Catalonia registers in February the largest number of home sales and purchases since the real estate crisis

BarcelonaCatalonia surpassed 10,000 home sales in February for the first time since 2007, according to data published by the National Statistics Institute (INE) this Thursday. Specifically, 10,389 acquisitions were formalized, 6.4% more than the previous month and 5.7% more than in February 2025.

The sale of new properties, 2,177 throughout February, has grown the most year-on-year – by 17.5% – and has risen in all districts except Tarragona. In contrast, used homes have rebounded to a lesser extent, around 3%. Also noteworthy are the 617 subsidized homes that have changed hands, a figure that represents almost 30% more than last year and the highest level since 2019.

The 10,389 sales, more than in any other February since 2007 and more than the previous three months, are predominantly used homes, practically eight out of ten, as is customary. Second-hand homes, 8,212, have risen 3% annually and 10% compared to January. New homes, 2,177, have also contributed to the overall figure, with an increase of 17.5% compared to February 2025, and a decrease of 5% compared to January – a month with 31 days.

The vast majority of homes sold in the second month of the year are free, as is the typical trend, with 9,772 units, the highest since 2007. However, the 617 protected ones represent practically a third more than twelve months earlier, despite an 8% drop compared to January.

By provinces, the trend is also generally upward. In Barcelona, 6,875 flats and houses were sold in February, the highest figure since 2007. A record also in 19 years for Girona, where 1,415 properties were sold two months ago. Similarly, in Lleida, a February high since 2007 has been reached, with 645 acquisitions. Tarragona is the only discordant province, with a 11% drop compared to twelve months earlier, but, nevertheless, the second highest figure in two decades.

Drop in Spain

On the other hand, in Spain as a whole, the sale and purchase of homes fell by 0.5% in February compared to the same month in 2025, reaching a total of 59,689 transactions. With the decrease registered in the second month of the year, the sale and purchase of homes has now experienced two consecutive months of decline after falling by 5% in January. The year-on-year drop in home sales and purchases in February was a consequence of both the decrease in transactions for used homes, which fell by 0.2% to 45,881 transactions, and sales of new homes, which dropped by 1.6% to 13,808 transactions.

93.7% of homes transferred by sale and purchase in February were free housing and 6.3% were protected housing. Specifically, the sale and purchase of free housing amounted to 55,938 transactions, the same as in February 2025, while the sale and purchase of protected housing decreased by 7.9% to a total of 3,751 transactions.

On a month-on-month basis (February over January), home sales and purchases rose by 3.8%, with increases of 1.7% for new homes and 4.5% for used homes. In the first two months of the year, home sales and purchases fell by 2.8% compared to the same period in 2025, with declines of 2.7% for transactions of new homes and 2.8% for those of second-hand homes.