Today's Tallinn New Development Buyer: Average Age 40, Seeking 3-Room Apartment with Balcony and Making a Decision in One and a Half Months

Tallinn's new real estate market is moving in an upward trend. Last year, a total of 1515 new apartments were sold – 22.7% more than a year earlier. The average price per square meter of sold new apartments rose from €4434 to €4537. The most active transaction areas were Haabersti, Kesklinn, and Põhja-Tallinn. However, behind the numbers lies a much more interesting question: who is the person buying a new apartment in Tallinn today, what are they looking for, and how do they make their decision?

According to Endover's sales director Annika Saare, today's new home buyer has a clear picture of what they want. "People no longer come simply to view real estate and dream about it, they come to make a decision. Demands have grown significantly," said Saare.

Transaction data compiled by the company on purchasing behavior shows that on average, the buyer is 40 years old, views an apartment twice, and reaches the notary within a month and a half. Approximately 70% are purchased as a home for personal use, 30% for investment purposes. The share of foreigners in transactions averages 15%.

What does today's buyer expect from an apartment?

The most popular apartment type is a three-room, and more than half of transactions involve this type. This reflects a clear market trend and growing purchasing power. While two-room apartments previously dominated, buyers now can afford themselves additional space, whether it's a home office corner or a separate room for a child. Most apartments sold are sized 65–80 square meters, and over 60% of purchased apartments have two or more bedrooms. A balcony or terrace has become a standard requirement: 70% of sold apartments have a balcony or outdoor terrace. Open kitchen solutions dominate, and all apartments are sold finished.

According to Annika Saare, the buyer has become more specific in their decision-making over the past few years. "A growing trend is that when a buyer finds a suitable option, they don't delay booking it for long. We also see that the preference is very clearly toward ready or soon-to-be-ready properties, because the buyer doesn't want to wait," said Saare.

According to Endover's sales director, the profile of the new development buyer won't change significantly in 2026, although expectations will grow. "The buyer wants minimal transition time – keys in hand and ready to move in. That's why we see growing interest in fully furnished apartments and increasingly greater attention to the living environment and small added values," said Saare.

The living environment has become as important as the apartment itself. Proximity to green and park areas has become an important value for home buyers, and for families with children, proximity to schools and kindergartens is often a decisive argument. "Today, people aren't just looking for four walls, they're looking for an environment. They ask what's around them, how children can get to school, if there's somewhere to walk," noted Endover's sales director.

This year's expectation for the real estate market: growth is real, but seasonality has changed

Although Tallinn's annual sales volume grew in 2025, the typical year-end sales spike did not occur. In terms of transaction volumes, the most active areas last year were Kesklinn (324 transactions, ~€118 million, €5181/m²), Põhja-Tallinn (323 transactions, ~€107 million, €5345/m²), and Haabersti (399 transactions, ~€95 million, €3703/m²).

According to Annika Saare, the sales outlook for 2026 is optimistic. Euribor has stabilized near 2%, competition in the home loan market is intense, and wage growth continues. Also, no significant price increase is expected in new developments in the near term, which means that if the offering on the market meets the buyer's expectations, all conditions are in place for new development sales volumes to grow.

According to Citify data, Endover held second place in last year's sales rankings in both units and turnover, and Volta Quarter confirmed its position as Tallinn's most preferred new development for the third consecutive year. The quarter's growth was driven in part by the newest building under construction, Volta SKAI, which in four months has become Tallinn's most sold new development by turnover. By mid-February, 12% of the first tower's saleable total area was covered by purchase agreements – a strong result for a project that began construction only at the end of last year and is projected to have a five-year sales period.

"The buyer is willing to pay more, but only if the development offers something you can't get elsewhere. Distinctive architecture, a ready-made living environment, special views, well-thought-out solutions. A base standard is no longer enough," said Annika Saare.

Endover's largest development in Põhja-Tallinn: Volta Quarter

Volta Quarter operates on a 15-minute city principle – a private and secure living environment where everything needed for daily life is within walking distance. The quarter, consisting of 29 buildings in total, is developing into a complete city. In Volta HUB, a business center that will have 35,000 square meters of commercial space, Tallinn's largest MyFitness sports club with nearly 2000 square meters of training space opened at the end of last year. A paddle club with four panoramic courts also operates in the quarter. The range of services will expand in the coming years: a food street will house restaurants, cafes, and food shops, everyday services will be added, and a kindergarten will be completed. At the heart of the quarter lies a 15,000 square meter highly green park area.