The article presents an analysis of defects in residential construction as key risk factors for the effectiveness of a construction investment. In a very competitive market, investors have to compete with each other with the organization of construction production and the quality of the product, which is a building structure. One of the basic criteria for evaluating the quality of building structures is the number and type of construction defects. Therefore, the analysis of the risk of such failures and statistical studies of the frequency and type of their occurrence were the crux of the research process presented in the article. An extensive and detailed theoretical analysis of the problem of defects in housing construction was supported by an empirical analysis. Based on the results of research on completed construction investments, the structure of the database was developed, and then a quantitative and objective analysis of defects in residential buildings was carried out. The whole is summarized with research conclusions and recommendations regarding the implementation of residential construction investments.