Russia Business Directory

Russia is experiencing an investment boom with the foreign capital inflow at USD41 bn in 2006 and as much as USD60 bn in the first four months of 2007. The cumulative investments in Russia now exceed USD150 bn. Business real estate is a much more profitable venture in Russia than it is in industrialized countries and in other emerging nations, reports Kommersant-Daily.

Russian investments abroad came to some $140 billion last year, close to what foreigners invested in Russia. Among other things, Russian development is growing with recreation parks, quite a new sector for the country, moving to the forefront. This fact shows that economy is stable and people have more money at their disposal, economists say.

Russian investors study foreign experience and hope to reap sizeable profits from building sports facilities, business centers, hotels, shops and restaurants nearby. The only problem in the sector is persistent corruption and bribery. Investors, however, are not very worried about this. Russian administrative bans seem to be good because they do not apply for everyone and all situations, writes Kommersant-Daily.

Housing
As for the housing prices, in the last few years they have been growing in the most of Russian big cities at the impressive rates, from 5% to 12%. Surging prices are a direct consequence of the introduction of housing loans in Russia which now are offered at 12% a year. In 2006 Russians took two times more housing loans than it was predicted, and the trend is continuing in 2007. Already after four months of 2007, the volume of housing loans exceeded the results of 1st half of 2006. And by the end of 2007 Russians are expected to take housing loans amounting at almost USD1 bn. Most of mortgage loans are issued in Moscow and Siberia.

Another reason for price growth is that the offer does not seem to meet the growing demand. Though most major cities have seen several new housing projects being launched (especially in Moscow and St.petersburg), the first-hand market of houses remains limited.

However, by mid 2007, prices have stabilized and even gone slightly down (0,2-2%) in such cities as Moscow, Ufa, Samara and some others. Experts' opinions differ. Some say the prices may stagnate, others predict further growth, though more slaggerish than before.

Rent, Moscow

Prices on rent of appartment in Moscow start from USD750 per month. Most common is appartments betweeen USD1000 and USD3000 per month.

Rent of 1 sq m of class A office in Moscow costs USD850-1200 in 2007, class B - between USD450 and USD850, class C - from USD300, according to Russian and international real estate agencies.

Russian country profile: Real Estate Market - by Ernst & Young, Ernst & Young's Real Estate, Hospitality & Construction group, Real Estate Advisory service (eng)
Real Estate Net and News - the real estate information portal, Residential, Commercial, Commercial Real Estate (eng/rus)
Arendator - important information resource on commercial real estate in Russia with rather comprehensive and daily updated database of business and retail premises, commercial real estate in Moscow and other cities, analytical reports, news (eng/rus)
Jones Lang LaSalle Russia - provides real estate, investment and research services in Russia and the CIS. Company information, description of services (eng).
Center for Real Estate Analysis - is a multi-disciplinary economic, real estate mass appraisal and consulting firm which was founded in 1993, Moscow. The firm has provided a comprehensive range of advisory, planning, researching, and management services to governmental and institutional clients (eng/rus).
Association of housing construction and crediting funds – official site, non-commercial organization, and the basic purpose of creation and activity of organization is assistance to the decision of housing problem in the Russian Federation and the CIS countries (rus)
International Real Estate Directory -Russia - A Comprehensive International Real Estate by Country (eng/rus).
GVA Sawyer is a full-spectrum real estate services provider whose multidisciplinary staff is able to solve all kinds of real estate and construction problems. Development Services (eng/rus).
Noble Gibbons -  the Russia’s leading property services firm (founded in Russia in 1994), CB Richards Ellis Noble Gibbons provides the industry’s most comprehensive portfolio of integrated services: Asset & Property Management, Investment Services, Office, Retail & Industrial Agency, Development & Project Management, Strategic Consulting & Valuation, Corporate Advisory (eng/rus)
Real estate agencies – the list of Real estate agencies in Russia (eng/rus).
Real estate catalog – by the Moscow times (eng)
Real Estate Companies in Russia and CIS Catalogue of references ...  a lot of real estate companies (eng).
Russian Society of Appraisers is a public professional association that binds together the national appraising profession. Our primary purpose is to assist appraisers of various fields of experience in their activity and to advance the development of the national appraising market and practices; official site (eng/rus)

Realtors
CMI Development - real-estate developer in Moscow, with more than $3 bn in private investments, dealing with high profile projects (eng/rus). 
Intermark - British company that has been providing services in the sales and letting of residential real estate in Russia since 1993 (eng/rus)
Delight Realty  - est in May 1993, dealing in sales/purchase of elite real estate, suburban real estate, relocation, rent and property management (rus/eng)
Moscow Real-Estate - Evans Property Services was founded by American entrepreneurs in 1991, dealing in residential and commercial real estate, providing assistance with lease, purchase and sale in both central and suburban Moscow (eng)
Pulford Real Estate - Serviced apartments and real estate services in St. Petersburg and Moscow, Russia. Company information, description of services, contact information (eng/rus).
Russian Real-Estate – Real Estate in Moscow, Sankt-Petersburg and other cities of Russia. mortgages, credits (eng)
St. Petersburg Real Estate - provides vacation apartments,long term rentals and real estate services throughout Russia (eng)