A real estate market still searching for its bearings
While New Year's wishes are traditionally an opportunity to celebrate the successes of the past year, it must be said that 2025 left a bitter taste for many professionals. "The transaction market remains stuck", summed up the president, an observation shared by the majority of participants. The reasons? A complex equation mixing prices struggling to fall, stable but high borrowing rates, and weak demand, hampered by economic and political uncertainty.
The figures presented during the evening confirmed this trend: transaction volumes are stable compared to 2024, one of the worst years this century. "Sellers are clinging to their prices, buyers are waiting for more significant drops… and the market is slowing down". Yet the rates themselves seem to have found a plateau: around 3 to 3.5% on average for the best applications, a level which, while high, has not seen any further increases in recent months.
The rental market remains extremely tight in Hérault and particularly in Montpellier with an average of 7 requests for 1 property!
Between resilience and adaptation: professionals' strategies
Faced with this gloomy context, the real estate agents present shared their strategies to bounce back. Some are betting on a more local and qualitative approach, targeting niches (luxury real estate, atypical properties) or strengthening their support for sellers to encourage them to adjust their prices. On our side, we are banking on rental when possible for property owners, while waiting for better times. Of course, we always implement all the means at our disposal to showcase your properties and sell them through transparent and effective communication, well-managed digital tools to reassure our buyer clients. "You need to explain, again and again, that the market has changed and that expectations must adapt", emphasized a notary present.
The FNAIM also reminded everyone of the importance of continuous training and innovation, two levers for standing out in an increasingly competitive sector. "The agents who will succeed in 2026 will be those who can combine field expertise and digital agility", insisted a speaker.
2026: towards a slow recovery?
While no one ventures to predict a spectacular rebound, several signs suggest a slight improvement in the coming months. Rates could begin to fall slightly by summer, as a result of ECB monetary policies, and some sellers, tired of excessively long selling times, might finally agree to revise their asking prices downward.
For Alpaca Immobilier, this evening was an opportunity to strengthen ties with our partners and reaffirm our commitment: to support our clients with rigor and kindness, even in a difficult market. "Real estate remains a sector of passion, where human relationships make the difference", concluded our team as we left Pura Vida, beneath the soft lights of this place that lives up to its name so well.
