Construction & Development

Igor Melnyk

General Partner
UH Real Estate Fund Partner
At United Heritage, I'm thrilled to be part of a dream that's coming to life, where my passion for real estate meets incredible opportunities. Together with my amazing partners, we're shaping a bright future filled with exciting projects that truly reflect our shared vision and commitment to growth.

Intro

United Heritage excels at turning special situations into prime investment opportunities in diverse real estate markets. Ukraine's post-war reconstruction offers a rare chance to invest early at low property prices, with demand set to rise sharply, while Poland provides stable, consistent returns in a growing market.

With global expertise, we navigate both crisis-driven environments and steady markets. Our focus is on acquiring undervalued assets, from transforming vacant offices into rental apartments to revitalizing shopping malls and completing stalled brownfield projects. Our strong market connections allow us to secure high-profit deals, delivering immediate dividends and long-term capital gains.
Led by Igor Melnyk, with over 20 years of experience, we combine deep market insights and innovative strategies to maximize returns and capitalize on emerging real estate trends.
Explore further to see how we turn challenges into opportunities!
For a deeper insight, read on!

Investment Thesis

The real estate and construction sectors in Poland and Ukraine present contrasting but highly synergistic opportunities. While Ukraine faces the monumental task of rebuilding its cities and infrastructure after unprecedented destruction, Poland offers a stable, dynamic, and rapidly growing market that continues to attract investors from around the globe. Together, the two countries form a complementary landscape for investment and development, with Ukraine poised for reconstruction and Poland solidifying its status as a gateway for regional growth.

The Ukrainian real estate market, despite the ongoing conflict, is seeing an uptick in activity and investor interest. The first year of the war brought uncertainty and stagnation; however, the past year has witnessed significant growth, with transaction volumes exceeding $2 billion. For savvy investors, this moment represents a rare opportunity to acquire assets, often at prices below replacement cost, creating entry points that are unlikely to reappear once peace is restored. The Ukrainian government is actively facilitating this process by privatizing a vast array of real estate assets. Many of these properties are offered at valuations well below their fair market value, with the privatization program generating over $1 billion in transactions in the past 12 months.

One of the most pressing challenges in Ukraine is the growing divergence between housing supply and demand. Daily destruction reduces the available housing stock, while the return of an estimated 20–40% of refugees post-war is expected to drive a surge in residential real estate prices. This creates opportunities for investors and developers to participate in what will likely be one of the largest housing market recoveries in Europe’s history.

The reconstruction effort in Ukraine will also place unprecedented demand on the construction materials and equipment market. Rebuilding cities, infrastructure, and residential areas will require enormous quantities of critical materials, such as cement, steel, and glass. While imports will meet much of this demand in the short term, local production capacities will take time to rebuild, leading to inflated prices and strong opportunities for investors in the construction supply chain. Poland, with its well-established construction materials sector, is ideally positioned to play a crucial role in supporting Ukraine’s reconstruction efforts.
On the other side of the border, Poland continues to solidify its position as a stable, attractive real estate market with strong fundamentals. The skyline of Warsaw alone speaks volumes to investors, showcasing world-class development and architectural ambition. Poland is consistently ranked as one of the best markets in Europe for real estate investment, and all major market reports confirm its long-term growth potential. From office spaces and logistics hubs to residential developments, the Polish real estate sector offers steady returns, driven by a robust economy, rising consumer demand, and Poland’s strategic role as a logistics hub for Europe.

The synergy between Poland’s stability and Ukraine’s reconstruction potential is unparalleled. Poland provides a secure base for investors looking to benefit from regional growth, while Ukraine offers high-risk, high-reward opportunities for those ready to engage in the long-term rebuilding process. This dynamic is further reinforced by Poland’s ability to serve as a logistics, financial, and materials hub for Ukraine’s reconstruction.

Poland’s growing expertise in urban development and sustainable construction aligns perfectly with Ukraine’s rebuilding needs. As Ukrainian cities are reconstructed, there is an opportunity to reimagine urban spaces with modern, eco-friendly designs and cutting-edge technologies, creating cities that meet 21st-century demands. Meanwhile, Polish developers and manufacturers can expand their reach by supplying expertise, materials, and equipment critical to this transformation.

The reconstruction of Ukraine will reshape the region, and Poland stands to benefit as a partner and facilitator of this process. The combination of Ukraine’s urgent need for rebuilding and Poland’s established growth trajectory creates a unique investment landscape. Together, the two nations are building not just physical infrastructure, but also a stronger, more interconnected future for Europe.

Investment Approach

At United Heritage, our investment strategy in Construction & Development is focused on identifying undervalued real estate assets in both crisis-impacted markets like Ukraine and stable, growth-driven markets such as Poland. We aim to unlock value through creative asset repositioning, market insight, and strategic acquisitions.

A key aspect of our approach is the conversion of underutilized office spaces into residential units. With office vacancies rising, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, there is a pressing need for housing. By repurposing these offices into apartments, we address both the oversupply of office space and the increasing demand for housing, generating immediate rental income while increasing the asset’s long-term value.

In addition, we see strong potential in the retail sector, particularly with large shopping malls in Eastern Europe. The shift in consumer behavior, accelerated by e-commerce and economic instability, has left many malls underperforming. Many local owners are eager to liquidate their assets, often at discounted prices. By acquiring these properties, we can revitalize or repurpose them, such as converting them into mixed-use developments or logistics hubs, which are becoming more crucial as e-commerce continues to grow.

The hospitality sector is another area of focus, especially in Ukraine. The demand for hotels is expected to surge post-conflict, and we are targeting hotel properties at undervalued prices now. With strategic refurbishments, these assets will be well-positioned to meet the growing demand for tourism and business travel, generating both immediate income and long-term value.
We also see substantial opportunity in brownfield projects—developments that are partially completed but stalled due to financial constraints. These properties come with the necessary permits and approvals, allowing us to finish construction quickly and cost-effectively. This is particularly relevant in Ukraine, where many projects are abandoned due to the ongoing crisis, enabling us to step in and complete them at a fraction of the cost.

Our ability to secure prime assets comes from long-standing relationships with the largest real estate owners in our target markets, allowing us to bypass intermediaries and negotiate favorable deals. These connections, along with our deep market expertise and on-the-ground presence, position us to respond rapidly to market changes and new opportunities.

We also benefit from our partnership with the Ukrainian Trade Guild, a respected real estate consultancy with over 20 years of experience. This relationship provides us with real-time insights into local market conditions, enabling us to make informed investment decisions.

Our investment structure is designed to deliver both immediate returns and long-term capital growth. Through our EU-registered investment fund, we acquire real estate assets, lease them to professional operators, and generate steady rental income. We ensure optimal management and maintenance of these assets, positioning them for significant exit gains as market conditions improve.
United Heritage’s approach is flexible and resilient, focused on transforming distressed assets into high-value opportunities. By leveraging our expertise in real estate markets, we aim to deliver strong returns while contributing to the revitalization of key sectors in both Ukraine and Poland.
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Poland
United Heritage sp. z o.o.
Górnośląska Street 4a
00-444 Warsaw

NIP 6762632026
REGON 52390325
KRS 0001007453
Ukraine
Pechersk Center
Henerala Almazova Street 13
02000 Kyiv