Flats located in quieter, greener areas away from city centres are increasingly popular among buyers, particularly as remote work becomes more common. Many are prioritising access to nature, a peaceful environment, and more spacious living conditions over proximity to central business districts. This shift reflects a broader change in buyer preferences, with location decisions now driven more by quality of life and home functionality than by commute times alone. Tomasz Kaleta, managing director of sales and marketing at Develia Customer preferences vary and depend on individual needs and financial capabilities. However, the choice of apartment is most often determined by the price and/or the amount of the mortgage instalments. As the market situation is not favourable for those planning to buy their first flat, in recent months the most popular properties have been more expensive flats in central locations and larger flats purchased for cash or financed with a loan with a lower LTV (loan to value) ratio, i.e. with a higher down payment. Customers continue to attach great importance to greenery, both within the estate and in its immediate surroundings. Easy access to shopping and services, a functional interior layout and good sunlight are also important. In our projects, we focus on large glazed areas, which constitute at least 20% of the apartment's floor space, ensuring optimal lighting. Buyers' preferences are key for us, which is why we take them into account at the stage of selecting investment land, designing apartments and common areas. Our approach is perfectly reflected in the Ceglana Park estate in Katowice, located in the vicinity of Kościuszki Park. More than half of the investment area is covered by green spaces, and residents have access to, among other things, their own pond with a pier and a salt graduation tower. Agnieszka Gajdzik-Wilgos, Sales Manager at Ronson Development There is a clear trend towards combining urban locations with access to green spaces. Customers are not giving up the urban lifestyle, but they expect their place of residence to offer peace and quiet and space to relax. There is still interest in flats with gardens and terraces. Buyers also pay attention to the developed infrastructure or a clear vision of its development in a given project. In response to these needs, we have launched investments such as Zielono Mi and Nova Królikarnia, which offer a compromise between city accessibility and peaceful surroundings. Damian Tomasik, President of the Management Board, Alter Investment Yes, we are definitely seeing a clear trend in buyers' preferences, with more and more customers choosing projects located in quieter parts of cities or on their outskirts. This is the result of long-term lifestyle changes that have been accelerated by the pandemic but are now an established reality. Remote and hybrid work, a greater emphasis on work-life balance, and the need for contact with nature have all given the location of a home a whole new meaning. Today's buyers are primarily looking for peace, greenery, more space and functionality. It is no longer just proximity to the city centre that is decisive; the quality of the surroundings, access to recreational areas, privacy and the opportunity to relax away from the hustle and bustle of the city have become equally important. Projects located in low-density neighbourhoods with good transport links, but at the same time offering everyday comfort, are currently very popular. This trend fits in perfectly with our project strategy developed in recent years and the locations we choose for future investments, such as Pomlewo near Gdańsk, which offers the potential for a peaceful, balanced life, but also flexibility, because we know that today a home is not just a place to sleep, but also a space for work, relaxation and family life. The project in Jeziorany, for which we obtained a building permit in December 2024, is part of the same trend. Recently, buyers have been paying particular attention to the functional layout of flats, including a separate room for work, a larger balcony or garden, the surroundings of the development, i.e. greenery, lack of noise, proximity to walking areas, good transport links without having to live in the centre, the quality of materials and standard of finish in the common areas, as well as energy efficiency and low operating costs. This is not a temporary trend, but a new direction for the market. Investments that meet these needs will definitely increase in value. Katarzyna Kwiatkowska, Sales Office Manager, Matexi Polska We offer a variety of residential projects, both in central urban locations and in quieter, more residential areas of the city. Each project is tailored to the needs of a specific group of customers, depending on their lifestyle and preferences. We have noticed that customers are increasingly paying attention to comfort of living, access to green areas and the quality of common spaces. This trend is linked, among other things, to the growing popularity of remote working and the need to relax in a friendly, well-designed environment. We also continue to see very high interest in flats with private gardens, which are particularly popular among families and people seeking greater contact with nature. That is why we pay special attention to the development of green areas and common spaces in all our investments. Our projects are designed with high functionality, good workmanship and access to greenery in mind, even in densely built-up urban areas. For example, in the Splot Wola project in Warsaw, we offer two-level apartments with spacious terraces on the top floor. In the Żelazna 54 investment, residents will be able to enjoy a green courtyard and a recreational roof terrace. Although we do not develop projects on the outskirts of cities, we choose locations that combine convenient transport links with access to parks and green areas. This allows our customers to combine an active, urban lifestyle with daily contact with nature. Joanna Chojecka, Sales and Marketing Director for Warsaw and Wrocław at the Robyg Group In 2025, the real estate market in Poland will be shaped by trends such as growing interest in the ecological aspects of real estate, resulting in increased demand for buildings using energy-efficient technologies such as photovoltaic panels, heat pumps and intelligent building management systems. The continuation of the remote working trend means that buyers are increasingly looking for flats outside the city centre, paying attention to access to green areas and a quieter environment. The integration of modern technologies in homes is becoming the norm. There is growing interest in flats with spaces that can be used to set up a home office and access to common areas such as gyms and playgrounds. These trends point to dynamic changes in buyer preferences and the adaptation of the real estate market to contemporary technological and environmental challenges. Małgorzata Porzezińska, sales director at Archicom We are not seeing a clear trend of customers moving away from central locations in favour of quieter neighbourhoods on the outskirts. Buyers' needs are diverse and depend on their lifestyle, career stage and family situation. That is why we attach so much importance to diversifying our offer, in terms of size, standard and location. Customers looking for more space on a more affordable budget, often families with children, are more likely to choose projects located outside the city centre. Younger people, such as singles or those working in a hybrid model, pay more attention to proximity to universities or workplaces. Our observations show that customers are not so much looking for peace and quiet away from the city, but rather a comprehensive environment with access to greenery, parks, services and transport within a 15-minute neighbourhood. We carefully select the locations of our projects so that even investments outside the city centre provide quick access to its key points. In the context of remote working, we do not see a permanent exodus of customers to the suburbs, but there has been an increase in interest in flats that allow for flexible space arrangement, e.g. separating a work area or an additional room. Agnieszka Majkusiak, Sales Director at Atal I wouldn't call it a clear trend, especially since the popularisation of remote working is being counteracted by the phenomenon of more and more employees returning to the office. Customer preferences are a very broad topic, resulting from their individual needs, and different features and aspects of real estate have their supporters as well as opponents. This also applies to location. Investments located away from the city centre are usually cheaper. For this reason, they are an attractive purchase option for families looking for larger flats. These expectations are often accompanied by a desire to live close to green and recreational areas, such as parks, woods or cycle paths, which are a significant advantage for these customers. Customers also pay attention to other parameters of such locations, i.e. transport accessibility and proximity to infrastructure, which can further enhance the value of well-designed developments outside large city centres. Source: dompress.pl Photo: ROBYG MODERN CITY