A survey by real estate company 22/11 Development found that 76 percent of Russians would move to a private house if they keep city comfort. Research released to Lenta.ru showed that while many residents want to escape urban areas, the prospect of giving up standard amenities stops them from moving.
Although noise and city hustle previously drove people out of towns, living far from civilization now causes anxiety instead of curiosity for most respondents. Among those ready to move, 63 percent said they would still choose to live near a major city. Another 24 percent stated they would not abandon their city apartment even with an unlimited budget.
Suburban buyer priorities
Potential buyers of country homes prioritize transport links and nearby infrastructure such as shops, schools, and clinics over other factors. The survey showed that these services are currently more important to buyers than environmental conditions, purchase prices, utility bill amounts, or overall floor space. Having a land plot and living close to work or school ranked as the least valuable criteria.
Urban lifestyle enthusiasts are also attracted by avoiding personal responsibility for maintaining a house, its engineering systems, and the property grounds. Security considerations and the future resale liquidity of an apartment were secondary issues for most respondents.
Construction options and financial barriers
Building a house does not frighten potential buyers, with 35 percent of participants expressing a desire to build according to their own custom plan. Meanwhile, 28 percent preferred buying a completed cottage in a new development, and 25 percent opted for secondary market properties. Typical standard houses attracted 8 percent of respondents, while modular and frame houses remained niche options chosen by 3 percent.
Financial limitations are the primary barrier preventing people from fulfilling their dream. According to the data, 53 percent of respondents lack the funds required to purchase or build a house, while 20 percent cited property maintenance costs. Transport remoteness was cited by 13 percent of respondents, and 8 percent noted the burden of managing utility connections independently.
The survey findings follow earlier reports of declining private home sales in Russia, where transactions involving individual houses dropped to a 16 percent share of total housing deals.
