Storia.ro, the real estate platform launched by OLX, has analyzed the preferences of Romanians regarding apartments and houses for sale listed on the platform.

The analysis took into consideration the type of listings that generate the most views based on the number of rooms and the age of the properties – from those built before 1977 to those from the periods of 1977-2000, 2001-2020, or after 2021.

According to the analysis, in May 2023, in the 10 cities analyzed, which are also the most active in the real estate market, 75% of searches were for apartments, while 25% were for houses.

Compared to May of the previous year, searches have increased both for houses (+19% more views) and for apartments (+7%). In May of the current year, the most viewed listings were for two-room apartments (41%), followed by three-room apartments (30%) and studio apartments (16%). Listings for properties with four rooms were viewed in proportion of 13%.

Regarding the construction year, 37% of the viewed listings were for properties built between 1977-2000, 28% for those built after 2021, 18% for properties built between 2001-2020, and 17% for those built before 1977.

Interest in new properties (built after 2021) has increased compared to the same period last year. While in May 2022, 23% of searches were for properties built after 2021, in May of the current year, listings for new apartments were viewed in proportion of 28% of the total searches.

How has interest evolved in Bucharest

In Bucharest, in May of this year, 80% of searches were for apartments and 20% for houses. Two-bedroom homes were the most popular with 43% of searches, followed by three-bedroom homes with 30% of searches.

Studio ads were viewed by 16% and four-bedroom properties by 11%. Compared to May 2022, increases can be seen in all search segments, the highest being recorded for studios (+29%) and two-room homes (+23%).

Regarding the year of construction, in May of this year, the most viewed ads were those with homes built after 2021 (33% of searches). Properties built between 1977-2000 were viewed by 30%, those built before 1977 by 22%, while homes built between 2001-2020 were searched for the least at 15% of searches.

How has the interest of Romanians from other big cities in the country evolved for homes for sale, according to Storia.ro data

CLUJ-NAPOCA

In May of this year, 77% of ads viewed were for apartments, while 23% were for houses, with two-bedroom homes being the most sought-after (38% of searches), followed by three-bedroom homes (30%) . 17% of searches were for studios and 15% for four-bedroom homes. Compared to the same month last year, 10% more ads with three-bedroom homes were viewed.

Taking into account the year of construction, it is observed that only 7% of the searches were for homes built before 1977, 38% were for homes built between 1977 and 2000, 33% for those built between 2001 and 2020 and 22% for those after the year 2021.

IASI

In Iași, in May of this year, the greatest interest is observed in apartments, as in Bucharest - 80% of the pages viewed were for apartments and 20% for houses. 44% of searches for homes for sale were for two-bedrooms, 26% for three-bedrooms and 19% for studios.

Regarding the year of construction, in Iasi, interest is similar for homes built after 2021 (32% of searches) and those built between 1977-2000 (32%). Properties built between 2001-2020 accounted for 18% of searches, as did those built before 1977 (18%).

CONSTANTA

In May of this year, searches in Constanța are similar to those in the rest of the country – two-room homes generated 43% of views and were followed by three-room homes (27% of views). 16% of searches were for studios and 14% for four-bedroom homes.

In May, 43% of searches were for homes built between 1977 and 2000, 28% for those after 2021, 18% for apartments built between 2001 and 2020, and 11% for those built before 1977.

TIMISOARA

In May of this year, 42% of searches were for two-room homes, 29% for three-room homes and 17% for studios. Four-bedroom homes accounted for just 12% of all searches.

In terms of home age, 58% of searches in May 2023 were for properties built between 1977 and 2000, 23% for those built after 2021, 11% for those built between 2001-2020 and only 8% of searches were for homes from before 1977.

BRAŞOV

42% of searches since May they were for two-room homes, 27% for three-room homes, 18% for studios and 13% for four-room homes. Compared to the same period last year, 26% more studio ads and 16% more three-bedroom ads were viewed.

Taking into account the year of construction, 46% of searches were for homes built between 1977-2000, 23% for those after 2021, 18% for properties built between 2001-2020 and 13% for those built before 1977.

CRAIOVA

In Craiova, there is a higher interest in houses compared to the other analyzed cities – 36% of the searches were for houses and 64% of the searches were for apartments. 38% of searches since May they were for two-room homes, 31% for three-room homes, 18% for four-room homes and 13% for studios.

In terms of home age, 50% of searches were for homes built between 1977 and 2000, 23% for homes after 2021, 16% for homes from before 1977, and 11% for homes built between 2001-2020.

ORADEA 

And in Oradea, there is a greater interest in houses compared to the other cities – 33% of the searches were for houses and 67% for apartments. 41% of searches were for two-bedroom properties, 33% for three-bedroom properties, 14% for four-bedroom properties and 12% for studios. Compared to the same month last year, 13% more ads with two-bedroom homes were viewed.

In May this year rather, apartments built between 1977 and 2000 were searched for (57% of searches), with 16% being for those built after 2021, 15% for those built between 2001-2020, and 12% for those built before 1977.

ARAD

Arad is the city where most house searches were registered (40% of searches). The most sought-after segment in Arad was that of two-room homes, bringing 38% of searches in May last year. 29% of searches were for three-bedroom apartments, 18% for four-bedrooms and 15% for studios.

In May of this year, 48% of searches were for homes built between 1977 and 2000, 22% for homes built before 1977, 18% for homes built between 2001-2020 and 12% for new properties built after 2021.

SIBIU

In May this year, in Sibiu, houses generated 36% of searches. The highest interest was observed in three-room dwellings in all cities analyzed (33% of searches). The two-bedroom segment was the most popular (34% of searches), with four-bedroom homes generating 21% of searches.

Most searches were for homes built between 2001-2020 (34% of searches), followed by new homes built after 2021 (28%) and homes built between 1977-2000 (28%). Only 10% of searches were for properties built before 1977.