Not quite true. Most people own dachas, country houses ranging from shacks to mansions. A dacha 100+ km from Moscow can be bought for around $10-15k with an acre plus of land. The further from major cities, the cheaper. In Siberia, they'll pay you to move out there.
Mortgages are also available, started by a US company and spreading quickly with now 10% down and 20 year credits.
apartments are like 8 bucks a month to rent for Russians
Most people own their own apartments. That was a gift of the disolved Soviet Union. Everyone who was registered in an apartment became an owner.
As I understand it most dachas lack indoor plumbing :)
My wife's family own their own house and are one of few on their block that have indoor toilets.
They actually made money selling the apartment they'd had before buying they house. They're buying an apartment in installments now, but the payments are enormous (strictly speaking their paying for it to be built in a new building). Her father bought a Hyundai recently and it's also extremely high payments.
What does one do to get free land in Siber?