Joske Thompson
415-608-2233
Russian Real Estate
For International Clientele
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
Food
Both Moscow and St Petersburg have a great choice of fine dining, with world-class restaurants serving a variety of international cuisines, as well as examples of the best Russian cuisine, and other regional favorites, Uzbek and Georgian. Tibetan and Japanese is also popular here, and local eateries serve good fare at reasonable prices.
source: iexpolore
Art
Moscow is slowly gaining its recognition within the art community, bringing superstar’ shows to the Garage Museum run by the art-collector and philanthropist Dasha Zhukova, the COSMOSCOW Art Fair and soon by the V-A-C Foundation, opening in Autumn 2019 in a former GES-2, completely redesigned by Renzo Piano.
source: The Art Gorgeous
Play
Whether you’re a culture vulture in search of inspiration from great artists and writers or an adventure addict looking for new horizons to conquer, Russia amply delivers. Tread in the footsteps of literary greats, including Tolstoy and Pushkin, on their country estates. Ski or climb lofty mountains in the Caucasus, go trekking or white-water rafting in the Altai Republic, hike around Lake Baikal, or scale an active volcano in Kamchatka – the variety of possibilities will make your head spin.
source: lonely plant
Luxury
Experience the opulence of the era of the tsars as well as the remnants of the Cold War. Russia strikes a delicate balance between ancient and avant-garde. From medieval history to haute cuisine; incense filled churches to roof-top bars; and Pskov masonry to chrome high-rises – Russia is in a constant state of evolution. Russia’s industry for high-end accommodations has been booming in recent years.
source: TripsToDiscover
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
Cost of Living Comparison
Compared to Moscow
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%
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
/ Tel. +1 (415) 345 3100
Gracefully Matching Passionate Clientele with Distinguished Properties
