Just 26% of Poles currently believe it’s a good time to purchase real estate, according to the latest survey “It’s Us: Poles on Real Estate” conducted by the property listing platform Nieruchomosci-online.pl. Meanwhile, 8 out of 10 respondents consider real estate prices to be high or very high, and 65% believe that very few people in their immediate circle can currently afford to buy a home or apartment.
“Only 26% of respondents believe it’s a good moment to buy real estate. That’s still low, but it’s a 4 percentage point increase from our previous survey at the beginning of the year. Slightly more—34%—say now is a better time to sell,” says Anna Zachara-Widła, Customer Voice Expert at Nieruchomosci-online.pl, in an interview with Newseria.
“Interestingly, the lowest number of positive responses about buying comes from people aged 45–54, while the highest optimism is found among those under 24. That’s understandable—our perception of the market changes depending on our life stage.”
Young Adults More Optimistic – Despite Financial Challenges
While young people are the most optimistic about buying property, this is surprising given their limited purchasing power. According to Zachara-Widła, possible reasons include anticipated interest rate cuts or political promises regarding housing made during the presidential campaign.
Perceptions also vary by region. Residents in the West Pomeranian (40%) and Subcarpathian (38%) provinces, as well as Warsaw (30%), are most likely to say it’s a good time to buy. In contrast, only 8% of respondents in the Świętokrzyskie region and 14% in Opolskie share that view.
Most Poles See Property Prices as Too High
Regardless of age, 8 out of 10 Poles believe current real estate prices are too high. The most dissatisfied are residents of:
- Warsaw (85%)
- Lubuskie province (81%)
- West Pomeranian province (77%)
In contrast, fewer complaints come from:
- Opolskie province (43%)
- Warmian-Masurian province (55%)
“Our perception of prices is closely linked to our activity on the market. Among those planning to buy a property, over 70% feel that prices are very high,” explains Zachara-Widła.
“Interestingly, only just over half of those intending to sell believe prices are high. But the most pessimistic are renters—those who don’t yet own property. For them, 84% say prices are high or very high, which often puts ownership out of reach.”
Inflation and Global Uncertainty Impact Buyer Sentiment
Poles’ attitudes toward the property market have been shaped by several factors in recent years—high inflation, political instability, and global uncertainty. This has led many to conclude that neither they nor their friends and family can currently afford such a large financial investment.
Still, property remains a frequent topic of conversation.
“Over 40% of Poles say they talk about real estate with friends or family. This is especially common among those aged 25 to 44—people who are actively considering buying a house or apartment,” notes Zachara-Widła.
Buying Still Preferred Over Renting
The study also asked whether people believe it’s better to buy or rent a home under current market conditions. One might assume that high prices would encourage renting, but 79% of respondents still believe that owning property is the better option.
“That suggests the current conditions are far from ideal for buying—but they’re not enough to change our strong cultural belief that owning is better than renting,” concludes Zachara-Widła.
