The aim of the article is to present tendencies and changes of the situation on the local residential market in Poznan, including division into primary market (market of new dwellings) and secondary market (market of flats called ìusedî). The source of data relating following analysis, are the results of research, based on sale offers of flats on secondary and primary market from 2000 till 2007, as well as the results of questionnaire survey done on turning-point 2006 and 2007 among 466 persons, declaring intention of purchase of flat in Poznan. In addition to the above mentioned, there were also used data form the secondary sources, like Central Statistical Office in Poland and earlier surveys of Department of Investment and Real Estate of The Poznan University of Economics. Using the results of research of sale offers of flats and home buyers aimed to present gradually progressive phenomenon of differentiation of housing market, defined as tendency of separation of different segments of flats, as well as presentation of motives of flats purchase, preferences of home buyers and the factors, that have, from the buyersí point of view, the decisive meaning in process of purchase of flat and the choice of definite housing premises. On the basis of conducted research one can be stated: ï together with the development of real estate market in Poland, the local housing market is submitted to the phenomenon of more and more larger diversification and it is possible to observe the phenomenon of separation the more and more different segments of flats, ï preferences of home buyers and motives of purchase are diversified and they depend on the features, that describe households, ï to the most important factors, taken under consideration in the process of searching flats, rank in turn: the price, location, surface, costs of maintenance as well as the safety of neighbourhood, ï in all analyzed areas (the price, location, storey, surface) the differences between expectations of the buyers and accessible in offer flats were observed.