Trends in the property sector in 2017: What do I need to know?

If you are considering buying a new home, you must surely be having doubts about the situation of the property sector and the challenges it is now facing. In today’s blog by Gestilar, we decipher the latest trends and provide some information on the property market that could be of great help to you.

An increase in demand in residential areas

It would appear that an increasing number of people live in large cities and decide to move to the outskirts, improving their quality of life and enjoying the benefits of such a move, such as natural spaces, more peace and quiet, good access and links to the city, etc.

Some of our development, such as Islas Ons in Boadilla del Monte, Isla de Arosa in Alcalá de Henares and La Toja in Tempranales, are exponents of these characteristics, making the day-to-day lives of those who live in them more comfortable, without the need to live in the bustling suburbs of the city centre and bringing the benefits of city life to a beautiful location.

One interesting piece of information, according to publication Trading Economics, that shows how home purchases are becoming decentralised is the change in population density: between 2010 and 2014, population density in the intermediate areas of large cities rose from 53.7% to 55.2%.

“Greener” homes: A commitment to energy efficiency

The EPBD (Energy Performance of Buildings Directive), the main European directive designed to guarantee compliance with EU objectives in terms of construction, has set 2020 as a crucial deadline for the new-build property sector to achieve the ideal level of energy certification, minimising its environmental impact and using natural resources.

For this reason, sustainable homes are now more of a reality than ever. Gestilar projects are a good example of this: as a minimum, they have an energy efficiency rating of B and are built in accordance with environmental sustainability criteria, with abundant illumination and sunlight.

Growth in new home purchases

According to data provided by the General Council of Notaries, 2017 will see a fall in new housing starts, with the difference between new and second-hand house sales falling as a result of increased property development in the last year. It would appear that at the end of 2016 there was an increase in off-the-plan purchases in large cities such as Madrid and Barcelona, a trend it appears will continue.

2017 will be a year of great change and new challenges for the property sector.We will continue to bring you information on current events and changes in the sector, to keep you up to date.