62
62

Ministry Of Development: House Prices Rose By 1.5% In 2016

24 February 2017 – ABC

The average price of private (unsubsidised) housing amounted to €1,512/m2 in the fourth quarter of 2016, representing a YoY increase of 1.5%. As such, the indicator recorded seven consecutive months of rises, according to data published yesterday by the Ministry of Development.

According to the same source, prices rose by 0.8% in Q4 compared to the third quarter of 2016.

Nevertheless, house prices are still well below their peaks of the first quarter of 2008 (-28% lower). On the other hand, prices have now recorded a cumulative increase of 3.4% since their minimum values, recorded in the third quarter of 2014.

In real terms (excluding inflation), between October and December last year, house prices in Spain rose by 0.5% with respect to the same quarter in 2015 (to record nine consecutive quarters of increases), according to the Ministry of Development, which added that we are now seeing a slowdown in the growth rate in real terms due to an increase in CPI.

In the case of new homes (those aged less than five years old), prices rose by 1.5%, to an average of €1,764.2/m2. The price of houses aged more than five years old also rose, by the same percentage, to an average price of €1,503.6/m2.

Meanwhile, house prices rose in nine of Spain’s autonomous regions led by Madrid (4.8%), Cataluña (4.4%) and the Canary Islands (3.8%). The most significant decreases were recorded in Navarra (2.8%), Murcia (2.6%), Castilla y León (1.5%) and Asturias (1.3%).

In towns with more than 25,000 inhabitants, the highest absolute house prices were recorded in San Sebastián (€3,059.8/m2), Barcelona (€2,822.1/m2), Sant Cugat del Vallès (Barcelona) (€2,779.2/m2), Ibiza (€2,772.4/m2), Getxo (Vizcaya) (€2,681.9/m2), Santa Eulalia del Río (Ibiza) (€2,640.7/m2) and Madrid (€2,628.6/m2).

In smaller towns, the most expensive homes were sold in Ontinyent (Valencia) (€522.7/m2), Elda (Alicante) (€540.6/m2), Alcoy (Alicante) (€552/m2), Jumilla (Murcia) (€552.9/m2), Villena (Alicante) (€560.4/m2) and Novelda (Alicante)(€573.8/m2).

Finally, the average price of social housing amounted to €1,124.30/m2 during the fourth quarter of 2016, representing a rise of 2.6% with respect to the same period in the previous year.

Original story: ABC

Translation: Carmel Drake