Supply and demand, price and quality, needs and opportunities, problems and prospects of housing construction in Lutsk were analyzed at a meeting of the "Lutsk is European" press club. In particular, city mayor Anton Kryvytskyi noted that the dynamics of the construction industry's development in the city are illustrated by the fact that in the past year alone the number of organizations grew from 40 to 58. The industry employs about 6 thousand people. For the first time in recent years, all organizations are operating profitably. They ensure the fulfillment of more than two-thirds of the region-wide volumes. In the structure of construction work, new construction predominates, particularly housing. 75% of which is multi-apartment buildings, 25% is individual housing. Housing construction volumes are growing every year (dynamics by year – 2003: 328 apartments, 2004: 415 apartments, forecast for 2005: 430 apartments), moreover at the expense of qualitative parameters – apartments of significantly larger area. For comparison – if before the crisis in the construction industry 600 apartments with a total area of 45 thousand sq. m. were commissioned, then last year – 415 apartments with a total area of 42 thousand sq. m. The average cost of a square meter of housing in Lutsk ranges from 1900 to 2400 thousand hryvnias. (except for so-called elite housing). Over 90% of housing is built through shared participation of citizens. At the same time, there is a tendency for construction organizations to accumulate their own capital and reinvest it in housing construction. Therefore, the city mayor is convinced that by the end of this year a free market of primary housing will be formed in Lutsk.

The city mayor's conviction is fully shared by the builders. According to the words of the chairman of the board of the Lutsk house-building company Ruslan Vaiman, compared to other regional centers of the Western region, housing in Lutsk is being built not only more intensively, but also taking into account new approaches in the construction concept – energy saving, compactness, increased comfort. In addition, he notes, Lutsk builders have significant reserve capacities. A restraining factor is the limited number of free plots for construction within the city. And the financial capacity of the population – adds the chairman of the board of OJSC "Lutsksantekhmontazh 562" Viktor Chornukha. This year his construction company is commissioning 4 multi-apartment buildings with an interval of 3 months, and 25% of the apartments so far have no owners.

The Volyn main regional administration of "PrivatBank" for the first time in the region has taken a significant step toward consumer accessibility of housing. A simplified housing lending scheme has been proposed through the creation of a Mortgage Center. On the basis of a passport, income certificate and identification code, a loan at 12% per annum is processed within half an hour. Other advantages – no down payment, maximum term – 20 years, free expert valuation of housing, realtor services, and a credit card for the amount of 5% of the loan amount, as well as notarial certification. Upon receiving the loan, the borrower receives calculations of the monthly loan payment amount and a credit certificate with a guarantee of providing the loan on the above-listed terms. The director of the VMRU CB "PrivatBank" assures that loans should not be feared. On the contrary – a fixed percentage of the loan cost is significantly more advantageous than the dynamic growth of housing prices.

Practically all participants in the discussion were unanimous in the assertion that more mass accessibility of housing should be ensured at the state level. Both in terms of increasing citizens' incomes, and in terms of schemes for reducing construction costs, for example abolishing the 20% value added tax, and in terms of some tax preferences for those who pay for a housing loan, and in terms of forming an alternative environment for the potential housing buyer (for example, issuing housing bonds).