A comprehensive analysis of search data on Storia, the real estate platform launched by OLX, reveals valuable insights into the preferences and trends of users seeking to rent or buy apartments. The analysis highlights the most frequently used filters and the types of apartments sought after by Romanians, providing a comprehensive overview of the current real estate market.
Rental Segment:
Properties Built Before 1977: Searches for properties built before 1977 saw the most significant increase in popularity, with a 98% growth from November 2023 to April 2024 (the last 6 months) compared to May-October 2023. On the other hand, properties built between 1991-2020 experienced only a 3% increase. However, searches for pre-1977 apartments remain a minority, representing 2% of total searches in the last six months, indicating that Romanians avoid apartments built before the earthquake, both in the rental and sales segments.
Search Volume by Year of Construction (Rental Segment, Last 6 Months):
2001-2020: 46%
1991-2000: 29%
1977-1990: 19%
Post-2020: 4%
Pre-1977: 2%
Sales Segment:
Properties Built Between 1977-1990: Searches for properties built between 1977-1990 saw the highest growth in popularity, with a 67% increase from November 2023 to April 2024 compared to May-October 2023. Properties built between 2001-2020 experienced a 41% increase.
Search Volume by Year of Construction (Sales Segment, Last 6 Months):
1977-1990: 46%
2001-2020: 26%
1991-2000: 17%
Pre-1977: 6%
Post-2020: 4%
Price Range Preferences:
Apartments in the price range of EUR 100,000-150,000: Searches for apartments in this price range increased by 46% in the last six months compared to May-October 2023.
Apartments priced over EUR 150,000: Searches for apartments in this price range increased by 47% in the last six months compared to May-October 2023.
Most Frequently Used Search Filters:
Sales Segment (Last 6 Months):
Maximum price (49%)
Number of rooms (46%)
Minimum area (18%)
Minimum price (16%)
Floor (11%)
Minimum year of construction (10%)
Maximum area (7%)
Property type (5%)
Maximum year of construction (4%)
Ad age (4%)
Rental Segment (Last 6 Months):
Maximum price (59%)
Number of rooms (47%)
Minimum price (21%)
Minimum area (7%)
Floor (4%)
Maximum area (3%)
Search in description (3%)
Ad age (3%)
Property type (3%)
Minimum year of construction (2%)
Apartment Types Sought After (Based on Number of Rooms):
Both Sales and Rental Segments (Last 6 Months):
Two-bedroom apartments: Most popular
Three-bedroom apartments: Second most popular
Additional Insights:
Year of construction: A more relevant criterion for purchases (10% of searches) than rentals (2%).
Air conditioning filter: More frequently used in warmer months.
Furnished and renovated apartments: More sought after for rentals than sales.
Overall, the analysis indicates a growing preference for larger apartments, reflecting a desire for more spacious living quarters. The data also highlights the increasing demand for properties built after the 1977 earthquake, suggesting a preference for newer and safer constructions.
Comments