The war, new security requirements, and the specifics of government programs are forcing people to rethink how they buy or rent housing. How not to get lost in all this and make a sensible, rather than risky, decision was discussed in an interview with NMN by Larysa Stavinoga, President of the Ukrainian Union of Real Estate Professionals.
One of the most popular programs today is eOselia. It is a preferential mortgage with interest rates of 3 or 7 percent, but with strict conditions. The housing must be relatively new, the floor area must meet set standards, and in large cities there are very few properties that actually qualify for the program. As a result, people are often forced to invest in unfinished buildings and start repaying a loan before the building is completed—while delays can drag on for years.
A separate issue is the down payment. Formally, it amounts to 10–20 percent, but in practice it often comes closer to 30 percent. In addition, applicants must have officially declared income or co-signers who share responsibility with the borrower.
For those who have lost their homes, the eVidnovlennia (“eRecovery”) program is in place, and housing vouchers of up to two million hryvnias are being introduced for internally displaced persons. The programs differ, each with its own nuances, deadlines, and restrictions, and without professional assistance it is easy to get confused.
In Kyiv, purchase prices are rising, especially for one-room apartments, while rental prices have temporarily dipped. At the same time, people are increasingly choosing housing not for the view from the window, but for the availability of shelters, autonomous power supply, and overall security. This is the new reality of the market—and it has to be taken into account.
More details are available in the video.