Monday, June 02, 2008

May real estate numbers

Arco Real Estate agency reports that the average apartment price in Riga was 1276 Euros/m2 at the end of May. This is:
- 2.6% less than at the end of April 2008;
- 9.2% less than at the end of 2007.
- 21.2% less than at the end of June 2007.
Arco did not release month-by-month numbers for the first half of 2007. But the other real estate agencies (like Latio, whose numbers are now paid-subscription-only) observed a slight drop in May and June 2007, as well. Based on that, we get 23-24% decline compared to peak prices (March-April 2007).

The fall in Latvian real estate prices has been more than anyone, including myself, expected. And it keeps going on...

For me, it's good because I'm still looking for an apartment and there's much more reasonably priced options now. What a difference one year can make...

UPDATE (6/6): Estimates by other real estate companies range from 18% decline year-on-year (Oberhaus) to 27.2% decline (Latio). My impression is that the higher estimates are the more accurate ones.

3 comments:

sam said...

Hi L.A. What size and location of flat are you looking for? I've got a new, furnished, 62sqm. 2-roomer with a glassed-in veranda and underground parking on Slokas and Observatorijas ielas if that fits your need, (or anyone else you might know). It's called "Zem Ozola" and was developed by BKI Nami. We're motivated and will listen to reasonable offers. We live in Cesis and have been using it for visits, so it's available at any time.

Just a thought....

Luarvik said...

What a difference a year makes indeed - the prices might have dropped but it's not that easy to get a loan these days. Or I guess it got harder for Latvians when banks started demanding proof of paid taxes from the borrowers - what was it, about a year (year and a half) ago???

Luarvik said...

What a difference a year makes indeed - the prices might have dropped but it's not that easy to get a loan these days. Or I guess it got harder for Latvians when banks started demanding proof of paid taxes from the borrowers - what was it, about a year (year and a half) ago???