– The availability and affordability of decent housing in Kazakhstan is one of the strategically important tasks. Accordingly, the solution of the housing problem is always in the first place, especially now, when this process has accelerated, since the growth in housing prices has recently outpaced the growth in incomes of the population. In general, at the end of 2022, the provision of housing per person living in the Republic of Kazakhstan amounted to 23.4 square meters. m – only 0.9% more than in the previous year. This value is quite far short of the UN standards – 30 sq. m. It is this indicator, according to the United Nations, that is the minimum acceptable in developed countries. At the same time, in some countries, the provision of housing exceeds 60 square meters. m. Accordingly, it can be argued that the problem of providing housing for the population of Kazakhstan is relevant and quite serious, given the strong discrepancy with world standards and the low level of growth in this indicator, the Ranking.kz article says.
In the regional context, the highest rate of housing provision per person is noted in Astana, Almaty and Mangistau region.
The residents of Zhambyl, Zhetysu and Turkestan regions are the least provided with housing.
Analysts call the availability of this housing the main factor in the provision of housing. Mortgage is the main and even the only affordable way to buy new or secondary housing for Kazakhstanis.
– At the same time, commercial mortgages are quite expensive. For example, in March of this year, the annual effective interest rate (AERR) on “ordinary” mortgages, that is, on loans outside of partner programs of banks and preferential state programs, as well as not under the housing construction savings system, ranged from 14.9% to 26.5% . These are such high rates that few Kazakhstanis will count on such an option, experts say.