A new trend in the real estate market. This is how you buy apartments now

The primary market is clearly accelerating, and one of the most interesting signals of recovery are growing apartment reservations. It is no longer just an introduction to the purchase, but increasingly a full-fledged stage of the decision-making process. In March 2026, in the six largest cities in Poland, the number of reserved premises was as much as 36%. higher than a year earlier.

– Reservations were particularly loud in 2023, just before the launch of the “2% Safe Credit”. and at the beginning of 2024, when the government announced the “Start Housing Loan” program. Many buyers, counting on subsidies, booked apartments for fear of queues at sales offices and sudden price increases. Ultimately, the government withdrew from the subsidy program, and yet the number of reservations today is clearly higher than two or three years ago. Importantly, the current increase is no longer waiting for administrative support, but is increasingly the result of a real improvement in the availability of loans and greater predictability of purchasing decisions – says Marek Wielgo, expert of the RynekPierwotny.pl portal.

Thousands of apartments are “waiting” for buyers

The scale of the phenomenon is impressive. In Warsaw, Kraków, Gdańsk, Wrocław, Łódź and Poznań, approximately 6.3 thousand were booked at the end of March. apartments, which constitutes nearly 10 percent. the entire offer of developers. For comparison, a year earlier it was 4.6 thousand, and two years ago less than 4 thousand.

– This is the result of both the growing supply of new apartments and the improved availability of mortgage loans offered by banks on a commercial basis – explains Marek Wielgo.

Experts emphasize that although the numbers are growing, the market remains stable. Reservations no longer replace shopping queues, but are a rational element of purchase planning.

Where are the reservations increasing the fastest?

Growth is not even across the country. The greatest dynamics can be seen in Gdańsk, where the limited supply of apartments means that the improved availability of loans quickly translates into buyers’ decisions. In turn, in Łódź, the market reacts more calmly, despite relatively lower prices.

– The increase in the number of reservations can be seen in all analyzed cities, although its scale varies. The highest dynamics is recorded in Gdańsk, which confirms that in markets with a more limited new supply, improved credit availability translates into purchasing decisions more quickly. At the other extreme is Łódź, where the market reacts slower, despite relatively affordable apartment prices. Warsaw remains the market with the largest scale, although the share of apartments reserved in the offer there is lower and amounts to approximately 8%, compared to an average of 10%. in other cities – notes the expert of the RynekPierwotny.pl portal

A safe step before a loan

Reserving an apartment becomes especially important when purchasing a loan. It allows you to “lock” the selected premises and its price before the bank issues a loan decision.

– In the conditions of still great caution of banks and differences in the assessment of creditworthiness, a reservation allows you to secure the price and choice of premises, and at the same time does not involve the risk of signing a development agreement before obtaining a credit decision – emphasizes Wielgo.

As the expert reminds, the reservation fee cannot exceed 1%. value of the apartment and if the loan is refused, it is returned. Moreover, if the developer fails to meet the terms of the contract, he must pay back double the amount.

– Reservation also allows you to avoid notary costs that would be incurred by a buyer signing a development agreement without the certainty of obtaining a loan – says Wielgo.

Increasingly, developers are also extending the reservation time to even several months.

– In practice, this means that the reservation is no longer just a formality, but becomes a permanent element of the purchasing path on the primary market – both from the perspective of buyers and developers themselves – sums up Wielgo.