New Digital Platform: Notaries’ Perspective on the Market
A specialized online platform dedicated to real estate market analysis has been launched in Spain. The initiative was developed by the national Notariat Council, which notes that housing remains one of the most pressing issues for the population. According to the organization’s leadership, citizens’ inquiries at notary offices confirm the scale of the problem—not just surveys or media reports.
Alberto Martínez Lacambra, Director of the Notariat’s Center for Technological Solutions, provided an in-depth overview of the new portal’s features. He highlighted the difficult situation with property prices, noting that even though there are no clear signs of a bubble, apartments and houses are becoming increasingly unaffordable for most families. Experts estimate that the housing deficit in the country already exceeds 700,000 units and is continuing to rise.
Transport as a Tool for Expanding Opportunities
Experts believe that overcoming the housing crisis will require a comprehensive approach, but most measures take significant time to implement. For instance, building permits and the development of new areas can be delayed for years. In this context, notary representatives emphasize the importance of improving public transportation systems.
Improving transport infrastructure, experts believe, will help ease the pressure on major cities such as Madrid and Barcelona, and make suburbs—with much lower housing costs—more accessible. The price gap between the capital and neighboring municipalities can reach 50%. Expanded transport links widen the search area for housing and increase the supply in the market.
Experts give examples: thanks to good connections with Madrid, cities like Rivas, Getafe, Leganés, and Alcorcón are becoming attractive to buyers. In Catalonia, Mataró, Terrassa, and Sabadell play a similar role. Living 20–30 kilometers from the city center is common practice in many global capitals, provided there is fast and convenient transport.
Rising prices and challenges for young buyers
During the presentation, experts expressed concern about the accelerating increase in property prices. In the first eight months of this year, the average price of apartments nationwide rose by 8%, and in Madrid by more than 15%. The average price per square meter across the country reached €2,153, which is 60% higher than the 2013 figures.
Particular attention was paid to the situation of young citizens. The share of buyers aged 18 to 35 from January to August was less than 10%, whereas in 2007 it exceeded 22%. Experts note that the market has become less accessible for young people and suggest reconsidering age limits for receiving government subsidies and preferential loans, raising them to 40–45 years.
The current median age of homebuyers in Spain is 47, which is 7 years older than in 2007. This highlights the decreasing opportunities for young families and the need for adjustments in government policy in this area.
New portal offers advanced tools for market analysis
The new digital platform is open to everyone—individuals, companies, and public institutions alike. It provides interactive data on actual real estate transactions based on notarial records. The database includes information on price trends, the number of transactions, average property size, as well as a breakdown of buyers by age and nationality.
Users can analyze statistics by region, city, postal code, and even by individual streets with an accuracy of up to 5 km². The data is updated monthly and covers the past 12 months. The platform helps track trends and make better-informed decisions when buying or selling property.
