House prices in Malaga fell 2.57% in Q1
According to a quarterly report from pisos.com, the average price of second-hand housing in Spain in March was 1,690 euros per square metre. This represents a decrease of 1.25% when compared to December 2019. Year-on-year, the fall is slightly smaller at -0.61%. When comparing March to February, the contraction is -0.89%.
“The trend towards a slowdown in house price increases has been seen for a few months but this could now be compounded by the health crisis we are experiencing,” says Ferran Font, director of studies at pisos.com. “It is still too early to make forecasts, but it is clear that the state of lockdown the country is currently going through has paralysed the real estate industry, since the confinement means potential buyers are not able to visit properties. This will undoubtedly affect the transaction figures and, therefore, the mortgage market too. It could also have an impact of prices dependent on how long the situation continues.”
Font said that “although the symptoms of economic slowdown began to be noticed at the end of 2019, an unexpected crisis like that of COVID-19 could further damage the housing market in Spain. However, we must be cautious and not start making negative predictions which could further discourage the market.” Font suggests that now more than ever it is vital that all real estate professionals collaborate and join efforts in order to return to normality as soon as possible.
One possible outcome from this is that while many more people are spending time at home, potential buyers may take the opportunity to peruse property websites and express an interest in buying a property in Spain once the restrictions are lifted.
Autonomous Communities
In the first quarter of this year, the highest increases in the price of second-hand homes for sale were seen in the Balearic Islands (1.68%), Aragon (0.98%) and Extremadura (0.71%). The largest decreases were located in Andalusia (-3.19%), Castilla-La Mancha (-2.37%) and Madrid (-2.28%).
Year-on-year, the most significant increases came from the Balearic Islands (8.32%), the Canary Islands (4.33%) and Madrid (3.60%). The largest annual falls occurred in La Rioja (-5.40%), Castilla-La Mancha (-4.72%) and Catalonia (-3.89%).
The most expensive region at the close of the first quarter was the Balearic Islands with an average price per square metre of €3,165. Meanwhile, the cheapest was Castilla-La Mancha (€870 p/m²).
Provinces
The largest quarterly house price increases by province were seen in Cuenca (5.02%), Teruel (3.10%) and Álava (2.54%), while the most notable falls were seen in Lugo (-4.94%), Seville (-2.74%) and Malaga (-2.57%).
Year-on-year, the Balearic Islands (8.32%), Álava (8.31%) and Cuenca (5.92%) showed the largest price increases. However, the largest falls in the price of houses in Spain were seen in Ciudad Real (-6.98%), Zamora (-6.91%) and Lleida (-6.42%).
The most expensive province was Balearic Islands where owners are asking an average of €3,165 p/m², while the cheapest province was Cuenca (€747 p/m²).
