Housing remains out of reach and buying or renting will continue to be an impossible race in 2026

DVD 1294 (11-24-25) Housing, in Madrid. Scaffolding on Alcalá street, near Goya. SAMUEL SÁNCHEZPhoto: Samuel SánchezHousing has stopped being a specific problem and has become a structural emergency. After a 2025 marked by skyrocketing prices and a record number of sales, the forecasts for 2026 point to a somewhat less accelerated market, but without real relief for those looking for a home. Prices have reached historical highs. According to real estate portals, the value of housing has risen more than 15% in just one year, the largest increase recorded in such a short time. According to figures from Tinsa, the largest appraiser in Spain, the average price reaches 2,091 euros per square meter. This raises an inevitable question: is there a bubble? Analysts agree that there are signs of overvaluation, but they highlight a key difference compared to previous crises and that is that there is not an excess of housing, but a lack. Little is built and there is little housing available in highly stressed areas. The figures explain it well. Between 2021 and 2025, some 520,000 homes will have been built, while more than 1.1 million new homes will have been created. Even by increasing the pace of construction, closing this gap will take years. Buying a home requires more and more effort. Demand remains high, but many families no longer meet banking requirements or do not have the necessary savings, which drives them out of the market. Looking ahead to 2026, prices are expected to continue rising, although more moderately, between 4% and 7%. And what about the rent? Renting, for its part, continues to be especially stressed, with prices at maximum levels and increasingly tough competition for each available home.©Photo: Samuel Sánchez If you want to know more, you can read here.