A significant shift in the real estate market may soon require developers to publicly disclose the prices of apartments they offer. While some industry players resist this initiative—arguing that withholding prices encourages direct client contact and allows for better presentation of a property’s value—others have already embraced full transparency for years.
Expanding Market and Negotiation Opportunities
The transition from 2024 to 2025 has brought a significant expansion in housing availability—a stark contrast to the supply shortages of early 2024, which were driven by the “Safe Credit 2%” housing boom. Now, a wave of new development projects is steadily entering the market.
This shift has placed more power in the hands of buyers, who now have a broader selection and stronger negotiation leverage. Evidence of this is the widening gap between asking prices and transaction prices observed in recent weeks.
However, this favorable buying environment could change. Many prospective homeowners are waiting for the government’s proposed housing support program, while others see now as the optimal time to buy without further delay.
Towards Price Transparency?
Determining the current price levels in the primary housing market remains challenging, largely because many developers do not list prices outright. Instead, potential buyers must actively seek out this information—typically requiring an in-person meeting at a sales office or a direct phone call.
Developers argue that not disclosing prices upfront allows them to:
- Present the full value of the investment
- Explain pricing justifications
- Tailor offers to individual buyers
They claim that if prices were displayed immediately, potential buyers might draw premature conclusions and lose interest.
However, these arguments do not convince most customers—or many policymakers.
Government Push for Mandatory Price Disclosure
Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz, Minister of Development and Technology, announced in early January that Polska 2050 will introduce a legislative proposal within the coming weeks requiring developers to clearly display apartment prices. This would eliminate the need for buyers to go through additional steps just to access basic price information.
The Need for Greater Transparency
“Transparency in the real estate market goes beyond just listing price per square meter,” says Tomasz Stoga, Vice President of the Polish Association of Real Estate Developers (PZFD) and CEO of PROFIT Development.
“Buyers should be fully informed about the total investment costs from the beginning. This allows them to make informed decisions, compare options, and ultimately choose a property that meets their needs and financial capacity.”
The Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) recently stated that developers are legally required to disclose prices in a clear and comparable manner at sales locations. The agency also recommended that prices be included in online listings as a best practice, though this is not yet a formal requirement.
The Polish Association of Real Estate Developers (PZFD) encourages its members to adopt price transparency voluntarily, but only a portion of developers currently follow this guideline.
Raising Industry Standards
As market conditions evolve, more industry players may recognize the value of transparency. In reality, both developers and buyers stand to benefit:
- Greater transparency enhances market competition
- Developers are encouraged to refine and justify their pricing strategies
- It builds long-term customer trust
“In today’s market, where buyers have higher expectations and competition is strong, price transparency is becoming a highly desirable practice. Ultimately, this could lead to overall improvements in industry standards,” adds Stoga.
Developers who proactively provide clear pricing information—before legal mandates force them to do so—will likely gain a competitive edge, strengthen their brand reputation, and earn lasting customer loyalty.
Source: CEO.com.pl
