New buildings or resale: how Ukrainians decide where to buy housing in 2025 - survey
Kyiv • UNN
Most Ukrainians are considering both housing markets, but are wary of the risks of new buildings. The main disadvantages of resale housing are wear and tear and outdated planning.
Most Ukrainians, when choosing housing in the primary or secondary market, are guided by financial capabilities and risk assessment. This is reported by UNN with reference to a survey from OLX.
Details
Yes, 61% of Ukrainians consider buying housing in both the primary and secondary markets. Only 14% of respondents consider only "primary housing", and 24% - only secondary housing.
Portrait of a potential buyer
According to the survey results, Ukrainians aged 31-41 most often think about buying housing. Their share is 30% of respondents.
They are followed by the 42-52 age category (26%) and young people aged 18-30 (25%). 69% of respondents have an income of up to UAH 30,000 per month. At the same time, 37% live in their own apartments, and 32% rent housing.
62% of respondents plan or are considering buying housing in the next 5 years, and 6% plan to rent.
As for the type of housing, the undisputed leader is an apartment (62% of responses), slightly less than half (48%) consider a private house. 44% of respondents plan to spend up to $30,000 on the purchase of their own housing, 35% - up to $60,000. At the same time, 52% consider only housing options in a house built before 2011.
The rest of the respondents consider housing in houses built from 1991 to 2010.
Advantages of new buildings according to Ukrainians
Housing from developers attracts 53% of Ukrainians with autonomous heating, backup power, etc. 51% of respondents indicated that when choosing housing, they prefer modern planning of such apartments. Another 45% - developed infrastructure, including the availability of parking and playgrounds.
41% of respondents consider the use of new materials and construction technologies important. 31% consider the purchase of apartments in new buildings an opportunity to save at the initial stages. In particular, 25% indicated the possibility of obtaining "eOselia" when buying such housing as a bonus.
Disadvantages of new buildings according to Ukrainians
However, buying a home in a new building also raises concerns about the higher risks.
Thus, 69% are afraid that construction may be unfinished. 61% of respondents fear delays in the commissioning of facilities. High repair costs put 38% of Ukrainians off.
42% also mentioned the need to wait for construction and repairs as a disadvantage.
21% of respondents noted that new buildings are often located far from the city centre.
Advantages of buying secondary housing in the opinion of Ukrainians
For 68% of Ukrainians, the key advantage of secondary housing is that it allows them to move in immediately.
57% noted the opportunity to assess the actual condition of the property. The same percentage of respondents mentioned the existing infrastructure as an advantage, and 34% mentioned a wider choice of neighbourhoods when buying secondary housing.
Respondents often mention lower prices as a decisive factor, especially for those who cannot afford a new building or wait for the completion of construction.
Disadvantages of secondary housing according to respondents
75% of Ukrainians said that the main disadvantage of such housing is the deterioration of buildings and communications.
49% of Ukrainians also mentioned the outdated layout as a disadvantage. Outdated repairs and architectural solutions also put off 49% of respondents.
The lack of autonomous heating scares off 40%, and the lack of parking off 29% of respondents.
According to OLX, low incomes and rising housing prices are pushing Ukrainians to the secondary market, where they can find more affordable housing without the risks of waiting. At the same time, the primary market remains attractive to those willing to spend more for better comfort in the future.
Real estate shows that 61% of respondents have considered or are considering buying housing on both the primary and secondary markets, only 14% are considering the primary market for housing, while 24% are considering only the secondary market, OLX experts say, based on their own survey.
Additionally
The survey was conducted among users on the OLX Ukraine platform in April 2025. The number of participants is 9,560.
