Overview

• The Generalitat de Catalunya collected €1.61 billion in property transaction taxes through June, marking a 20% year-on-year increase fueled by over 47,300 home sales and 9% price growth in the first half of 2025.
• Roughly half of flats in Spain were purchased outright in May despite record-high average prices of €1,836 per square meter, underscoring the dominance of cash-rich buyers.
• Buyers now face effective entry costs of 30–35% of a home’s value after accounting for the standard 20% down payment plus 10–15% in fees and taxes.
• Regional disparities amplify the barrier to ownership, with required savings for down payments ranging from about €78,800 in Baleares to €18,900 in Ciudad Real.
• Young and lower-middle-income households are increasingly excluded from both purchase and rental markets as wealthier individuals and investors drive up prices and dominate transactions.