For years, the housing market in Spain faces growing tension marked by rising prices, the shortage of developable land and the Difficulty of access for young people and families with low income. Despite regulatory attempts and policies aimed at improving accessibility, demand continues to exceed supply, especially in large cities.
An imbalance that has turned the evolution of prices into a matter of utmost social and economic concern, with direct implications on residential mobility and the well-being of the population.
In this sense, the economist and professor at the University of Barcelona, Gonzalo Bernardos, has anticipated that housing prices in Spain will maintain their upward path during 2026, with a special impact on the new construction segment. He did so in a recent intervention in a forum organized by Fotocasa, according to ‘ABC’.
New construction housing more expensive than used ones in 2026
Thus, Bernardos has estimated that the price of second-hand housing will grow by around 9%, while that of new construction could rise by up to 15%. This gap, according to the expert, is due above all to the marked imbalance between supply and demand in the new construction market.
“In 2026 the price of housing for sale will increase in second-hand supply by approximately 9%, in new housing it will increase by practically around 15%.”
Bernardos also attributes this behavior to the persistent shortage of residential developments. “The supply of new housing is scarce and the supply of used housing is more abundant,” he explains, highlighting that the pressure on prices will be more intense where construction is not able to respond to the pace of demand.
The specialist’s forecast, although subject to the uncertainties inherent to the economic context, points to an additional increase in prices that could make access to housing difficult for those who buy their first home and further strain the rental market.