The secondary housing market in Ukraine remains a field for active negotiations. Buyers planning to purchase real estate have real chances to lower the initial price, although the size of the discount depends on the type of housing and the seller's personal circumstances.
Real estate expert Oleg Derlyuk, in an interview with RBC-Ukraine, revealed details on how the final cost of an apartment is formed and where the buyer has the most leverage.
Old stock — the best ground for bargaining
The greatest room for maneuver is observed when buying apartments in the old housing stock. The expert notes that it is panel buildings and "Khrushchevka" (small apartments from the Khrushchev era) that most often become the subject of active negotiations.
"If it is an old panel building or a Khrushchevka — there is more bargaining," Derlyuk explained. Depending on the situation, the discount on such housing can range from 5 to 10% of the declared price.
Cash vs. state programs
A key factor influencing the seller's willingness to make concessions is the method of payment. Buyers offering cash payment have significantly more chances to get a discount than those planning to use state programs.
Oleg Derlyuk explains this by the fact that many property owners are initially not ready to work with state programs due to a lack of understanding of the procedure. However, after clarification, they often change their position. Nevertheless, "live" money remains the strongest argument in negotiations.
Urgency of sale and pricing errors
Buyers get the maximum discounts when the seller needs to sell the property urgently. This may be due to moving abroad or the need to sell housing quickly to buy another property.
"People are willing to make concessions depending on the need and the situation," the expert emphasized.
In addition, the price is often revised if the apartment does not sell for a long time. This happens when the owner overestimated the initial cost without analyzing the market. As soon as the owner realizes the real market price, they become more flexible in terms of bargaining.
Expert against expensive renovation
Oleg Derlyuk warns owners against investing significant funds in renovating apartments in the old housing stock before selling. According to him, the format of "expensive renovation for resale" no longer works.
Today, buyers are willing to pay only for truly liquid housing, so a realistic price is more important than cosmetic improvements. The expert advises limiting oneself to minimal pre-sale preparation: refresh the finish, touch up individual elements, or perform minor cosmetic repairs.
Earlier, RBC-Ukraine reported that in the first half of 2026, demand for buying private houses in the country increased significantly, especially in the Mykolaiv, Kyiv, Cherkasy, Odesa, and Dnipropetrovsk regions.
