The Russian housing market is defined by a deep contrast between dense urban living and rural life, heavily influenced by its Soviet past. In major cities, the majority of the population lives in high-rise apartment blocks. These range from older, standardized Soviet-era buildings (often colloquially called *Khrushchyovkas* or *Brezhnevkas*) to massive, ultra-modern residential complexes built in recent decades.
A unique and deeply rooted feature of Russian housing culture is the *dacha*—a seasonal country home or allotment. A significant portion of urban dwellers migrate to their dachas on weekends or during the summer to grow vegetables, relax, and escape the city.
Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the privatization of state-owned apartments led to exceptionally high rates of homeownership without a mortgage. Today, however, the real estate market in major cities like Moscow is expensive. Mortgages are common for younger generations, heavily influenced by state-subsidized interest rate programs designed to boost the construction sector and support families.
