Which Homes Find Buyers Fastest Right Now?

The presence of a balcony and kitchen furniture in an apartment, or for example the number of floors in a house, can significantly affect how easily a real estate buyer finds a property. Kinnisvara24 executive director Urmas Uibomäe and City Property Real Estate Bureau board member Edit Nael analyzed which homes are currently preferred and why.

According to Nael, there is no single type of apartment or house that would sell faster than others. The most important factor remains the ratio of price to quality, but there are still clear trends noticeable in buyers' preferences.

„Currently, three to seven year old apartments and townhouses that are energy-efficient, in good condition, and reasonably priced are selling well. Such homes typically cost considerably less than a new apartment, but offer almost the same amenities," explained Nael.

In Tallinn and its surroundings, there is the greatest demand for homes priced between 200,000–350,000 euros. In addition to price, the apartment's layout, furnishings, and the presence of a balcony or terrace affect its selling speed. Buyers prefer apartments where kitchen furniture with appliances and built-in wardrobes are included in the price. „With a fully furnished apartment, you can pay for kitchen furniture and other furnishings with a home loan and don't have to make additional large expenses after purchase," explained Nael.

Residential area apartments remain in demand

Alongside newer apartments, apartments in older apartment buildings in Mustamäe and Lasnamäe continue to be sought-after. Their main advantage is the more affordable price, which makes apartment purchases accessible to more people. Many apartment transactions take place in both city districts, but according to Uibomäe, it should also be taken into account that a large part of Tallinn's apartments are located in these areas.

„In residential areas, both young people and those moving to Tallinn from elsewhere in Estonia are looking for their first home. Renovated apartments that can be moved into immediately are preferred. Unrenovated apartments are mainly of interest to investors, but for them the price must be sufficiently attractive so that the purchase is worthwhile even accounting for renovation costs," noted Uibomäe.

In addition to the apartment's condition, the overall state of the entire building influences the purchase decision. In particular, apartment buildings with insulated and updated heating systems with reasonable maintenance costs are valued.

Young families are looking for homes beyond the city limits

While a residential area apartment is the first home for many, as the family grows, a more spacious living space is often sought in Tallinn's surroundings. According to Nael, three and four-room apartments in Peetri village and Rae municipality are particularly popular among young families, where people are looking for three and four-room apartments and townhouse units of 100–120 square meters. The prices of the latter generally exceed 300,000 euros.

„Peetri is valued among young families because there are schools, kindergartens, and a child-friendly living environment there, and the capital is nearby," noted Nael. According to his assessment, a place like Keila is also an attractive place to live, with strengths being a peaceful and green living environment and good train connections to Tallinn.

On the Kinnisvara24 portal, there are currently 213 apartments for sale in Rae municipality, of which 36 are in Peetri village. In Keila city, there are 78 apartment sale offers at the same time.

Single-storey houses are winning on the single-family home market

According to Nael's experience, single-family homes are most sought after in the price range of 350,000 to 500,000 euros. Energy-efficient homes with good heating solutions and well-thought-out layouts are preferred.

„Currently, single-storey houses are highly valued. A roughly 120-square-meter house can accommodate everything a family needs, but it is easier to maintain than a large single-family home. Single-storey houses are also preferred by older buyers who don't want to climb stairs every day. In a two-storey house, the stairs and stairwell take up about 12–15 square meters, which in a single-storey house would remain as living space," explained Nael.

According to Uibomäe, energy efficiency and long-term maintenance costs have become more important than before in single-family home purchases. These also affect home loan terms and the value of real estate in the future.