Which districts in Barnaul have the most apartment buyers? Realtors share insights.

The end of 2025 brought a real revival to the mortgage lending market in Barnaul. Experts link this surge in activity to upcoming changes in family mortgage conditions. Against this backdrop, a natural question arises: which apartments find buyers most easily, and conversely, what lingers «on the shelf» the longest? Barnaul realtors shared these trends and features of the real estate market with NGS22.RU.

What Sells Quickly?

According to realtor Oksana Klipenshtein, there are several categories of housing in Barnaul that consistently find their buyer. First, these are new neighborhoods with finished renovations. We«re talking about districts such as Semyonov Street, Khristenko Street, Solnechnaya Polyana.

«Here, buyers are attracted not only by the housing itself but by the entire surrounding infrastructure: beautiful buildings, well-maintained entrances, safe courtyards, and modern playgrounds. People value the high quality of life that these districts offer,» the specialist clarified.

Second, there is demand for Soviet-era five-story buildings with fresh renovations in established neighborhoods.

«Apartments in districts like Yurina, Malakhova, Severo-Zapadnaya, where everything necessary is available—transport, shops, kindergartens, and schools—are still in demand. Buyers often choose layouts familiar from childhood, such as two-room apartments with windows on two sides and a convenient kitchen. Liquid floors and clean entrances are also important,» the realtor emphasized.

According to her, new buildings in the center (or close to the center) with renovations also sell well in Barnaul.

«The key word here is »with renovations.« It doesn»t necessarily have to be expensive or premium renovations; the main thing is that the apartment is completely ready for living or renting out. Examples of such streets are Yadrintseva, Komsomolsky, Partizanskaya, Proletarskaya,« Klipenshtein noted.

The expert highlighted an interesting feature of the real estate market.

«Many buy property with cash, viewing it as a way to preserve capital. Housing in the price range of 4 to 8 million rubles (approximately $44,000 to $88,000 at current rates) is considered highly liquid and finds buyers quite quickly. Often, such apartments are purchased by participants of the SMO (Special Military Operation), who typically rent them out, earning a stable income.

What Lingers on the Market?

On the opposite end are properties that require significant investment and carry certain risks. Realtor Natalia Kozlova includes «grandma»s« housing in this category.

«Apartments requiring major renovations, where the cost of restoration work is comparable to the price of the property itself, deter buyers. The desire to renovate »to one«s own taste» doesn«t always outweigh the costs and time that will have to be spent,» the specialist explained.

Also, according to her, «concrete boxes» in new buildings are not popular.

«Unfinished apartments or those where renovations have only just begun are also sold at a discount. Buyers are not ready to take on the responsibility of completing the renovations, viewing it as an additional headache and financial burden,» Kozlova pointed out.

Including, buyers are deterred by housing with legal «pitfalls.» These are properties with incorrectly processed documents that cause serious concerns.

«This includes apartments with understated values in contracts, housing related to bankruptcy procedures, and properties with »fresh« inheritance, where disputes between heirs may arise. Particular caution is warranted for chains of transactions requiring mortgage repayment while simultaneously allocating shares to children, which complicates the process and increases risks,» the expert said.

Kozlova added that on the Barnaul real estate market, despite the general revival, a clear division remains between liquid and problematic properties. Buyers increasingly prefer ready-made solutions, avoiding potential complications and additional expenses.

Demand for Small Apartments

Sergei Bastrykin, a real estate expert, shared his view of the current market situation. He noted that this year, as in previous ones, there is a trend toward more active sales of apartments with small areas.

«This is due to buyers» limited financial capabilities and, consequently, limitations on mortgage loan amounts. This situation leads to rising prices for small-sized housing,« the specialist clarified.

December, according to the realtor, was marked by another seasonal sales peak, driven by changes in mortgage lending conditions. However, a significant drop in market activity is expected after February 1.

«At the same time, the trend of shifting demand toward apartments with minimal total cost will persist. It»s important to note that this does not mean a decrease in price per square meter—on the contrary, the smaller the apartment«s area, the higher its specific cost,» Bastrykin warned.

Earlier it was reported that in Barnaul, prices for apartments in new buildings range from 90,000 to 170,000 rubles per square meter (approximately $990 to $1,870 per square meter at current rates). The situation with housing on the secondary market is different. Typically, apartments here are bought with personal savings, and their cost usually ranges from 3.5 to 4.5 million rubles (approximately $38,500 to $49,500 at current rates). Experts note that the choice between buying an apartment in a new building or on the secondary market will be determined by personal preferences and the financial capabilities of each buyer. Nevertheless, new buildings are in high demand.