Surcharge for some, higher prices for all. The average price in Warsaw is already PLN 15.2 thousand. zloty

Last week, Minister of Development Waldemar Buda announced that he would take action to explain why not all customers applying for a loan receive a loan decision within 21 days of submitting the complete set of documents. The reason why banks do not meet the statutory deadline in every case is the growing number of applications for financing, which in turn is related to the “Safe 2% Credit” program, which was launched at the beginning of September.

“Safe loan 2 percent”.. Prices are rising, the government does not stimulate demand

Not only are customers waiting for a loan decision longer than a few months ago, but they also have to lower their expectations regarding their future apartment or agree to pay more for it (unless they benefit from a loan subsidy – in such a situation, the price of the apartment cannot exceed PLN 700). or PLN 800,000, depending on whether the applicant is single or not).

Real estate is clearly becoming more expensive: over the last six months, apartment prices have increased by 4.5%. in Katowice, by 8 percent in Warsaw, up to 16.7 percent in Cracow. In all seven markets, the offer prices examined by Otodom set new highs: in the capital it was already PLN 15.2 thousand. PLN per sq m, in Tricity and Kraków – PLN 14.2 thousand. zloty. On an annual basis, the price increase reached 12%. in Poznań and Łódź 22 percent each. in Kraków – says “Rzeczpospolita”. Within eight months, developers sold 36.6 thousand. apartments, by 37 percent more than last year, weakened by the mortgage crisis. However, they only introduced 24.4 thousand to the offer. premises, one third less than a year earlier.

– The decline in the number of apartments put on sale in August is mainly due to developers’ uncertainty about the durability of the recovery in demand under the influence of the “Safe 2% loan”. – says Katarzyna Kuniewicz, market research director at Otodom Analytics, in an interview with “Rz”.

The newspaper also recalls the results of the Meeting of Real Estate Industry Leaders. As much as 80 percent economists from the “Rzeczpospolita” panel concluded that state policy should support the supply of premises, and not stimulate demand through credit facilities. And 60 percent believes that programs helping to purchase the first apartment support the increase in real estate prices. The government’s idea to support buyers consists only in subsidies for the purchase of apartments, and does not help developers increase the number of properties they build.

Real estate prices will increase

Damian Kaźmierczak, chief economist of the Polish Association of Construction Employers, spoke in a similar tone. He admitted in an interview with RMF FM that the situation on the housing market is not optimistic for customers.

– There is a very strong demand for apartments, which the supply completely keeps up with – says the expert. – In the next several months, i.e. until the end of next year, we can talk about forecast increases of several percent per square meter of apartments – he added.

First apartment without PCC

From August 31, buyers of their first apartment do not have to pay tax on civil law transactions. This is a noticeable saving because the tax is 2%. transaction value. The exemption will apply if the buyer is a natural person or natural persons, and none of them was entitled to the right to the apartment or house on the date of purchase and was not entitled to any of these rights or participation in these rights before that date.

The exception applies to persons who, on the date of conclusion of the sales contract, have or before that date had an interest in such rights, but it does not exceed or did not exceed 50%. and was acquired by inheritance. These people may benefit from exemption.