Romanian real estate market trends

The Romanian real estate market is undergoing structural changes regarding land acquisition and residential design. Initially, the market showed a growing preference for development certainty, with investors prioritizing land with clarified urban planning and approved Zonal Urban Plans (PUZ). This created a “two-speed market” where land with ready-to-use permits is highly valued, while speculative plots lacking documentation face difficulty in valuation.

Recent data indicates a pronounced phenomenon similar to ‘shrinkflation,’ where rising costs and fiscal changes have driven both higher prices and smaller living spaces. Between 2023 and 2026, average prices for new homes in Bucharest increased by nearly 50%, while usable surface areas decreased by up to 4% in the capital and 5% nationwide.

To compensate for these smaller footprints, developers are focusing on enhanced amenities and lifestyle integration. There has been a significant rise in high-end features; for example, the prevalence of underfloor heating in new listings rose from 46% in 2023 to nearly 80% in 2026. Other common amenities now include air conditioning, electric vehicle charging stations, and access to fitness centers or pools.

Furthermore, the market is shifting toward larger residential complexes. By 2026, approximately 83% of new apartments for sale were part of developments containing more than 60 units, up from 62% in 2023. These larger projects increasingly emphasize security, with 84% of listings mentioning on-site security services and 70% offering video surveillance.