How is the most sought-after apartment on the platforms?

BarcelonaMost people have opened a real estate portal and performed a search that fits their needs, whether to find a place to live—with a certain sense of desperation, in more than one case—or to conduct a homemade market study. However, what are the requirements for a future home and to what extent do they end up conditioning the final decision?

The director of studies at Fotocasa, María Matos, starts from the premise that priorities change "significantly" between those who want to buy and those who are interested in renting, in statements to ARA. According to the portal's demand studies, in the field of buying and selling, there are fifteen requirements that more than half of users define as "determinants". The first, by far, is price, prioritized by 9 out of 10 people (89%).

In contrast, among those who want to rent, price is the only criterion that more than half of those interested set as a red line: initially, it is for 6 out of 10 users, a much smaller proportion than among those who are interested in acquiring the property.

The requirements to buy

The ranking of priorities when buying can be surprising. Although the number of rooms is the second factor that most applicants take into account -76% apply their preferences when searching–, the third place on the podium is occupied by the fact that there are services near the apartment (74%). It is practically at the same level as the layout, which is also relevant for almost three out of four potential buyers (73%).

These issues take precedence over the size of the home, the neighborhood where it is located, and the materials with which it is built. According to Matos, "it shows that families are looking for versatile homes" and that allow them to "adapt to new needs". Despite the popularity that outdoor access gained during the pandemic, the terrace falls to ninth place and is only important to 65%.

Transport comes into play once these demands are met, already almost halfway through the ranking of characteristics to consider. 62% demand that the apartment has good connections to the public network; 60%, a garage space, and 51%, that it is close to work or the university.

In the same vein, according to the data that Housfy has provided to ARA, the terrace is only present in 35% of searches, but the request for a balcony rises to 48%. The Catalan real estate agency puts on the table the need for an elevator, which 64% of potential buyers express.

The business director of Housfy, Jordi Cid, points out that "buyers are forced to look for smaller apartments, or in areas further away from those initially desired", a fact which, in places like Barcelona, has caused a "domino effect" towards the surrounding towns.

A functional rental

Although the budget is also the main deciding factor for finding an apartment in the rental market, its relevance decreases. The director of studies at Fotocasa believes that, in the case of renting, "the search is much more functional" because, in the list of priorities, "factors linked to daily life appear immediately".

Matos warns that the monthly payment "forces many families to give up space to be able to access" an apartment. Thus, the second place in the ranking is occupied by the fact of not having to invest in renovations (49%), followed by having services nearby and good connections to public transport (both characteristics, selected by 40% of applicants).

In the rental market, the importance of outdoor spaces drops. According to Housfy, a balcony is a requirement for 22% of users, and a terrace, for 28%. At Fotocasa, searches that require a terrace drop to 22%. Matos points out that renting "is usually understood as a more temporary solution", which seeks to respond to "immediate needs for mobility and work-life balance".

The most sought-after apartment

With Housfy's data in hand, demand is concentrated on apartments between 50 and 100 square meters, although in the rental market this surface area range is much more sought after - requested by 88% of users - than in the purchase market - where 66% prefer it.

In the same vein, the most frequent preference is for the home to have three bedrooms, although, once again, it is a requirement that takes on a different prominence depending on the market. According to Housfy, while it is the best option for 45% of buyers, it drops to 40% among renters, where, in parallel, apartments with four or more bedrooms gain strength.

From Fotocasa, Matos explains that the trend in the purchase market responds to "a need for stability and family growth," and in the rental sphere, three bedrooms "represent the best balance between price and functionality."