New apartments could be almost 20 percent more expensive by the end of this year, according to real estate experts. The reasons are the increase in energy costs but also the increase in the cost of construction materials.
Cement, pipes and brick became nearly 40 percent more expensive last year, according to Adriana Iftime, vice president of the Federation of Construction Employers’ Associations.
There were basic materials, such as steel, for which prices doubled, but there were also large increases in the prices of plastic products: pipes, polystyrene and other materials.
Another problem is the lack of materials, as many are imported, almost 70 percent.
