In October 2024, the sales prices of apartments in Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipėda, Šiauliai and Panevėžys grew by 0.2%, 0.5%, 0.3%, 0.4% and 0.2%, respectively, and the average price per square meter was 2,622 Eur (+5 Eur/m²), 1,805 Eur (+10 Eur/m²), 1,713 Eur (+5 Eur/m²), 1,142 Eur (+5 Eur/m²) and 1,120 Eur (+2 Eur/m²).
During the year (in October 2024, compared to October 2023), apartment prices grew in all major cities of the country: Vilnius – 2.2%, Kaunas – 4.8%, Klaipėda – 5.8%, Šiauliai – 3.5% and In Panevėžys – 4.3%.
“For the past two years, the trends in apartment sales prices have largely remained unchanged – the overall price level continues to grow little by little. We can see that the decline in the activity of the housing market, which continued for more than two years, did not reduce the price level, but led to a noticeable increase in the period of housing sales and a slowdown in the rate of price growth. The majority of home sellers adapted to the changed situation in the market – they patiently waited for buyers or stopped the sale process altogether, and only a small number of sellers, especially those who wanted to sell the home faster, had to give more significant discounts to home buyers.
And the indicators of the second half of this year have already given hope to home sellers that the period of lowest market activity is already in the past. October of this year is the fourth month in a row, when apartments and houses were sold in the country more than in the same period a year ago, which indicates that buyers have started to take more active decisions regarding the purchase of housing. According to the Register Center of VĮ, in October of this year, housing (apartments and houses) was purchased in the country as much as 19.4% more than in September of this year and 20.2% more than in the same month a year ago. At the same time, October of this year was the most active month in the housing market since the end of 2021.
However, despite the recovery of the housing market, which is starting to stabilize after a long break, greater optimism is not yet felt in the housing market and buyers remain cautious and unwilling to make quick decisions or overpay for housing. Since the end of 2023, the EURIBOR interest rate has started to decline consistently, giving optimism to market participants, but first of all, home buyers had to see a real reduction in the service burden for future or existing housing loans.
If we look at newly issued housing loans, according to the data of the Bank of Lithuania, the average interest rate of newly issued housing loans decreased by almost one percentage point during the year – from 5.79% to 4.85%. Meanwhile, interest rates on existing home loans and at the same time loan payments do not decrease as quickly as most people choose to recalculate interbank interest rates (EURIBOR) every 6 months. The pace of recovery in the housing market will probably depend on how soon the majority of potential buyers will realistically feel that mortgages are easier to service.
And for now, the dynamics of house prices continue to remain favorable for home buyers. In 2024, the average annual change in apartment sales prices in the country’s big cities will be one of the lowest in the last eight years,” says Raimondas Reginis, Ober-Haus market research manager for the Baltic countries.
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#OberHaus #Sentiment #housing #market #price #trends #changing #Business
**Interview with Real Estate Expert, Dr. Elena Jurkėnaitė**
**Interviewer:** Welcome, Dr. Jurkėnaitė. With apartment sales prices in Lithuania’s major cities showing growth in October 2024, what are your initial thoughts on these recent trends?
**Dr. Jurkėnaitė:** Thank you for having me. It’s exciting to see a steady increase in apartment prices across the major cities in Lithuania. The data shows a modest rise in prices in October compared to the previous month, as well as significant year-on-year growth. This suggests a stabilization of the housing market after a prolonged period of inactivity.
**Interviewer:** How do you interpret the year-over-year price changes, especially in cities like Klaipėda with a 5.8% increase?
**Dr. Jurkėnaitė:** The 5.8% increase in Klaipėda, alongside the 4.8% in Kaunas and others, indicates a growing demand and a potential resurgence in buyer confidence. It reflects a broader trend where not just Vilnius, but other cities are experiencing a revitalization in their housing markets, which can be attributed to multiple factors, including economic recovery and changes in buyer sentiment.
**Interviewer:** You mentioned buyers’ cautious behavior. What do you think is causing that caution despite the price increases?
**Dr. Jurkėnaitė:** Buyers are understandably cautious due to past market fluctuations and uncertainty. They’ve been waiting for more favorable conditions—especially regarding financing. Although there’s been a slight decline in EURIBOR interest rates, buyers are still careful not to overextend themselves or make impulsive purchases. They want to ensure that the market is truly rebounding before making commitments.
**Interviewer:** With October being reported as the most active month since late 2021, what does this imply for the future of the housing market?
**Dr. Jurkėnaitė:** It suggests that we could be entering a more stable period in the housing market. Increased sales activity can lead to a stronger perception of the market’s health among buyers and sellers. If this trend continues, we may see more sellers coming to the table, potentially leading to greater price stability.
**Interviewer:** Lastly, how do you see the overall trajectory of the housing market as we move into 2025?
**Dr. Jurkėnaitė:** I anticipate gradual improvements in both buyer confidence and sales activity. As the economy stabilizes and interest rates potentially decrease further, more buyers may feel empowered to enter the market. However, it will be critical for sellers to remain realistic about pricing, as the market normalizes after a period of heightened activity.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Dr. Jurkėnaitė, for your insights into the current housing market trends in Lithuania.
**Dr. Jurkėnaitė:** Thank you for having me. I look forward to seeing how these trends develop in the coming months.
