---
title: "The Ukrainian market paradox: demand for housing near the front line is growing despite concerns"
description: "Demand for real estate in Ukraine's frontline regions is growing despite risks: buyers are counting on low prices and a rise in value after the war. While demand is falling in the Kharkiv and Kherson regions, a surge in activity is observed in the Sumy and Zaporizhzhia regions. 🏠📉📈"
date: 2026-06-11T04:32:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/ukrainian-market-paradox-demand-for-housing-near-the-front-line-is-growing-despite-concerns
tags: []
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# The Ukrainian market paradox: demand for housing near the front line is growing despite concerns

![Happy woman holding keys to a new home, with moving boxes and a man in the background, symbolizing the growing demand for housing in Ukraine even near the front line.](https://xab.info/media/2026/06/11/spros-na-zhile-v-priefrontovyh-regionah-ukrainy/spros-na-zhile-v-priefrontovyh-regionah-ukrainy-1.webp)

The Ukrainian real estate market is demonstrating surprising dynamics: despite ongoing hostilities, interest in purchasing housing in certain frontline regions is not waning, and in some cases is even intensifying. A new study by OLX Real Estate, published by RBC-Ukraine, records a complex and heterogeneous picture of demand, where economic benefit often outweighs security risks.

### Regional contrasts: who is buying and who is leaving

Analysts note that the situation in the market near the front line is extremely uneven. While some regions are seeing an outflow of buyers, others are recording a surge in activity. Compared to April 2025, demand for apartment purchases has dropped significantly in the Kharkiv and Kherson regions. In particular, the number of responses to advertisements for two-room apartments in the Kharkiv region decreased by 23%, while demand for one-room housing in the Kherson region fell by 37%.

However, a contrary trend is observed in neighboring regions. In the Sumy region, the number of responses to three-room apartments increased by 72%, and demand for two-room housing rose by 55%. A similar growth was recorded in the Dnipropetrovsk region (+22% for three-room apartments) and Zaporizhzhia (+48% for two-room apartments).

### Investing in the future: why Ukrainians are taking risks

The main driver of demand growth in frontline zones remains prices. Buyers are attracted by the opportunity to purchase real estate at a lower cost, counting on a potential price increase after the end of hostilities. About 69% of respondents stated that they plan or are considering buying housing in Ukraine in the next 1–3 years. At the same time, 55% of survey participants consider real estate in frontline regions a profitable investment for the next 5–10 years.

Nevertheless, most citizens remain cautious. 54% of respondents stated that they are not ready to buy housing in frontline regions. Only 20% of respondents are ready to consider purchasing real estate for living in these zones, and another 8% — exclusively as an investment. Most often, Ukrainians are ready to buy housing in safe regions, while interest in the Mykolaiv, Kherson, and Sumy regions turned out to be lower.

### What buyers are looking for: houses, apartments, and budgets

Private houses in cities or suburbs attract the most interest from potential buyers — this option was chosen by 64% of respondents. Apartments on the secondary market remain popular (54%), while new buildings interest only 27% of the audience.

The budget question remains a key limiting factor. Almost half of the respondents (48%) are ready to spend up to $15,000 on real estate. Another 39% are considering a budget from $15,000 to $30,000. The majority of buyers (75%) are purchasing housing for their own residence, while 11% are considering it as an investment for renting out.

### Rental market and price benchmarks

Alongside purchases, there is a growth in demand for housing rentals. The greatest interest in apartments has been recorded in frontline cities — Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, and Sumy, where the number of responses to advertisements has increased significantly compared to last year. At the same time, demand for rentals has decreased in Kyiv and Odesa.

In the private housing segment, there is a significant price spread. The most expensive real estate remains in Lviv and Kyiv, where the median cost of a house reaches $220,000. The most affordable housing is offered in Chernihiv, Mykolaiv, and Zaporizhzhia, making these regions attractive to buyers with a limited budget.