Forcadell and UB Present the Real Estate Sector with the Findings of the 2024 Report

Forcadell and UB have presented the findings of the Real Estate Market Report: Current Situation and Perspectives 2024 to the real estate sector. The event gathered more than 600 industry professionals, offering an in-depth look at the current landscape and key factors that will shape real estate in 2025. The event included presentations and debates led by Forcadell experts specializing in Residential and Tertiary sectors.

The session began with opening remarks from Ivan Vaqué, CEO of Forcadell, who welcomed attendees and introduced the current market situation. Dr. Gonzalo Bernardos, the report’s editorial director, a professor of Economics at the University of Barcelona, and director of University of Barcelona’s Master’s in Real Estate Advisory, Management, and Promotion, presented key insights into both current conditions and the future of the real estate market’s segments.

The Forcadell-UB 2024 Report is organized into five chapters covering the national and international economic context of the year. It delves into forecasts for Spain’s housing, rental, office, retail, and industrial real estate markets. This edition also includes a section dedicated to the vacation rental market.

2025: An Unforgettable Year for Residential Sales

One of the report’s standout conclusions is that the residential sales market is set to experience an unforgettable year in 2025. Housing sales are expected to reach 825,000 units, a level unseen since 2007 (836,871 transactions). The sale of pre-owned homes is also projected to set a record high with 725,000 units, significantly surpassing the previous peak (649,971 in 2022) and far exceeding the level in 2006 (544,944).

At the same time, the report indicates that sales prices will increase by over 10% in 2025, particularly for new housing, where price rises in many areas are expected to exceed 15%.

Rental prices, meanwhile, have hit a historic high across Spain’s 52 provincial capitals this year and continue to climb. In nearly all these capitals, rental prices are expected to be even higher in 2025.

The Forcadell and UB analysis suggests that rising rental prices are not linked to growth in the number of vacation rentals (VUT). These properties have seen only moderate supply increases in recent years, and the overall stock of housing allocated to vacation rentals remains low. Additionally, rental prices have also seen a sharp increase in towns with minimal VUT presence.

Revitalization of the Commercial Asset Market

The commercial asset market is set for a strong revival in 2025. Increased credit availability from financial institutions, aimed at improving their margins, will significantly boost buyers’ purchasing power and facilitate a rise in transaction volumes by enabling buyers and sellers to agree on market prices. Office properties are expected to see a substantial positive absorption rate of leased space, much higher than in the past two years. Retail spaces in central Barcelona and tourist-heavy areas are anticipated to regain their position as stable, secure investments.