amount of the surcharge varies. In business class, the cost of a square in apartments with four or more rooms averages 636 thousand rubles, which is 16% more expensive than the market, in premium class — an average of 1.1 million rubles against 911 thousand rubles.
"Buyers of large premium apartments are usually people with minimal financial constraints," said Yana Sosoreva, Director of Strategic Development at Grad Development. — The floor space surcharge rule in this segment is not strict, and not all premium projects have three-bedroom or multi-bedroom apartments that are the most expensive.
Why is this situation happening?
The current situation has been shaped by market, regulatory and inflationary factors, which have significantly changed the price structure and accessibility of various housing formats, said Svyatoslav Ivanov, head of the sales department at Rasvetay Stolitsa.
— The main reason for the extra charge on studios is their rapidly growing shortage against the background of consistently high demand, — he stressed. — A year ago, there were 4.5 thousand such lots on sale in Moscow, and now there are 1.5 thousand, that is, three times less. A reduction in supply is accompanied by an inevitable price increase.
One of the main market trends is that the mass segment is becoming more expensive much faster than the business class. The price per square meter in studios increased by 28.5%, and the total cost of such apartments jumped by 36.8%.
At the same time, the price gap between mass housing and business class has narrowed to a minimum of 23% in nine years.
— For comparison, a year ago this gap was 29%, and two years ago it was 25%. This strengthens the trend of rising prices and the smooth withdrawal of affordable apartments from the market," added Svyatoslav Ivanov.
The buyer should be prepared for the fact that the final cost of housing will increase by another 5-10% of the stated price, with hidden payments lurking at every stage, said Maxim Samsonov, CEO of Tashir Estate.
— For example, the commission for issuing a loan may amount to 1-1.5% of its amount. In addition, the developer often puts a commission to the bank for the mortgage in the price," he said. — Sometimes, in order to offer a low rate, the cost of an apartment is artificially inflated, and as a result, the overpayment turns out to be more.
Insurance — registration of an apartment insurance policy — about 0.2–0.3% of its cost annually and, especially, life insurance — about 1-1.5% of the loan amount per year. If you give up life insurance, the bank will raise the interest rate on the loan.
How the cost is regulated
There is no direct regulation of the cost per square meter in the primary market, Maxim Samsonov confirmed. The price depends on the balance of supply and demand, the cost of construction, the conditions of project financing, the level of competition, the availability of mortgages and the macroeconomic situation.
"At the same time, the state exerts indirect influence through urban planning regulations, minimum apartment floor space requirements, design parameters, banking regulation and mortgage programs," he added.
Speaking about the prospects, the potential for further growth in the cost of compact formats remains, the expert believes. It will be supported by a limited supply and high demand for apartments with a minimal purchase budget.
However, the possibilities for further price increases are not unlimited. Studios have an important competitive advantage — a relatively low entry fee. If the cost of such housing grows faster than buyers' incomes, some of the demand will begin to be redistributed in favor of other formats, which may approach studios by price criteria, the expert explained.
This creates a kind of vicious circle, says Alexander Yakubovsky, a member of the State Duma Committee on Construction and Housing and Communal Services. Studios are often bought not because it is an ideal housing format, but because for many it is the only financially affordable way to enter the market.
— But it is the high demand for such apartments that pushes up the cost per square meter, — said the parliamentarian. — As a result, housing, which should be the most affordable, becomes more expensive per meter. And this is an alarming signal: formally, there is a supply on the market, the choice of projects and layouts is becoming wider, but from the point of view of real purchasing power, housing affordability is decreasing.
At the same time, the direct regulation of the price per square meter should be treated with extreme caution, warned Alexander Yakubovsky. In a market economy, a mechanical price restriction can lead to the opposite effect — a reduction in supply, a decrease in quality, or an increase in hidden costs. It is more correct to work with the reasons for the rise in prices: the cost of project financing, infrastructure burden, administrative procedures, mortgage availability, competition and pricing transparency.
What the buyer should pay attention to
Now, to purchase an apartment in a new building, you need to calculate and estimate not just the nominal, but the real purchase price, said Rigina Gordeeva, founder of the Bezfilter real estate agency.
"If earlier, with the hype around subsidized rates, developers often included a commission for issuing preferential mortgages in the cost of facilities, now everything depends on the specific project," she said. — Some developers, in conditions of limited demand, make fair installments and subsidize rates, for others it is more of a marketing ploy to attract buyers. It is easy to identify the difference — you need to request the final cost of the apartment when buying with different conditions. The difference between cash and installment purchases can sometimes reach 15-20%.
A premium to the price can be obtained by using financial instruments from the developer, primarily a subsidized mortgage rate, installments, Natalia Shatalina reminded.
— And now this margin works as if in the opposite direction, it is immediately included in the price list, and the buyer who does not use these options, on the contrary, receives a discount, — she noted.
When choosing an apartment in a project, it is worth paying attention to all housing options, not just the target, say, two-room or three-room, said Liliya Artsibasheva, commercial Director of Regions Development. There are a lot of planning solutions in modern new buildings, and thanks to monolithic technology, it is technically possible to combine apartments.
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