In many Russian households, women are the primary apartment owners, accounting for 37 percent, while joint ownership is reported by 35 percent of respondents and male owners by 28 percent. These figures come from a study by Glavstroy Regions and were summarized by socialbites.ca.
A majority of Russians, about 51 percent, say property decisions are made jointly within the family. Yet in 29 percent of households, the final decision sits with the women, and in 20 percent, the men hold it.
When evaluating housing options, both men and women prioritize price. For men, location is the second most important factor, followed by order and overall layout. Women place the second emphasis on location and then on architecture and landscaping, followed by infrastructure and engineering services. In both groups, comparing properties against competitors is among the least compelling concerns.
From 2019 through 2021, women dominated the flat buyer segment. In 2022, the share of men rose sharply to 54 percent. By 2023 the balance evened out, with men and women nearly equal in representation among buyers.
Over the last five years, a noticeable trend has emerged: women more often prefer smaller homes, from studios to two-room apartments. This preference is reflected in average apartment sizes as well, where women purchase units averaging about 41 square meters while men tend to select larger spaces around 45.5 square meters. The difference in average area underscores a broader preference pattern across the two groups.
At the same time, data on inquiries and site visits to housing developments show that women are more frequently the initial point of contact, particularly when information comes from bulletin boards or similar sources. The rate of female first contact is approximately 1.5 to 2 times higher than that of men in these scenarios.
Source: Glavstroy Regions, reviewed by socialbites.ca.