Public RCN and apartment prices at last? The real estate price register, price transparency, and asking prices - what the new regulations really change
Opening up broader access to real estate price data sounds like a breakthrough – and in some ways, it truly is. In practice, however, many people are currently mixing up several different concepts: RCN, the DOM Portal, asking prices, transaction prices, and the price transparency law itself. This leads to a simple but incorrect conclusion: if something has become public, then checking a single number should be enough to know what a specific apartment is really worth. That is not how it works – especially in the premium segment.
The real estate price register and RCN - what has actually been made available
The Real Estate Price Register, or RCN, is a public register containing information on transactions identified on the basis of notarial deeds. Its nature is therefore transactional rather than purely informational or marketing-based. This is extremely important, because it shows actual prices recorded in official documents, rather than just prices from listings.
The new regulations entered into force on 13 February 2026, and that was when fees for access to RCN data were abolished. For the market, this means a real release of data and easier access to price information. However, this does not mean that the entire register of transaction prices is already available in the same way for every location and every user. Today, RCN data is published in the Geoportal wherever a given district makes it available together with full location and geometry data. That is why access to RCN is still uneven and why many people rightly point out that RCN is not easy to use.
It is also worth noting that the current publication of RCN data in the Geoportal is a temporary solution. These layers were published on the initiative of the Head Surveyor of the Country in order to increase access to pricing information and facilitate free access to data for people who do not have specialist tools for working with geodetic data. It is an important step, but it is not yet a complete, fully built-out system for the whole country.
Price transparency, the DOM Portal, and the price transparency law - why these concepts should not be confused
In public discussion, RCN is very often confused with the DOM Portal. In reality, they are not the same thing. RCN provides source data on specific transactions, while the DOM Portal was designed as a separate tool for presenting statistics on transaction prices for apartments and houses. Its purpose is to make it easier to compare average price levels on both the primary and secondary markets, taking into account factors such as location, floor area, and number of rooms.
A separate matter is the price transparency law, which primarily concerns the transparency of asking prices for apartments and houses offered by developers. This means that access to asking prices and access to transaction data are two different things. One shows the price at which a property is being offered, while the other shows the price at which the deal was actually concluded. From the client’s perspective, both areas matter – but they should not be treated as interchangeable.
For both buyers and sellers, this distinction is important. Transparency of apartment prices in the developer market improves clarity when reviewing offers for new homes, but it does not replace analysis of transaction prices. Likewise, data from the real estate price register is valuable, but it does not automatically reveal the full meaning of each individual sale.
Why a past purchase price does not determine today’s apartment value
The biggest interpretative mistake appears when someone checks the transaction price register and assumes that if the owner bought an apartment a few years ago for a certain amount, then its current price should be similar. That logic may seem tempting, but it is far too simplistic.
Every transaction takes place at a specific point in time, under specific market conditions, and for a property in a specific condition. Between one sale and the next, interest rates, demand, financing availability, location prestige, building standard, quality of common areas, or the scope of refurbishment may all have changed. In premium apartments, equally important are the elements that the transaction register does not fully capture: the view, floor level, exposure, layout, ceiling height, degree of privacy, quality of materials, custom-built interiors, or the cost of a refined fit-out.
That is why a historical purchase price alone is not the answer to the question of present value. The register of apartment transaction prices provides a very important point of reference, but it does not tell the full story of a property. If the owner bought the unit at a lower price, then invested significantly in it, upgraded the interior standard, or if the market itself has changed materially, today’s price will not simply be a copy of the old one.
What access to RCN data really gives clients
From a buyer’s perspective, access to RCN data is a very positive change. It is easier to see that not every asking price is supported by the market. It is also easier to separate emotion from fact and to check whether a selected property falls within realistic pricing levels. This is where the real value of access to transaction price data becomes clear.
From a seller’s perspective, the situation is similar, although it requires greater awareness. Today, it is harder to base a valuation solely on the belief that a property “should cost more.” The market expects justification. If an offer is to be positioned above simple comparisons, it must be clearly shown what makes it stand out and why comparison with another transaction is only partially relevant.
This is exactly where the role of the agent and advisor becomes more important than before. A real estate market expert does not focus on a single figure from the register. They analyse what the transaction involved, when it took place, what standard the property represented, whether it was a renovated unit, an apartment in a premium building, an investment property, or a home with unusual advantages. Only then does pricing data become truly useful.
The transaction price register is a tool, not an automatic valuation
This is the most important conclusion for clients. The real estate transaction price register increases market transparency, but it does not provide a single ready-made answer to the question of what a specific property is worth today. In that sense, price transparency helps – but it does not reduce everything to a single click.
RCN should be treated as a strong source of knowledge about real prices, not as a stand-alone calculator. It provides access to transaction information, but it does not replace interpretation. It does not fully show the motivations of the parties, individual arrangements, quality of finish, or all the elements that build the advantage of a specific property. That is exactly why the real estate price register will remain a very important source, but one that still requires experience.
For us, as a premium real estate agency, this means one thing: an even stronger emphasis on reliable analysis, calm explanation of the data, and showing clients the difference between a historical price, an asking price, and the market value of a specific property. Full price transparency should not be confused with automatic price equality. Market transparency is necessary, but good property purchase decisions still require context, experience, and the ability to read the data properly.
From a factual standpoint, this text is based on current communications from GUGiK and Geoportal, as well as official materials from MRiT concerning the DOM Portal and the transparency of asking prices. In particular, the following points have been confirmed: no fees for access to RCN data since 13 February 2026, the publication of data from around 320 districts in the Geoportal, the temporary nature of this solution, the definition of RCN as a register based on notarial deeds, and the fact that the DOM Portal is separate from RCN itself.
Working with Concierge House
If you are planning to buy an apartment and want to go through the process calmly, with a team that can manage it end-to-end – we are at your disposal. As real estate agents, we focus on minimising risk: we help you collect documents, structure timelines, negotiate terms, and prepare a checklist of questions for the notary.
In practice, an advisor from our team can:
- provide an initial assessment of the property and documentary risks,
- help define a sound pricing and contract strategy,
- coordinate communication so that decisions are not made under pressure.
As a result, you reduce the risk of mistakes and gain a transparent process – from documentation, through transaction terms, to closing. If you are considering a purchase, contact us: we will outline the scenarios, organise the next steps, and take care of the details that make a difference.
Contact us today – this listing could change your day.
