Housing prices in Catalonia rose by 5.5% during the second trimester
This is the highest growth registered in Catalonia since 2007, when prices increased by 6.5% and comes after five consecutive months of rising house prices, according to figures released on Tuesday by the Spanish Statistics Institute (INE). Prices rose more in Catalonia than in Spain as a whole, where the increase was around 4%. The number of buying and selling transactions reached 2010 levels, with the previously owned market registering the highest growth.
Madrid (CNA).- The price of housing in Catalonia rose by 5.5% during the last trimester and has now accumulated five consecutive months of increases, according to figures released on Tuesday by the Spanish Statistics Institute (INE). The figure is the highest since 2007, when housing prices rose by 6.5%. In Spain as a whole, prices also increased but the rate was lower, 4.9 % for new houses and apartments and 3.8% for previously owned properties. Regarding the number of buying and selling transactions in Catalonia, the levels registered were the same as those recorded in 2010 and the previously owned market registered the highest growth: more than 80% of the transactions were made in this sector.
The price of new houses and flats in Catalonia rose by 5.1% in the last trimester, compared to the same period last year. Regarding previously owned housing, prices increased by 5.5%.
An increase in sales of previously owned properties
The number of buying and selling transactions equalled those of 2010. In July 2015, 5,267 apartments were sold in Catalonia, which means a 17% increase compared to July 2014, a figure that equals that of 2010. The previously owned market experienced notable growth as 86% of the total number of apartments sold in Catalonia had been previously owned.
Lower figures in Spain overall
In Spain as a whole, the trend is also upward. The price of housing rose by 4.9% for new builds and 3.8% for previously owned housing units. The number of buying and selling transactions also registered a notable increase of 13.8%, which is a lower figure than that of Catalonia. Like in Catalonia, most of the transactions took place in the previously owned market, with 80% of the apartments sold belonging to this sector.