Buying an apartment to live in Almaty

I find apartments and houses to live in across Almaty and check each one before you spend an evening on it. I look at a property as a builder, an investor and a lawyer: what the building is made of, what it will be worth in a few years and what the documents say. I work with the premium and family segments.

How to choose a family apartment in Almaty

I start with a conversation about how you live. How many people are in the family, where school and work are, whether you need a home office, how many cars you have. From that we get a short list of districts and formats, and we don't waste time on places that look good in a listing but don't fit your life.

Then I go through the market myself, resale and new builds, and bring you 3–5 options with comments. For each one you know the pros, the cons and the likely room for negotiation before the viewing.

What I check in an apartment before you buy

I spent about four years building turnkey houses, then renovated and resold apartments. So at a viewing I look where people usually don't: at the walls, the floor screed, the service shafts and the utility connections.

Structure and build quality

Frame type, load-bearing walls, cracks, signs of leaks, the quality of the facade and roof. In Almaty I also look at seismic safety separately: year of construction, the design, the condition of the floor slabs. In 2019 I had my own concrete plant in Burunday, so in a new build I separately ask for the concrete grade and the material certificates.

Layout, noise and light

I check whether you can move the kitchen or join rooms without touching load-bearing structures. I come at different times of day to hear the road, a nearby bar or a construction site, and to see how much sun the rooms get.

Parking, courtyard and neighbors

How many parking spaces per apartment, whether there is underground parking, who manages the building and what rules the owners' association (OSI) has. In premium buildings this often matters more than the finishes.

Documents and the developer

I have a law degree, so I read the documents first: title documents, encumbrances, spousal consent, the history of ownership transfers. For a new build I check the construction permit, a standard-form DDU registered in Kazreestr and the guarantee from the Single Operator, Kazakhstan Housing Company (KZhK). On complex questions about a specific deal, a notary checks as well.

New build or resale: which is better to live in

A new build gives you a modern building, underground parking and an installment plan, but you wait for completion and do the renovation yourself. Resale lets you move in right away and meet your actual neighbors, but the building is older and the utilities need a closer check.

In the premium segment there are few ready large apartments in good locations right now. If you need 200 m² or more in a low-rise building with security, start early and consider options that are not openly listed for sale.

Best areas and budgets for premium and family homes in Almaty

For premium homes we most often look at Medeu district (Samal, upper Dostyk, Gorny Gigant) and the upper part of Bostandyk district. Families with children need schools, kindergartens and places to walk nearby, so their list of districts can be different.

According to Homsters, in September 2026 the average new-build price in Almaty was about 1.61 million ₸ per m² in elite class and about 1.02 million ₸ in business class. Low-rise club buildings start at 2.5 million ₸ per m² and go higher. I help you see what you are paying for at a given price and where you are overpaying.

How buying with me works

A call or meeting: your goals, budget and timeline
A shortlist of 3–5 properties with my comments
Viewings, including online if you are in another city or country
Checks on the building, the documents and the developer
Negotiation on price and terms
Preparing the deal and support at the notary until ownership is registered

This is general information. Legal and tax details depend on your status, so before any deal I confirm them with a notary and a lawyer.

Tell me what kind of apartment you're looking for

Message me on WhatsApp or Telegram with your family size, budget and timeline. I'll tell you whether it's realistic to find and where to start.

Message on WhatsApp

Questions and answers

How much does a buyer's agent cost in Almaty?

My commission starts at 1% of the property price. The exact percentage depends on how complex the task is and how much work it takes, and we fix it in the contract before the search starts.

Can I buy an apartment in Almaty without coming to every viewing?

Yes. I run online viewings and send video and my notes on each property. It's worth coming once for the final viewings, and the deal itself can be signed through a notarized power of attorney.

How do I check a developer in Almaty before buying a new build?

Look at the construction permit, the guarantee from the Single Operator (KZhK, Kazakhstan Housing Company) or the frame stage, and make sure the contract is a DDU (shared-construction agreement) registered in Kazreestr. Reservations and so-called investment agreements are not protected by law. The guide on checking a developer has a full checklist.

Are apartments in Almaty safe in an earthquake?

It depends on the year of construction, the design and the condition of the structure. I look at the frame type, the floor slabs and cracks on site, and for new builds I check the design. I also recommend insuring the apartment against earthquakes.

Is a new build or a resale apartment better for a family?

If you can wait and do a renovation, a new build gives you a more modern building and parking. If you need to move in fast, resale wins, but then I check the building and utilities especially carefully.

Do you help with renovation after the purchase?

I did turnkey apartment renovations for years, so while we're still choosing I can tell you how much work a place will need and roughly what it costs. That helps you negotiate and get the budget right.