According to Lii Salusaar, a certified real estate agent from LUXUM by Uus Maa, a manor is a property of such unique and considerable value that there are years when a single manor does not change ownership. “Typically, there are 3-4 transactions involving manors per year. For instance, this spring, new entrepreneurs became owners of the Norra manor in Järvamaa, and a young family commenced the renovation of the Polli manor acquired in Pärnumaa,” highlighted Salusaar.

According to the manor portal mois.ee, there are slightly over two thousand manors in Estonia. A century ago, there were counted 1245 main manors, 108 pastorates or church manors, and nearly 600 estate manors – totaling over two thousand manor estates. “An estimated fifth of them have been renovated. Well-maintained ones include well-known manors like Keila-Joa, Palmses, and Kõu, but there are also many smaller and simpler manors in Estonia, of which roughly 80% are unrenewed,” said Salusaar.

According to Martin Matsberg, the marketing manager of Kinnisvara24, there are currently six manors for sale on the real estate portal. The best-maintained among them is Ohtu Manor in Lääne-Harju County, with an owner seeking a substantial selling price – the manor is listed for 2.5 million euros.

In addition to Ohtu, five more modest or in poorer condition manors are currently for sale, with prices below a million euros. New owners are sought, for example, for Kudina Knight Manor in Jõgevamaa, whose condition is suitable for year-round manor living and accommodation services. The mansion with 17 rooms, along with the manor park, is priced at 975,000 euros.

A noteworthy find is the excellently maintained Kehtna Manor in Raplamaa, priced at 699,000 euros. The fully renovated 948-square-meter manor house has 21 rooms.

Located 100 kilometers from Tallinn in Kadrina municipality, Lääne Virumaa, Udriku Manor is for sale with the manor park, outbuildings, and a pond. The complex is priced at 600,000 euros and requires complete renovation.

In Järvamaa, where well-known IT entrepreneurs acquired the unused Norra Manor this spring, another manor is for sale – Seidla Manor, built in 1785, along with the main house and associated buildings. The manor, priced at 350,000 euros, needs complete renovation.

Also priced at the same amount is Loodna Manor in Raplamaa, which features a beautifully landscaped garden. The renovation project for the building is underway.

Given that manor buildings are generally very large, Matsberg states that they are best suited for offering tourism and accommodation services, but owners often convert one wing of the building into their home. Many renovated manors are used as museums, restaurants, accommodations, spas, or entertainment venues, with the earned income invested in the manor’s restoration. Poorly maintained manors often stand empty, but there are also modernly renovated beautiful manor complexes privately owned with limited access to visitors.

According to Salusaar, renovating a manor is a challenging and costly undertaking, making it possible to highlight a common characteristic among all manor buyers – they are people with a very special sense of mission who have taken it upon themselves to preserve and carry forward manor culture in Estonia. “Most manors are under heritage protection, and their restoration and renovation are subject to specific and often quite strict requirements, aimed more at historical restoration than complete rebuilding. Various support mechanisms and renovation support can be applied for manor renovation funding, but the precondition is that the manor is open to the public in some way,” pointed out Lii Salusaar.

Estonians are primarily interested in buying Estonian manors, but people from other nationalities interested in or connected to Estonia or its business activities also show interest. “Buying a manor is not an emotional purchase; it is a challenging real estate project and an investment for future generations. Every manor owner must consider that not only friends and family but also many strangers who want to experience historical ambiance and enjoy a beautiful environment may enter their yard,” said Martin Matsberg.

MOODNE KODU / DELFI