Estate Agents’ Expectations Moderately Optimistic at the Start of the Year
Estate agents are moderately optimistic as the year begins. On the one hand, they expect to sell more homes, while on the other, some admit that the number of rented properties is likely to remain the same. And what about prices? The majority of property professionals surveyed by idealista believe that house prices will stabilize in both markets during the first quarter of 2025.
The latest Real Estate Sector Sensitivity Index (ISSI) – calculated by idealista based on a survey of industry professionals – reveals that estate agents remain more confident in the positive outlook for the home buying and selling market than for rentals in Q1 2025. Optimism is at its highest for property sales (74.7 points on a scale of 0 to 100), while expectations for the rental market have dropped (to 57.3 points).
Real Estate Sector Sensitivity Index (ISSI)
More Properties for Sale and More Transactions – Rentals Remain Steady
For the first three months of 2025, the vast majority of estate agents anticipate securing new properties to put on the market (67.5%), while only one in four believes the supply in their area will remain unchanged. Just 6.1% of respondents acknowledge they will have fewer homes to sell.
Similarly, most real estate professionals expect to sell more properties in Q1 2025 (71.1%). This optimistic outlook may be linked to recent interest rate cuts on mortgage loans, new government support measures for young buyers (such as IMT exemption and public guarantees), and increased savings. However, one in five respondents expects transaction levels to remain steady, while nearly 7% believe there will be a decline in home sales.
As for house prices, more than half predict that properties for sale will not become more expensive in the first quarter of 2025. Nevertheless, almost 40% foresee further price increases (with only 5% expecting declines). The same trend applies to the rental market: over 50% of respondents anticipate that rental prices will stabilise during this period. However, one in three expects further rent hikes, while nearly 11% foresee a drop in rents due to increasing housing stock.
How Will House Prices Vary in Q1 2025?
A sense of moderate optimism also prevails regarding new rental property listings and the signing of new tenancy agreements. A total of 28% of estate agents believe they will have more rental properties available, while 30.9% expect the number of listings to remain the same, and 21.1% acknowledge they will have fewer properties to let.
The trend in tenancy agreements is similar, with nearly one-third of professionals expecting to maintain their current level of operations, 27.6% predicting an increase in rental transactions, and 20.7% expecting to let fewer homes this quarter.
Real Estate Sector Sensitivity Survey
Idealista calculates the Real Estate Sector Sensitivity Index (ISSI) based on the views of property professionals in Portugal, who participate in a quarterly survey. This national index reflects the level of satisfaction and forecasts for the housing sales and rental markets. The ISSI scale ranges from 0 to 100, where zero indicates widespread dissatisfaction and 100 represents the highest level of confidence.
IN: idealista.pt
