 
Hannah Gardner remembers making more than 100 phone calls, going on several trips and spending at least three weeks on her springtime search for a summer rental dacha three years ago.
Hannah Gardner remembers making more than 100 phone calls, going on several trips and spending at least three weeks on her springtime search for a summer rental dacha three years ago. Gardner, a Moscow-based British journalist, did not use a realtor"s services, instead searching on the Internet and in newspapers. But even real estate agents warn that the search can take a month or longer, thanks to growing demand. Spring is the time to look for a summer cottage — not surprisingly, prices rise and the range shrinks as the warmer months draw near. Realtors say that to get a good deal on a summer getaway, dacha-hunting should not be left any later than April. Cottages that are within an hour"s drive from Moscow and meet Western standards — those that are comfortably furnished and have full indoor bathroom facilities — are becoming increasingly popular. To serve this demand, about 10 rental-only cottage complexes have opened near the city, said Gulnara Rakhmangulova, a department head at real estate firm Mian. Moscow"s real estate agencies generally cater to clients prepared to pay upward of $2,000 per month for a countryside cottage, with rental complexes being the most popular option. The two most important factors determining the price of such cottages are the distance from Moscow and the length of the lease. Leases of a year and more cost less per month than six-month or shorter leases. The most popular distance — within 15 to 30 kilometers from the Moscow Ring Road — is especially favored by renters with children, who make up the majority of summer tenants, said Maria Zhukova, a spokeswoman for Miel. The trade-off for renting farther away, in addition to lower prices, is the proximity to nature, said Blackwood spokesman Ilya Nepiyushchikh. "Within 10 to 15 kilometers of Moscow, there are no great views of nature," he said, adding that forests are actively cleared within this radius to make space for more cottage developments. Another price factor is the area. Average rents for modern cottages in the more prestigious neighborhoods, such as along Rublyovskoye Shosse, start at $5,000 per month, compared with rentals along the less popular Kashirskoye Shosse, which start at $2,000, Zhukova said. Agents generally charge a month"s rent for their services, and a security deposit equal to a month"s rent is also required. Summer rentals may require advance payment in full, and long-term renters who pay in full can expect a discount. Rental complexes have been growing in popularity since 2002, and demand does not seem to be waning. Nikolskaya Sloboda, which opened for renters on Novorizhskoye Shosse in the fall, has already filled its cottages, which start at $10,500 per month. Manager Pavel Makukhin said he expected to start a waiting list within the next three months. Cottages in such complexes tend to have good security and offer entertainment facilities as well as sport and recreation areas, Nepiyushchikh said. To rent a cottage long-term, it"s best to wait until fall or early winter, when supply increases, said YEVGENY IVANOV, managing director at Usadba realty. More traditional dachas situated on standard 600-square-meter plots of land, frequently without hot water or shower facilities but sporting an old-fashioned outhouse, are in the low-budget sector, under $1,000 per month. These are most easily found through newspaper advertisements placed directly by owners. Gardner, who kept renting the same dacha over the next two summers together with several friends, said building a good relationship with the owner meant she did not have to repeat her search. One winter, a different group of renters broke the furniture. "He was happy that we looked after the place, and he always called us back and asked if we wanted to rent again," she said.
|
|
|
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Back to the news list
