Conflicting views about life in Poland?

Indeed so, yet I look out on to the streets here and see new car after new car, and the apartment prices seem to be pricey. How is this possible? Bank loans? Family money? The cost of living here is not so cheap when local wages are taken into account. So, frankly, it's a mystery to me.

The developers are very slow to drop their prices for flats, so they're obviously confident of takers -- even at their prices, many of which seem steep.

Someone told me that 100% mortgages are available here but will be phased out next year. If true, zero deposit loans for property do not sound sensible and should not have been allowed. Yes, they are doing that in the UK now under some scheme, and I disapprove of that too. Encouraging people into large debt seems highly questionable.

They're pretty much unavailable. They might be available in theory (I don't recall if they were banned yet) - but the banks simply aren't willing to lend on that basis.

Yeah, that's also what I heard, as you said, that most if not all are now adopting the non 100% mortgage policy in advance of the law coming in.

Question is, why on earth were they allowed before? I thought Poland was more sensible than that.

I don't notice this. It all depends on where you happen to live, I suppose.

Surely they are not majority.


Poles discovered credit and bank loans.Plus there are few people that can afford new cars. As for apartments developers are hoping for takers and their greed has been whetted when foreign investors and foreign companies upped Polish estate market.

When I went viewing to rent, the owners seemed like 'ordinary' Poles every time. Of course, judging books by covers is misleading at times, but they weren't foreigners or big shot types. Most of the flats I viewed as a tenant would have a value of >400K PLN and with the exception of one they were all built since 2004.


At times it seems they are, especially when I glance out from a tram or bus at the line of cars adjacent. The cars look to be new or just 2 or 3 years old. We have a lower ratio of new cars in my supposedly wealthy home town.


Well, not sure which part of Wro you're in, but seems even when I go to the 'poorer' areas' blocks, the cars in the car park outside seem to resemble the stock of a new or nearly new car showroom. The old Skodas and Fiats are few.

Majority of cars in Poland are about 12 years old.


Foreign investors as buy and sell -to make money not long term investors. At one time in 2007 prices of apartments in Poland piked by 1/3 of their previous worth due to activity of foreign short term investment funds. Some of those investors have been buying from developer for all crop and selling with profit to individual customers be it foreigners be it /Poles (mostly Poles)

If somebody have bought an apartment for inflated price right now will not be hasty in selling especially if negative equity is lurking.
Yes, it is relatively expensive to rent apartment in Poland but that is not what I have been talking about.


Could be that what you are talking for a new cars are cars after serous accident in the west, bought for next to nothing by Polish mechanics and restored to their former glory. Look nice but it is not real McCoy,

The average age of vehicle in Poland is 15 years:
samar.pl/__/3/3.a/72164/3.sc/11/Poland-s-2012-vehicle-parc---Details-brought-to-you-by-IBRM-Samar.html?locale=en_EN

Perhaps Polish people just take more pride in their cars.

There seems to be two Polands: the former, as described by Delphi and yourself, which exists on Polish Forums, and the latter, where Poles actually live.

Funny you should say that, I've heard the same from someone else off-forum, and I am shocked to think this could be the reality

"Cut 'n' shut" (or cut & shut) cars are illegal in the UK. I wouldn't knowingly buy one anywhere.

perrys.co.uk/car-news/buyers-guide/guide-checking-a-car-for-signs-of-cut-and-shut-1202.php

Thanks for the info on the property market, much appreciated.


No, they're new cars for sure. And there are a lot of them. And I have never seen so many 4x4 BMWs or large Land Rover style new cars in my life as I see here. In the UK, we called them Chelsea tractors. Here, there are loads of them, everywhere.

Thank you,

Yes, exactly. Since 966 - baptism of Poland. This fascination has become a sort of national tradition, even though some crazies try shift the trend towards the East from time to time.

I get heavy vibes from Poland. Could it be due to Katyn and all the German camps?

What do you mean by that?

Katyn and horrors of German occupation are probably a source of compassion vibes. I can`t imagine any other.