Sustained preference for older apartments among Romanian buyers (analysis)

A shift in demand toward older apartments represents the main trend observed in the real estate market during the first half of this year, driven by an overall decline in transaction volumes amid political and economic instability, according to a specialized analysis released on Wednesday.

Market dynamics, influencing factors, key trends, and future outlook are presented in the RE/MAX Romania Real Estate Barometer, a status report on the market based on data regularly collected by the company.

According to RE/MAX representatives, Romanian buyers are increasingly informed and attentive in their decision-making. In the context of economic uncertainty, they pay closer attention to the home-buying process, carefully analyzing aspects such as location, accessibility, and maintenance costs. These considerations have led to a growing preference for older apartments, which are more affordable and available for immediate occupancy. Additionally, there has been a rise in interest for smaller, energy-efficient homes, where maintenance costs are a decisive factor.

"Older apartments have been in much higher demand and have seen significant price increases, particularly in central and semi-central areas. The desire for immediate move-in and lower costs has made the secondary market the preferred choice. In peripheral areas, although there is a focus on new projects, these still do not meet quick demand and are more expensive, which is why transactional trends keep older apartments as the favored option," said Razvan Cuc, President of RE/MAX Romania.

Another important aspect of changing purchasing behavior is the increase in cash transactions, without bank loans — a trend particularly visible in major cities such as Bucharest, Cluj, and Brasov, where many choose to invest their savings in real estate rather than in bank deposits.

"Political and economic instability, along with restrictive banking conditions stemming from these factors, cooled the market in the first half of 2025, especially in the latter part of the semester. Purchase decisions were postponed, adjusted, or converted into cash transactions. Only clients with solid financial resources continued buying — and the role of banks in the real estate market has declined compared to previous years," added Razvan Cuc.

For the first half of this year, RE/MAX Romania also reports a 20% increase in commission revenues compared to the same period last year.

Most transactions during this period were in the residential segment, representing 88.4% of total sales. The commercial segment accounted for 10%, while the industrial segment represented 1.6%. The most sought-after property types were 2- and 3-room apartments.

Among the three largest transactions handled by RE/MAX offices in the first half of the year were a plot of land in Ilfov sold for 4.2 million euros, followed by a plot in Brasov valued at 2.2 million euros, and an apartment block in Medias worth 1.52 million euros.

RE/MAX is the largest franchise network of real estate offices in Romania, with the highest number of agents — currently over 65 franchised offices and more than 800 active members. RE/MAX is recognized as the strongest national real estate brand.