Over the past 15-20 years, the luxury suburban real estate market has changed beyond recognition Photo: Villagio Estate
In the last few years, the area along Novorizhskoye highway has become a new Rublevka: premium segment settlements with reservoirs, parks, fountains appear and grow before our eyes. In April and May alone, more than fifty plots were sold in a prestigious location — and this is not counting ready-made houses. What is the reason for such an unprecedented demand, what amounts are customers willing to give for escaping the city — and what do they get in return?
Alexey Korotkov, Commercial Director of Villagio Estate, spoke about price tags, prospects and trends in the construction of suburban luxury real estate. Is it profitable to invest in plots and ready-made cottages? Why are smart homes no longer in high esteem? And how can moving out of town solve the demographic crisis? Read the article and watch the video interview.
Alexey Korotkov, Commercial Director of Villagio Estate, spoke at the SPIEF about the prospects and trends in the construction of suburban luxury real estate
Author: Vladislav Shityuk
The demand for suburban “elite” is record-breaking
— Alexey, in 2023, there was a huge increase in consumer demand in the luxury suburban real estate market. What is the situation this year?
— The year 2024 turned out to be even better: in six months we have already sold as much as in the entire past year. We are talking about a country cluster of premium villages on Novorizhskoye highway: Millennium Park, Greenfield, Renaissance Park, Monteville, Madison Park and others.
Country plots and houses are in great demand, this year the number of transactions is breaking records Photo: Villagio Estate
— What is the reason for such a surge of interest?
— The high bank rate does not allow developers to start large-scale projects: new products appear in limited quantities. What was built at a low rate is almost sold out. And the demand is great: people tend to go out of town, the post-ovoid syndrome is still going on, everyone wants a house in nature. I have my own lawn, a bike, went out for a run in the morning, went in for sports — this is a very interesting way of life, not like in the city.
After the pandemic, more and more citizens are seeking to move into their own house on the naturalphoto: Villagio Estate
People are moving out of town, and it’s good. More children are being born outside the city. Here a family lives in a one—room, two-room apartment – this is one, two children… And you can have five in your house. There was a baby boom in America in the 50s for a reason: everyone developed suburban areas. This contributes to demographic development.
— Is suburban premium real estate chosen not only for living, but also for investment?
— A couple of years ago, a plot of land cost 2.5 million rubles, now it is 5 million. And this is in new neighborhoods that have not yet been built. In ready—made projects where people live and a secondary market has been formed, weaving cost four million rubles, now it is about seven. Progress is more than a bank interest. If you buy land, build a house and make repairs, then there is an additional margin: the cost of turnkey houses is very high.
The market is changing dramatically
— Do you think customers have become more picky? What should definitely be in the village: infrastructure, its own tennis court?
— There are already a lot of tennis courts (smiles). In terms of infrastructure, there is literally everything. Restaurants, lunch and dinner delivery, Ozon and Wildberries carry parcels, nearby outlets, shops, gyms, bike tracks, ski slopes in winter. So much commerce is being built and opened that new players have to look for a place to go.
— What about transport accessibility? Rural settlements are being actively built. And new roads and interchanges?
— New Riga is designed with a foundation, it is one of the fastest and widest highways. There is public transport, buses — not the subway, of course. But everyone mostly travels by car, everyone has their own personal transport.
Modern country villages are fully equipped with all the infrastructure Photo: Villagio Estate
— Is suburban real estate in the elite segment much different today and 15-20 years ago?
— Yes, very much. A completely different design, interiors, planning solutions — everything is moving towards greater simplicity and lightness.
— Are “Palaces” going out of fashion?
— Square houses are very popular now. Two houses are being built: one is square, the other is classic, and the square one is selling faster, everyone really likes them. But I think it won’t last long. After all, the classics are eternal.
Classical architecture is not out of fashion Photo: Villagio Estate
— And how does the level of service and comfort change?
— We are currently developing a mobile application with which it will be possible to manage services, starting from passes to the territory and ending with orders for services related to the house. That is, we are moving into IT integration. Ten years ago, it was difficult to imagine something like this.
— “Smart house”, but on the scale of a village?
— You could say that. By the way, the smart home system turned out to be not so convenient in practice, many customers ask for the opportunity to turn it off. Someone doesn’t like that Alice listens to him endlessly. Or the curtains jam and the air conditioner does not turn on, because the intonation of the voice is not the same in the morning.
House vs apartment
— The eternal dispute: house or apartment. What would you personally prefer?
— Of course, an apartment in the center is needed, first of all, for the sake of cultural life: theaters, cinemas, exhibitions, museums. At the same time, a country house is required: this is a completely different ecology, clean air, open spaces. My friends run a marathon, and when they train in the city, they always say that it’s hard to breathe. But it’s good to run outside the city, it’s a completely different story.
From a business point of view, both the apartment is liquid and the country house is liquid. I have been engaged in suburban real estate for 20 years and I see that the invested money is saved and multiplied.
Country houses, if they do not completely replace an apartment in the center of a megalopolis, then they become a must-have addition Photo: Villagio Estate
— What is growing in price faster, an apartment or a country house?
— It’s faster to put dollars at interest (laughs). I can say that a good house with a plot of 20-30 acres now costs about 500-600 million rubles. Moreover, the buyer will not be capricious and choose: with such a check, the property is sold very quickly.
— And how much do the most expensive houses cost?
— From one and a half billion rubles. I don’t want to upset anyone right now, but the price tag starts at $15 million — and may be much higher.
Land is a limited resource, and the demand for premium suburban real estate will only be rastiFoto: Villagio Estate
— Land is a limited resource. How will the luxury real estate segment develop in the future?
— We will leave for the “concrete”. So far, the main demand is still inside the ring, but the price tag is growing, and buyers are starting to look at the 40th kilometer, the 50th. Over time, the demand will spill out further — we are moving away from Moscow. By the way, the ecology there is even better than at the thirtieth kilometer. And quietly, quietly, the feeling is extraordinary after the city. Therefore, the trend really goes to the region — starting from the thirtieth and up to the hundredth kilometer. I think this will be the next story.
Villagio Realty LLC, www.villagio.ru
Over the past 15-20 years, the luxury suburban real estate market has changed beyond recognition Photo: Villagio Estate
Country plots and houses are in great demand, this year the number of transactions is breaking records Photo: Villagio Estate
After the pandemic, more and more citizens are seeking to move into their own house on the naturalphoto: Villagio Estate
Modern country villages are fully equipped with all the infrastructure Photo: Villagio Estate
Classical architecture is not out of fashion Photo: Villagio Estate
Country houses, if they do not completely replace an apartment in the center of a megalopolis, then they become a must-have addition Photo: Villagio Estate
Land is a limited resource, and the demand for premium suburban real estate will only be rastiFoto: Villagio Estate
Источник: www.fontanka.ru
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