"Home" in 2026: What Changes Took Effect on July 17

We are living in challenging times. All areas of life are undergoing significant changes, and Ukraine’s housing market is no exception. The government has offered support to citizens through the “eOselya” program, and on July 17, its rules were updated. The changes pertain to lending conditions, the calculation of standard living space, and the simplification of certain procedures for veterans and families with children— DIM.RIA provides more details in its article on the program’s updates.

Key Changes to the “YeOselya” Program

The latest updates to the program have made it more flexible and equitable. In practice, these changes will have a significant impact on individuals and the real estate market. This is confirmed by analysts based on listings for apartments for sale in Kyiv on DIM.RIA and actual shifts in supply and demand:

• benefits for veterans—a reduced interest rate, with data and status verification required only once during the loan application process, which reduces red tape and allows for a faster home purchase;
• children under 21 are now included in the calculation of standard living space, which increases the available space for families and makes it possible to obtain truly spacious housing;
• the loan application process has become simpler—banks receive data directly from registries, fewer documents need to be submitted, and the risk of errors and delays has decreased.

As DIM.RIA notes, these updates have made the program more flexible, accessible, and convenient for people. Benefits for veterans, larger living spaces for families, and the speed and simplicity of the application process have created new opportunities for the development of the housing market in 2026.

What DIM.RIA Experts Noted

In 2026, experts from the DIM.RIA marketplace observed major changes in the real estate market. Demand for new construction has plummeted, housing prices continue to rise, and single-family homes are becoming increasingly popular. Traditionally, housing is most expensive in Kyiv and Lviv, and the farther away from these cities, the more affordable it becomes.

New Construction

Experts noted that despite a noticeable increase in prices, public interest in housing in new construction projects declined in 2026:

• in September, housing prices rose the most in three regions—by 12% in Chernihiv Oblast, by 5.2% in Zhytomyr Oblast, and by 3% in Zaporizhzhia Oblast;
• Annual increases in housing prices were recorded in Chernihiv Oblast (22.5%), Chernivtsi Oblast (20.3%), Ternopil Oblast (18.1%), and Khmelnytskyi Oblast (18.1%);
• In some regions, however, prices fell—by 4.5% in Kyiv, 4.9% in Kirovohrad Oblast, and 1.7% in Odesa Oblast.

New construction is becoming more expensive even as demand falls. In the capital, prices are highest in the Pecherskyi district—$2,887/m²—while the cheapest apartments in new buildings are in the Desnianskyi district—$883/m². 

Resale Housing

The situation is the same in the resale market—there are more and more listings, while demand varies by region:

• in September, experts recorded the largest decline in demand for existing housing in the Rivne region—by 30%, the Kirovohrad region—by 21%, the Poltava region—by 19%, and the Kyiv region—by 16%;
• at the same time, demand rose in the Ternopil region by 10%, the Zakarpattia region by 9%, the Kherson region by 7%, the Lviv region by 6%, and the Dnipropetrovsk region by 4%

The decline in interest in existing homes is attributed to a mismatch between quality and price. As a result, the cheapest one-bedroom apartments can be purchased in the Kherson region—$17,000—while the most expensive housing is, unsurprisingly, in the capital—$89,800.

Single-family homes are becoming increasingly popular

More than 34% of buyers in 2026 prefer to purchase their own home because of the opportunity to ensure independence and stability. About 33% of buyers are willing to spend up to $30,000 on a house. Another 43% of people are willing to pay $30,000–$60,000 for a single-family home. More expensive cottages are far from affordable for everyone and are less popular. However, established real estate is gradually becoming the main segment of the housing market, displacing new construction and resale properties.

The housing market in 2026 has become highly uneven—on the DIM.RIA marketplace, interest in resale apartments and new construction is falling, while single-family homes are becoming increasingly popular. Rising prices for units in new buildings amid falling demand create the risk of the market overheating. All these factors are creating new challenges for developers and buyers. That is why the “eOselya” program and its recent updates have become one of the main tools for supporting families with children and veterans.

How “YeOselya” Has Affected the Housing Market

In 2026, the “YeOselya” program significantly shifted the balance of supply and demand not only in lending but also in the structure of the market itself:

• it is now possible to buy housing at a more affordable price thanks to preferential terms and new rules—even those who previously lacked such an opportunity can now purchase homes, banks have become more active in issuing loans, affordable housing is being purchased more frequently, and families with children have been able to secure more spacious homes;
• developers have begun adapting their projects to the program’s requirements—they are building more apartments that meet the “YeOselya” standards; there are now more options available at mid-range prices, and more projects are being offered to families with children and veterans;
• In large cities, the program’s impact was felt more quickly than in the regions—more deals were closed in Kyiv and the surrounding region, while interest in the program remains moderate in the central and western regions; in some regions, loans were unable to compensate for the housing shortage.

The program has heightened regional disparities and served as a catalyst for change. It has made loans more accessible and influenced developers, housing offerings, and regional trends. By 2026, “YeOselya” had established new rules for the housing market.

The government introduced the “YeOselya” program as a key tool to support Ukrainians. This program has already significantly changed the real estate market—private homes have become more popular; new construction, although more expensive, has remained a viable alternative; and apartments on the secondary market are gradually losing ground. In 2026, price became the primary factor in choosing a home. The DIM.RIA marketplace has become the primary platform for searching for and purchasing real estate in line with individual needs and financial capabilities. Analysis by the platform’s experts allows users to compare options, evaluate terms, and make informed decisions to purchase a home in Kyiv or other parts of Ukraine at a favorable price.

Олена Болган