About

Lifestyle

Attractions

Market Outlook

Cost of Living

Economics

A Land of Superlatives

Russia is a land of superlatives. By far the world’s largest country, it covers nearly twice the territory of Canada, the second largest. It extends across the whole of northern Asia and the eastern third of Europe, spanning 11 time zones and incorporating a great range of environments and landforms, from deserts to semiarid steppes to deep forests and Arctic tundra. Russia contains Europe’s longest river, the Volga, and its largest lake, Ladoga. Russia also is home to the world’s deepest lake, Baikal, and the country recorded the world’s lowest temperature outside the North and South poles. The inhabitants of Russia are quite diverse. Most are ethnic Russians, but there also are more than 120 other ethnic groups present, speaking many languages and following disparate religious and cultural traditions.

Most of the Russian population is concentrated in the European portion of the country, especially in the fertile region surrounding Moscow, the capital. Moscow and St. Petersburg (formerly Leningrad) are the two most important cultural and financial centres in Russia and are among the most picturesque cities in the world. Russians are also populous in Asia, however; beginning in the 17th century, and particularly pronounced throughout much of the 20th century, a steady flow of ethnic Russians and Russian-speaking people moved eastward into Siberia, where cities such as Vladivostok and Irkutsk now flourish. Source, Britannica.com 

Lifestyle in Russia

Historic and Contemporary, Artsy and Adventurous

Largest Country in the World

Opulent by Design

​Museums, Theaters, & Restaurants

World Historical Center

Vast Outdoor Activities

Extreme Climate

Evolving Business  Environment

Hospitable People

Established Economy

Nightlife Destination

Ethnically and Culturally Diverse

Pet Friendly

Established Tourism Industry

Attractions & Destinations

Idyllic Countryside To Artistic Riches

Internationally Certified. Locally Recognized.

Joske Thompson is a licensed Global Real Estate Advisor and has been trained as a Certified International Property Specialist to specifically address the needs of those looking to purchase property in California as a foreign national and U.S. nationals looking to purchase property abroad. He is the President of the San Francisco chapter of FIABCI, an elite network represented in 65 countries with members from all professions of the real estate sector. His extensive knowledge on international property and investment practices, paired with his robust worldwide network, affords Joske the competitive edge to deliver successful strategies for his global clientele. As a member of Top Agent Network, Joske is locally recognized as a top agent in San Francisco. 

Real Estate Market & Trends

San Francisco

132% MORE COSTLY

Food: +189%

Housing: +188%

Clothes: -12%

Transportation: +105%

Personal Care: +159%

Entertainment: +66%

Total Difference: +132%

Exchange: 64.8 RUB/USD

Hong Kong

116% MORE COSTLY

 Food: +116%

Housing: +202%

Clothes: -7%

Transportation: +86%

Personal Care: +74%

Entertainment: +62%

Total Difference: +116%

Exchange: 8.260 RUB/HKD

Sydney

87% MORE COSTLY

Food: +111%

 Housing: +82%

Clothes: +6%

 Transportation: +151%

 Personal Care:  52%

 Entertainment:  +48%

 Total Difference: +87%

Exchange: 5.610 RUB/AUD

DUBAI

77% MORE COSTLY

Food: +133%

Housing: +75%

Clothes: +12%

Transportation: +61%

Personal Care: +104%

Entertainment: +69%

Total Difference: +77%

Exchange: 17.642 RUB/ AED

Economics

The Russian Economy

as of May 2019

Russia At a Glance

Russia has undergone significant changes since the collapse of the Soviet Union, moving from a centrally planned economy towards a more market-based system. Both economic growth and reform have stalled in recent years, however, and Russia remains a predominantly statist economy with a high concentration of wealth in officials' hands. Economic reforms in the 1990s privatized most industry, with notable exceptions in the energy, transportation, banking, and defense-related sectors. The protection of property rights is still weak, and the state continues to interfere in the free operation of the private sector.

Russia is one of the world's leading producers of oil and natural gas, and is also a top exporter of metals such as steel and primary aluminum. Russia is heavily dependent on the movement of world commodity prices as reliance on commodity exports makes it vulnerable to boom and bust cycles that follow the volatile swings in global prices. The economy, which had averaged 7% growth during the 1998-2008 period as oil prices rose rapidly, has seen diminishing growth rates since then due to the exhaustion of Russia’s commodity-based growth model.

​GDP: $1,578 B

GDP Growth: 1.5%

GDP per Capita: $10,700

Government Type: D

Public Debt/GDP: 16%

Population: 142.1M

Unemployment: 5.2%

Inflation: 3.7%

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Forbes Rankings

Trade Freedom: 82

Monetary Freedom: 151

Property Rights: 84

Innovation: 36

Technology: 25

Red Tape: 31

Investor Protection: 56

Corruption: 123

Tax Burden: 48

Personal Freedom: 142

Meet Your Global Real Estate Advisor

Joske Thompson

Certified International Property Specialist

1699 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94109

joske@joske.org /  Tel. +1 (415) 345 3100

Gracefully Matching Passionate Clientele with Distinguished Properties