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Investing in real estate: the popularity of small apartments

Investing in real estate: the popularity of small apartments

Investing in real estate: the popularity of small apartments
  • Microapartments: a profitable investment choice
  • Investments in housing: trends and prospects
  • European real estate: from Spain to Turkey
  • Global trends: real estate and investments

Market research shows that small apartments are still in demand as investments. Once, this real estate was purchased for personal use, but now it is viewed as a capital investment. The effectiveness of investing directly depends on the choice of country for purchasing real estate. Typically, for investors, the optimal option is to buy two small apartments rather than one large one. This has several advantages.

Advantages of buying two small apartments

First of all, the likelihood of generating income increases, as the chance that both apartments will remain vacant at the same time is significantly lower. In the case of one large apartment, if it is not rented out, the investor could lose all of their income.

Secondly, the demand for renting small apartments remains high, both in Russia and in European cities. This reduces the downtime of the property and increases its liquidity. Small apartments are easier to sell if an investor urgently needs cash.

Thirdly, the investor has the opportunity to maneuver. Instead of selling a large asset all at once, he can sell one apartment while keeping the other.

The popularity of micro-apartments in Europe

In Europe, there is a trend towards the increasing popularity of microapartments. These apartments, ranging in size from 17 to 35 square meters are usually fully furnished and include a bathroom, a small kitchen and a bedroom. a kitchen and a bedroom. The lack of meterage is compensated by the presence in the building (apart-hotel) storage areas, common recreation areas and laundry facilities. Micro apartments are especially in demand among students, young professionals, business travelers, seasonal workers and tourists.

The micro-apartment market in Europe

The most developed markets for micro-apartments are the United Kingdom and Germany, which account for 86% of all transactions. France and the Netherlands follow behind. The average rental yield from micro-apartments in these countries is 4-6% per year, which is higher than the yield from a regular apartment, typically ranging from 2-3% per year.

Confirmation of investment attractiveness

In 2017, a residential complex was successfully completed in Berlin, confirming the attractiveness of investments in micro-apartments in Europe.

Initial housing costs in Europe

It can start from €119,000, and the yield percentage is around 4.7%. Real estate in convenient locations is becoming increasingly popular. For example, at the beginning of 2019, a residential complex was built in the center of Berlin (in the large Mitte district) that includes 334 apartments. The price for the apartments starts at €124,000, and the annual yield is about 4%.

Student accommodation in the UK

becoming increasingly in demand. For example, apartments in the center of Liverpool offer record returns of 8-8.5%, which seems very attractive.

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Investing in real estate: the popularity of small apartments

Housing on the real estate market

The real estate market offers various housing options, specifically furnished apartments with an area of 45 sq.m and a terrace, located in a residential complex with a garden and a pool just 100 meters from the beach in Denia, Alicante province. The price for such a property is 112,000 euros. There is also another option - to purchase a 49 sq.m apartment with one bedroom in a residential complex with a pool, garden, and underground parking near the sea for 115,000 euros.

In Turkey, there is also not very high demand for apartments with an area of up to 30-35 square meters. Since the beginning of 2017, the construction of studios has been banned throughout the country, except for Istanbul, where the minimum size of housing is about 28 square meters.

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Typically, consumer demand starts with apartments that are 50 to 60 square meters in size.

Who buys small apartments?

Small-sized apartments are most often purchased by businesspeople or individuals without children, or single people who prefer a convenient location or saving on maintenance costs. Even if they do not live there permanently, it can be convenient for business trips or as an investment for future resale or to generate income from rental payments.

Attractive options in Lisbon and Porto

Every year, Portugal attracts more attention as a country for real estate investment, especially Lisbon and Porto. According to Filippo Simonato, the business development director at JLL, the average cost per square meter in Lisbon is 3000–4000 euros in old buildings, 5000–7000 euros in new constructions, and around 10,000 euros in buildings in the city center. To purchase an apartment in central Lisbon, at least 200,000 euros will be required.

Foreigners wishing to purchase real estate can obtain a mortgage from Portuguese banks at an annual interest rate of 2.5%, with the loan amounting to 50-60% of the property's value. Filippo recommends that his clients buy small apartments for long-term rental to foreigners and young professionals attracted to Lisbon. For example, a 35 square meter apartment with a balcony may cost between 200,000 and 250,000 euros when purchased and can bring in around 1,500 euros per month when rented out long-term.

The financial crisis in Turkey and the demand for investments

Due to the financial crisis of 2018 and the collapse of the lira, according to official statistics from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat), property sales in Turkey to foreigners increased by 129.6% in August 2018 compared to the previous year, and by 151.1% in September. Experts estimate that rental income from properties in coastal areas is 6% or more, making Turkey an attractive destination for foreign investors.

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Montenegro: real estate investments

Experts claim that there is a strong interest among investors in studios and one-bedroom apartments in Montenegro. Real estate in these areas has an area starting from 35 m², and prices per square meter range from €2,000 to €3,000. For example, you can purchase a furnished studio located just 100 meters from the sea in Herceg Novi for only €75,000, or an apartment in the old town of Kotor (36 m²) for €108,000. There is also the option of buying an apartment in a new building in Luštica with a sea view for around €120,000. One of the attractive aspects of such properties is the potentially high return on investment when renting out the real estate.

Thailand: real estate and opportunities

Thailand also offers a variety of small-sized real estate options. Young people from different countries are settling here, thanks to the ability to work remotely and the use of advanced technologies for this type of work. The recent demand for such properties not only demonstrates the potential for price growth in this asset class but also the opportunity to generate rental income. According to experts, rental income is around 7% per year after all taxes. Condominium managers take care of finding tenants and conducting transactions.

Moscow: real estate market

Alexey Popov, head of the CIAN analytical center, reports that out of 181 new construction projects in Moscow, only 44 offer small apartments of less than 35 m². More than 64% of these are concentrated within the area between the MKAD and the TTK. Currently, apartments with an area of less than 35 m² make up 18% of the total supply, which amounts to 2.1 thousand lots. The majority of the supply is in comfort-class projects (48.2%), followed by the economy-class segment.

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Conclusion:

In conclusion, it is worth emphasizing that the real estate market, especially the segment of small apartments, is in a phase of active development and shows significant prospects for investors. The trend of purchasing several small apartments instead of one spacious one not only increases confidence in profitability but also provides higher liquidity of assets. In modern Europe, micro-apartments deserve special attention due to the growing mobility in the labor market and the increasing number of tourists. This housing format is being actively implemented in various countries, offering investors competitive returns compared to traditional rental formats.

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