Thursday, 21 May 2026
As showecased by the first panel on Residential held at CEDER 2026, the Romanian residential market is currently undergoing a period of maturation, where the concept of luxury is shifting to integrated ecosystems and long-term value. According to the industry experts, this evolution is driven by increasingly sophisticated buyers who prioritize time, community, and wellbeing.
Răzvan Brasla, CEO of Cloud9 Residence notes that the difference between upper middle and premium real estate is now defined by the “depth” of the product. “So, it’s very important that the product has good architecture, good construction, it has energy efficiency, amenities and of course financial discipline. Because the buyers have become more educated and they want to be informed about the entire project”, he states.
Vlad Musteață, Founder & CEO of North Bucharest Investments, observes that the window for securing properties in the city’s most prestigious areas is rapidly closing. He identifies a specific class of clients who are “looking to buy just premium location, just in best areas”. Musteață emphasizes that these opportunities are becoming rare: “Let’s say we have one project in best location in two, three years… So, they understand that now is the last moment to buy this kind of perfect location and not cheap projects”.
The market is no longer driven solely by local investors. Musteață highlights a rise in international interest, noting that foreign buyers are often more decisive than locals because they recognize Bucharest’s growth potential relative to other European capitals. “A lot of people are very impressed how they see Bucharest who come for the first time (…) they understand the direction of the price (…) will be just growing,” he explains.
In the luxury segment, the demand for amenities has become non-negotiable, as buyers look for a “complete urban living” experience which aligns with the broader industry shift toward the 15-minute city concept, where work, leisure, and education are all within reach. As Irina Caraene, Sales Director of CORDIA puts it: “The client which is ready to offer more than €200,000 is more looking to buy time. To have city in 15 minutes (…). He wants complete urban living without compromises. So, for these reasons, from what we saw on the market, we are very glad that we are through those developers that want to fulfill the desire on the premium and luxury market and offer to all those clients beside a very good apartment with a very good finishing, a lot of amenities that the client can use.”
Vlad Musteață also notes that modern buyers are “not satisfied to have just good apartments and big number of square meters”. Instead, they demand functional surroundings: “They want to have a place for the kids, they want to have commercial space, and they want to have where to go outside in the evening, let’s say to make promenade”. He maintains that the high-quality projects being developed today will see significant appreciation and concludes that the buildings which successfully integrate these community elements will be “very, very, very appreciated from the buyers who buy today”.
