A representative survey of residents conducted by the real estate development company SBA Urban revealed that Kaunas residents are still planning to buy property: 18% of the city’s population intend to purchase a new home in the near future.
Viktorija Pozingytė, Head of Commerce and Community at the company within SBA Urban developing the Nemunaičiai district in Kaunas:
The Kaunas real estate market is currently gaining momentum. Demand is rising as residents feel economically stronger and more confident in their financial situation. Moreover, the current conditions for housing finance are particularly favourable, which encourages people to plan investments in their living environment with greater confidence.
Location is as important as price when choosing a home
In the survey, 500 Kaunas residents indicated that the price of a property development (68%) and its location (66%) are equally important when selecting a new residential property. The size of the property and its layout were also frequently mentioned, as these factors contribute to a higher quality of daily life.
Pozingytė:
Modern buyers are no longer focused solely on getting the best price per sqm. Increasingly, the combination of a property’s uniqueness, distinctiveness and comfort is highly valued. The convenience provided by more spacious homes is also becoming a key priority – nearly half (49%) of respondents ranked property size and layout as their third most important consideration.
The most anticipated development – the pedestrian bridge over the Nemunas
The survey results show that Kaunas residents also value the city’s infrastructure, while revealing shifts in their priorities.
A similar representative survey conducted last year indicated that in 2024, cultural facilities were the most eagerly awaited. This year, a new leader has clearly emerged: the most anticipated development is the pedestrian bridge under construction over the Nemunas (33%).
Pozingytė explains:
In recent years, we have observed a significant shift – buyers are increasingly considering not only the immediate comfort of a home, but also its long-term value growth. The left bank of the Nemunas River is now one of the fastest-developing areas in Kaunas, making improved transport infrastructure particularly important.
We do not doubt that this is why the pedestrian bridge over the Nemunas River is regarded as one of the most essential anticipated developments: it will not only connect the old town with the new centre of Kaunas currently being developed on the left bank, but will also naturally contribute to the increase in property values in the area, including the Nemunaičiai development.
Buyers’ priorities: construction quality and surrounding amenities
According to Pozingytė, Kaunas residents are increasingly paying attention to the technical and structural quality of apartment buildings when choosing a new home. Key priorities are those that ensure long-term comfort and lower maintenance costs: construction quality (64%), heating system (55%), parking space (53%), sound insulation between apartments (52%) and the building’s energy efficiency rating (51%).
When evaluating residential districts, Kaunas residents place particular importance on services that make daily life easier and directly improve the quality of life. The most attractive amenities near homes are grocery stores (60%), parks and green spaces (47%), and public transport stops (45%). These preferences clearly indicate an intense desire among residents to live within easy reach of essential services, in areas where infrastructure enables efficient daily planning and reduces reliance on private cars.
The most well-known real estate projects – along the Kaunas riverbanks
Given that buyers are placing increasing importance on both housing quality and everyday convenience, as well as on functional surroundings, the survey results reflect a clear trend. Respondents value real estate projects in Kaunas that offer a mixed-use neighbourhood model combining residential, commercial and workplace spaces with active public areas.
This year, the Nemunaičiai development on the left bank of the Nemunas has jumped to the leading position: 36% of respondents identified this district as the most recognisable real estate project in Kaunas, and nearly a quarter of those planning to purchase a home in the near future intend to do so there.
Pozingytė concludes:
A mixed-use neighbourhood is the standard for modern cities. It’s a model where residents can meet all their daily needs within minutes of their home – working, shopping, exercising, spending time in public spaces and accessing services.
At the Nemunaičiai development, we are implementing this concept comprehensively: the first residential phase has already been completed on the six-hectare site, while we are simultaneously constructing the Pasaka residential project, the Hermanas business centre and a multistorey car park. This creates a district where people can save time and live more conveniently.
According to her, this concept is becoming the standard for modern urban development. This is already reflected in buyer behaviour – in the Pasaka residential project, more than 70% of apartments have been sold even before construction is complete. This dynamic indicates strong market confidence and growing demand for districts that offer a contemporary, functional and convenient living environment.
The Spinter Research survey, commissioned by Urban LIVE, was conducted in November and included 500 respondents.