Metropolitan areas are very complex and interesting phenomenon in the modern world. Their development is often a driving force for entire regions and often the entire country. These concentrations of population are accompanied by concentrations of business and capital. After crossing a border area which is unique for each urban agglomeration, the benefits associated with a high population concentration decline and there are increasing problems which are often without a solution. After analysing the experience of other countries, optimal boundaries should be defined for each development urban area. The issue of urban areas should be particularly carefully and thoroughly monitored for sustainable development. The basic research problem is the selection of appropriate and optimal research methods. The authors argue that one source of information for taking appropriate decisions could be an analysis of the real estate market. The data obtained in this way appear to be reliable and burdened with relatively small error. The paper shows a methodology for determining urban boundaries, mainly based on the analysis of agricultural land in metropolitan areas and beyond their borders, as well as a fundamental analysis of the market residential and commercial properties. Unfavourable changes in the environment can also be estimated by analyzing the various attributes and components of the real estate market.

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