Tinsa: House Prices Decreased By 3.67% In February

12 March 2015 – 20 Minutos

House prices have recorded an average cumulative decrease of 42.6% since the end of 2007.

Homes on the Mediterranean Coast have lost more than half their value.

Prices may bottom out in the next few months.

In areas with low demand and significant stock, further price decreases are expected.

A change in the real estate cycle has begun; but since it is a cycle, the changes will not happen overnight. In this way, although prices are now rising in some areas of Spain, in many others, they are still declining and those areas are, for the moment, in the majority.

According to data published by Tinsa, house prices fell by 3.67% in February with respect to the same month in 2014. On the Mediterranean Coast, homes have lost more than half of their value due to the crisis, but prices may bottom out in the next few months.

With respect to the peak prices recorded at the end of 2007, house prices have recorded a cumulative decrease of 42.6%, according to the index prepared by Tinsa. On the Mediterranean Coast, the decrease has been much more pronounced, according to the appraisal company, which highlights that in this region, the cumulative decrease during the crisis has amounted to 51.1%.

In February, house prices decreased by 4.9% and 4.4%, respectively, in large cities and metropolitan areas. Since the peak of the cycle, capitals and large cities have recorded a cumulative decrease of 46.5%, whilst metropolitan areas have experienced a cumulative reduction of 45.5%.

By contrast, the Balearic Islands and Canary Islands recorded a year-on-year increase of 0.7% (in Feburary), whilst on the Mediterranean Coast, the decrease was 4.7%. From the peak levels recorded before the crisis, house prices on the islands have decreased by 32.4%.

In the towns included within “other municipalities”, the decrease in February with respect to the same month in 2014 was 2.1% and since the peak, was 36.1%.

Optimistic forecasts?

Tinsa notes that average house prices began a stabilisation process in 2013, characterised by a moderation in the rate of decline in average prices. “If the optimistic forecasts that various official bodies are predicting for economic growth and employment are fulfilled, then average prices in Spain may bottom out in the next few months”, says the company.

However, it warns that this forecast does not exclude the fact that in localised markets, where demand is particularly weak and there are significant levels of stock, (downwards) adjustments are still expected and there may yet be significant year-on-year decreases.

Original story: 20 Minutos

Translation: Carmel Drake