Millennials and Generation Z quietly counted on a spectacular crash in the real estate market, hoping that buying an apartment would finally become a bit more accessible for the average Kowalski stuck in a rental loop.
Concrete tsunami in the real estate market. Why will it never be cheaper again?
The latest report "Real Estate Customer Sentiment Monitor" prepared by Kantar on behalf of Otodom shows that while hope is dying last, the spirit has already fled in the case of cheaper properties.
Read also: Bleak real estate market data. Suddenly 50,000 apartment sales contracts were canceled
Only every eighth respondent believes in any price drops in the market over the next year.
Although it sounds very pessimistic, this approach is rather a cold realism backed by hard data. In the annual view (Q1 2026 to Q1 2025) the average asking prices for developer apartments in the seven largest Polish agglomerations rose by 6,4%.
This figure ruthlessly knocks out inflation, being almost twice as large. Warsaw (as Warsaw is) plays in its own price league.
In March 2026, the average price per square meter of a new unit in the capital was 19,300 PLN. This is an increase of a shocking 8,8% year on year. It is worth adding that the secondary market is beating developers with a rate of 18,500 PLN per square meter.
According to the report data, up to 50% of respondents do not look for a "flip opportunity" or a chance to turn an apartment into 15 micro‑apartments.
Poles buy apartments for their own needs, and securing their child's future or supporting parents is a motive for up to 14% of respondents.
That is more than in the case of classic long‑term renting, which declared 11%.
This trend is especially strong among people aged 35-55. These are generations that find themselves in a kind of catch‑22, because on one hand they want to support their children entering adulthood, and on the other they start to feel the need to care for seniors.
"This is a clear signal that real estate in Poland, even when treated as an asset, remains a deeply personal decision. Also important, caregiving is no longer stereotypically a female topic," said Paweł Jarząbek, market research and analysis manager at Otodom.
Read also: Property tax returns! Flippers and the richest owners of several apartments will pay a lot for luxury
See also: Real estate is no longer falling. In the month 40,000 sales contracts were canceled, apartments linger on the market for 60 days
Location, the new survival currency
Although according to the report for 36% of Poles price is still the key factor deciding on a purchase, the second place (34%) went to location.
In metropolitan areas with over 500,000 residents the trend pattern is completely reversed, because there location is the most important priority for 45% of respondents, while price falls to a decidedly lower priority for 26%.
The report also shows that the larger the city, the more investors are inclined to look at new construction.
In centers ranging from 100,000 to 400,000 residents interest in developer offers reaches 30%.
The secondary market still holds strong, as 47% of respondents point to it. It cannot be hidden that the developer sector faces a significant image challenge, as only 17% of respondents consider construction companies trustworthy.
In the face of gigantic geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and fear of inflation, Poles seek stability. And although hope for cheap apartments has vanished, the determination to own a piece of floor is stronger than ever.
Costs of renting also clearly show this, as in some places in Poland they are already even 700 PLN per month higher than buying an apartment on credit.
Read also: Brutal real estate market data. Apartment sales suddenly fell by almost 20%
See also: Is renting real estate no longer profitable? One move makes apartments cheaper by up to 700 PLN per month
Source: Otodom.
