Internet web site visitors who want to find a new apartment, home, or office space in Kiev can now access real estate information on the web just like their Western counterparts. Most of the real estate web sites don't have the bells and whistles being used on American sites today but they are part of a growing trend of online real estate agencies in the Ukraine.
The Kiev Post reports that more real estate offices are going online and upgrading their sites to make shopping a matter of a few mouse clicks for real estate shoppers. The newspaper's web site carries a banner ad for Key Realty Real Estate Services which links to a static web page and pop-up menu describing services as follows:
"The agency provides its clients with a full range of real estate services, such as:
- Market research;
- Real estate advisory;
- Retail, office and residential premises lease and sale for foreign entities;
- Tenant representation;
- Property management;
- Hotel apartments;
- Real estate development;
- Legal support.
Among our clients we have diplomatic missions, international organizations, foreign business entities, noncommercial organizations. Key Realty has substantial data bank and guarantees its clients an exceptional degree of competence and professionalism. Most of our agents have a high proficiency level in spoken English."
Another company, which claims to be Kiev's largest real estate agency, Real Estate & Service, has an English-based web site serving the international community. The agency was established in 1992 to help foreigners find "safe, comfortable, and convenient housing in Kiev".
Their staff also helps with office space for diplomats and business professionals. They advise web site visitors, "When you have found a property that Interests you, Real Estate & Service will assist you in negotiating the lowest possible price, as well as providing an unbreakable rent contract."
Kiev residents who are wealthy enough to have access to the Internet are likely to speak English and the owner of the Real Estate & Service reported that their English language site was receiving an estimated 2,000 hits per day earlier this year.
The Abbat Real Estate Agency, which was initially posted on the web in early 2000, is only in Russian now but they have plans to provide an English version as well. The director, Andrey Zhymov, stated that the site is boosting business and they were getting 10% of their clients from the site shortly after publishing it.
Serious cyber searchers are advised to check out a site set up by the Association of Realtors of Ukraine which rates the country's most active sites, www.realtor.com.ua,but be forewarned that it is a Russian language site and there is no English translation at the moment. Judging by how quickly they are embracing the web and English language sites, the upgrade may happen any day.
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Market Perspective: Kiev, Ukraine, Mitropolitski
