Spanish property sales up for 18th month in a row

Residential property sales in Spain are continuing to rise with the latest data showing that the number of transaction recorded by notaires increased by 7.3% compared with the same month in 2014.

It marks some 18 months of continuous growth, the figures from the General Council of Notaires shows with its analysis report saying that the recovery in the housing market is being maintained.

A breakdown of the data shows that apartment sales increased by 6.2% year on year, more than double the increase recorded in October 2015. This was due to sales of free price apartments rising 8.3% and also sales of second hand apartments rising by 12.2%.

Sales of individual family homes also saw strong growth, up 11.4%, recording nine months in a row of double digit increased. However, sales of new housing fell for a tenth month in a row, down in November by 18.6%.

But prices are still up and down. The average price per square meter of homes sold in November was €1,219 per square meter, a fall of 1.1% year on year. A breakdown shows that apartment prices fell by 0.6% and the price of individual family homes fell by 0.8%.

The data also shows that the price per square metre of second hand apartments fell by 0.7% year on year to €1,320 but for new apartments it increased by 5.9% €1,666.

The total number of new mortgage loans also increased by 7.3% year on year in November but in seasonally adjusted terms this figure moderates to an increase of 2.4% year on year, the lowest increase in 18 months.