Housing market facing pandemic Covid-2019

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this article is to present the situation of the housing market in the face of the conditions resulting from the covid-19 pandemic. The research focuses on the phenomena that took place in the individual quarters of the years 2019-2021, i.e. just before the pandemic period, during the restrictive phase of the pandemic and just after the pandemic. Design/methodology/approach: Data for 16 cities, which are provincial capitals, were analysed. The source data comes from the Central Statistical Office (CSO) and the Report on the Situation on the Residential and Commercial Real Estate Market in Poland in 2019, 2020 and 2021 prepared by the National Bank of Poland. The methodology of the research was based on statistical methods, and a study was made of changes over time in the number of transactions made and average unit prices of residential units and rental rates, as well as the number of dwellings offered. Findings: The research shows that the market dynamics hardly slowed down during the pandemic period. In all surveyed cities, an increase in unit prices of residential units and a decrease in rental rates were observed in selected quarters of 2020. In 2021, the residential property market in the main cities in Poland was in an expansionary phase. The number of transactions made was strongly influenced by the ability to obtain mortgage loans. During the study period, the interest rate was at a significantly low level. On the basis of the research carried out, it must be concluded that the market that defended itself from the pandemic crisis was the residential market. This supports the finding that residential real estate is perceived as a relatively safe investment of capital, which has so far yielded higher rates of return compared to placing cash in safer assets such as Treasury bonds or bank deposits. Originality/value: The publication describes the behaviour of the residential property market during and immediately after the COVID 19 pandemic. Demand, supply and prices of residential units are analysed. The publication is aimed at those analysing the impact of pandemics and other unusual events on markets and real estate professionals. Keywords: housing market, pandemic covid-19, buy-sell, rent-to-rent. Category of the paper: market research.