Polish cities attract Russians and Belarusians. They buy flats for power

More and more apartments in the hands of Russians and Belarusians. According to the findings of Gethome.pl, despite the ongoing war in Ukraine, the number of transactions concluded by Russia and Belarus citizens in our country is growing. While some countries neighboring Russia and Belarus – in fear of their security – limit or completely prohibit the sale of real estate for citizens of these countries, in Poland the trend is opposite.

– Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Finland and even Norway conduct or plan to introduce a very restrictive policy towards the Russians in the purchase of land and apartments. However, our housing market still remains almost completely open to foreigners, including citizens of Russia and Belarus – explains Marek Wielgo, an expert from Gethome.pl.

He adds that in Poland the permission of the Ministry of the Interior and Administration (Ministry of Interior and Administration) is required only when the purchase of land and apartments in the border zone. This restriction includes, among others Tri -City, Szczecin, Świnoujście or Zakopane. It’s just that it does not apply to European Union citizens. And here the gate opens to avoid these provisions by the Russians and Belarusians who also have an EU passport.

Ukrainians leaders – buy the most apartments in Poland

Ukrainian citizens remain the largest group of foreigners buying apartments in Poland – this trend has been living continuously since 2014, i.e. from the annexation of Crimea by Russia. With each subsequent year, their share in the market grew, and after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the Ministry of the Interior and Administration recorded a leap increase in the number of transactions with their participation.

According to the portal’s findings, in 2024 Ukrainians acquired in Poland – without the need for a permit – nearly 8.8 thousand. apartments, which means an increase of 28 percent year on year. In the border zone they obtained permission to buy 304 premises (the Ministry of Interior and Administration does not separate data into residential and commercial premises). In addition, they purchased 1009 plots for the construction of houses, with a total area of ​​50.4 ha. For context – over the same time, over 250,000 could occur. housing transactions.

– Although there is still a huge number of refugees from Ukraine in Poland, the current scale of their purchases is not surprising. It is natural that people planning to stay for longer want to invest in their own housing, especially in large cities offering stable work and higher earnings. However, the costs of purchasing a flat in metropolises can be very high, and mortgage loans are still expensive – comments Marek Wielgo.

How many apartments go into the hands of foreigners?

Immediately after Ukrainians, the largest group of buyers of apartments in Poland from behind our eastern border are Belarusians and Russians, who in recent years have significantly increased their activity on the real estate market. In 2024, Belarusians bought over 2.9 thousand in Poland. apartments without permission and – with consent – 168 premises (residential and utility) in the border zone, as well as 303 plots with a total area of ​​11.7 ha. This is an increase of over 50 percent. compared to last year. On the other hand, the Russians bought 368 apartments in Poland without permission last year (an increase of 4 %), without obtaining any consent to buy in the border zone for the second year in a row.

– Interestingly, the Russians acquire more apartments on the Vistula than, for example, the Chinese (161), Hindusi (221), Turks (153) and Vietnamese (107), although these nations seem more numerous in our country – notes Wielgo.

He adds, citing the latest report of the Ministry of Interior and Administration, that Russia’s assault to Ukraine only briefly cooled the interest of foreigners in the Polish real estate market.

– In 2024 they bought over 17.3 thousand. apartments and over 3.2 thousand commercial premises. In the first category of the Ministry of Interior and Administration recorded an increase of 21 %, while in the second by 27 percent Compared to the previous year, in which the number of transactions regarding commercial premises decreased by 17 percent. – lists the expert.

What and where do foreigners buy in Poland?

Data analysis shows that foreigners most often invest in the largest Polish cities – Warsaw, Krakow, Wrocław, Łódź, Poznań and Gdańsk. In Krakow in 2024, the number of transactions fell by 5 percent, to about 1.5 thousand. premises, while in other cities there were clear increases. There were as many as 46 percent in Łódź. more (over 800 apartments), in Warsaw – by 22 percent (over 3,500 premises), and in Poznań, Wrocław and Gdańsk – by 20 %, respectively, 19 percent and 6 percent

– In terms of area, Ukrainians bought more apartments than citizens of all other 117 countries in the Ministry of Interior and Administration, including Belarus, Germany, Russia, Italy, India, France, China, Great Britain, the Netherlands and Turkey – notes Marek Wielgo.

He indicates that the largest increase in appetite for apartments was manifested last year by India citizens who began to buy them from us in 2005, i.e. after our country joined the EU.

– However, for six years they have been doing it boldly, e.g. in 2024 India citizens bought apartments with a total area of ​​13.1 thousand. square meters, which is an increase of as much as 28 percent. Compared to the previous year and provided a place in the top ten nationalities purchasing the most premises from us – sums up the expert.