The price of housing is moderating little by little. We draw this conclusion once we have seen the provisional housing price statistics of the third term of 2019. According to Tinsa, the cost consulting society, the provisional facts and figures of this term show that the average housing price in Spain is increasing 3,8%. This means that it is the twelfth term in a row where there is a rise in the price of housing. Since the minimum records of the real estate crisis, the average price increase goes beyond 14%. Nevertheless, all analysts agree on the fact that real estate prices are becoming stable. Some weeks ago, we wrote an article stating that in Spain it is cheaper to buy property than to rent it. This is because since 2007, there has been an average drop in selling prices of more than 33%. In Madrid, during this third term prices have risen 3% with regard to the same term in 2018. However, with regard to the second term in 2019, prices have dropped 1,7%. On the other hand, in Barcelona housing prices have dropped 1% with regard to the third term of 2018. This is a very significant fact because it shows that Barcelona is the only great city in Spain where house prices have gone down. All in all, real estate analysts agree that there is a slowing down in the price of housing , even though this may not be a very sharp drop.
MADRID AND CATALONIA ARE A MIRROR TO THE REST
The performance of the real estate market in our two main communities set the standard for the rest of Spain. In the second term of 2019, the price of housing in the communities of Madrid and Catalonia was significantly lower than in 2018. Undoubtedly, Madrid and Barcelona drag the rest of the smaller towns in their community and they, in turn, have an influence on the rest of the cities in Spain. In this third term of 2019, Tinsa shows provisional facts and figures that point out that the year-to-year developments of the average price of housing reached 2,6% in the communities of Madrid and Catalonia. The price of housing has increased most in Navarre, over 6%. Next comes Aragon (4%), then The Basque Country (3,9%), and the Community of Valencia also 3,9%. However, on the other hand, there are six autonomous communities where the price of housing has decreased. At the head is Galicia with a drop of 5,7%, followed by Asturias (-5,5%), Melilla (-4,7%) and Castilla y León (-2,8%). Generally speaking, we must point out that since 2007, there is a great contrast with both Madrid and Catalonia and the rest of the autonomous communities. Since 2007, in the Community of Madrid prices have increased 42% and in Catalonia 33%. Whereas, in Galicia, Asturias or Castilla y León the rise has not even reached 5%.
VALENCIA AND PALMA STAND OUT
Valencia and Palma de Mallorca, which are the capital cities of their communities, stand out from the rest with a price increase of more than 8%. Next come Seville and Malaga with a little more than 5%, followed by Saragossa with slightly more than 3%. As we have already said, the rise of 3% in Madrid and the drop of 1% in Barcelona are very significant facts, as in both cities these figures are even lower than in 2018. Altogether, there are eleven provincial capitals where the price of housing has decreased with regard to 2007. These facts and figures show a moderation in prices which is triggered by the two main Spanish cities. Therefore, all analysts believe that this trend will continue in the coming months. If we pay attention to the price per square metre, San Sebastian takes the lead (3.406€ /m2), after, Barcelona (3.349€ /m2), Madrid (2.962€ /m2), and then Palma de Mallorca and Bilbao both 2.170€ / m2.