FPI New Housing Observatory: After a catastrophic 2025, finally hope for 2026

A catastrophic 2025

The conclusion is clear. Despite interest rates becoming more attractive again, sales of new homes have fallen by a further 10,8%, dropping below 100.000 reservations for the year.

Demand, however, has not disappeared. Sales to owner-occupiers are up slightly (+4,3%), although they remain at a historically low level. This modest improvement would have been much more pronounced, however, if the market had retained its second driver: investment by individuals.

A market awaiting a signal

The indicators suggest a glimmer of hope. Building permits are rising sharply (+19,8%), a sign that new projects are in the pipeline. Sales are also increasing (+9,4%), evidence that developers are starting to offer new projects again.

The market therefore seems ready to restart. All that was missing was a clear signal to kickstart the momentum.

This signal could come from the new status of private landlords, the adoption of which the FPI welcomes. The French Federation of Real Estate Developers (FPI), which represents real estate development stakeholders in France and advocates for the sector with public authorities, believes that this measure reintroduces an incentive framework essential for rental investment.

By restoring visibility to individual investors, it could help to revive operations and give impetus to the entire new housing chain.

For Pascal Boulanger, President of the FPI: “The private landlord status, for which we have invested heavily, is finally here. It is now up to us, housing professionals, along with the entire ecosystem, to take up the challenge: to raise awareness of this status, explain its advantages, and promote it to our fellow citizens so that investing in new housing becomes desirable again.”

Illustrative image of the article via Depositphotos.com.