Home mortgages rise 4.9% in Catalonia to mark highest figure since 2010

Catalonia recorded 8,858 mortgages on homes in July, a 4.9% year-on-year increase and the highest figure for that month since 2010, according to provisional data updated on Monday by Spain's National Statistics Institute (INE). 

The pace of annual growth slowed compared to the previous two years, when increases had exceeded 26%. The average interest rate on new home mortgages rose to 3.01% across Spain, against a backdrop of tightening monetary policy by the European Central Bank (ECB). 

In Catalonia, the average capital financed by banks per mortgage rose to €196,005 in July, a 4.76% increase compared to the same month last year, when the average mortgage financing stood at €187,091. 

The average loan amount set a record for the month of July, approaching the €200,000 mark. This figure does not represent the total value of the property, as the portion contributed by the buyer from their own funds must also be included.

Overall, the total capital lent in Catalonia through these mortgages climbed to €1.74 billion, up 9.9% from July of the previous year.

Across Spain, a cooling of activity was observed, with 43,372 home mortgages finalized, a 3.5% drop year-on-year.

Number of mortgages

The year-on-year growth rate of mortgages reduced this July compared to the previous two years, during which increases exceeded 26%. Nevertheless, the overall figure reached a 17-year high for the month of July. 

The total number of residential mortgages has seen uninterrupted year-on-year increases since November 2025.

In June, the European Central Bank (ECB) raised interest rates, bringing its main rate to 2.25%, in response to inflationary pressures stemming from rising energy costs caused by the war in the Middle East, among other factors.

This same trend of slowing mortgage growth was observed across various regions of the country, particularly in Barcelona, ​​which accounted for the bulk of transactions with 6,476 mortgages, a 3.27% increase compared to a year ago.

Regarding the average amount, Barcelona also topped the list with €211,368 per mortgage, followed by Girona (€181,878), Tarragona (€136,919), and Lleida (€134,160). In terms of capital lent, Barcelona totaled €1.37 billion, Tarragona €140 million, Girona €171.5 million, and Lleida €55.4 million.