More affordable and more efficient homes: 2025 trends in construction

House construction in 2025: Hexaom confirms the impact of the zero-interest loan and household adaptation

By 2025, the changing profile of buyers of single-family homes confirms a transformation of the construction market. The Hexaom group observes, in particular, an increase in the proportion of first-time buyers, in a context of tighter budgets and high expectations regarding energy efficiency.

Faced with an uncertain energy environment, homes have adapted to the new financial capabilities of households while maintaining high performance levels. In this context, Hexaom is concretely measuring the impact of the return of the expanded zero-interest loan (PTZ) for home construction, which has helped support many young households with their real estate projects—a trend that is expected to continue in 2026.

Lower construction budgets and more compact houses

Based on the analysis of a panel of nearly 3.000 houses started in 2025, the Hexaom group highlights a decrease in the average living area, from 106 m² to 102 m².

At the same time, the overall average construction budget falls by 5,6%, to €300.000 including land (excluding notary fees and additional costs).

This development reflects an adaptation of the single-family home market to more demanding conditions of access to credit, particularly for households that did not benefit from the PTZ between April 2024 and April 2025.

Details of average budgets in 2025

• Average overall budget in 2025: €300.000 including VAT (-5,6% compared to 2024)
• Average budget allocated to the home: €189.000 including VAT (-5,5%)
• Average budget for the land: €111.000 including tax (- 5,9%)

The decrease in the overall cost of individual houses is explained both by better control of construction costs and by the adaptation of the French to less favorable borrowing conditions in 2024.

This situation has led some buyers to adjust their real estate project, slightly reducing the size of their house, but especially that of the land, with an average area of ​​696 m² compared to 792 m² in 2024, representing a decrease of 13,8%.

A significant disparity in budgets depending on the projects

According to Loïc Vandromme, CEO of Hexaom: “This slight decrease in budgets is linked to higher interest rates, around 4%, at the time orders were taken for houses started in 2025, but also to the absence of zero-interest loans (PTZ) to offset this. However, this average budget of €189.000 including VAT masks significant disparities, since 30% of the houses we started construction on in 2025 cost less than €150.000 with living areas under 100 m², and 13% cost more than €250.000, with some clients even having projects exceeding €400.000 including VAT. Our strength therefore lies in our ability to design bespoke homes, tailored to our clients' budgets, but always with high standards of quality and energy performance, and in accordance with environmental requirements.”

In the market for the construction of individual houses in 2025, Hexaom observes a slight increase in houses built in housing estates, which now represent 48% of sales (+ 1 point).

However, scattered construction remains the majority, with 52% of houses, driven in particular by land divisions, which continue to boost this segment.

Another notable development in the market is the typology of houses. Single-storey houses are gaining ground and now represent 62% of constructions (+6 points compared to 2024), while two-storey houses are declining to 38% (-8 points).

Home buyers are young and mostly couples

The profile of buyers of individual houses in 2025 confirms the trends observed in 2024, with a generally young clientele and mostly composed of couples.

Thus, 73,5% of buyers are in pairs. This rate is, however, slightly down, due to the increase in single buyers (+2,6%), linked in particular to the rise in single-parent families.

The average age of buyers is set at 40,5 years in 2025, one year less than in 2024. Moreover, 21,5% of customers are under 30 years old (+1 point), confirming the dynamism of young households in the real estate market.

Generation Y remains dominant: 45% of buyers are between 30 and 45 years old, while just over a third of customers are over 45.

The return of the zero-interest loan (PTZ) is a major boost for first-time buyers.

The return of the Zero Interest Loan (PTZ) in April 2025 has had a significant impact on the financing of real estate projects.

The share of first-time buyers is increasing significantly, reaching 63,3% of buyers in 2025, compared to 54,7% in 2024 (+8,6 points in one year).

Conversely, the share of second-time buyers falls to 31,7% (-5 points), as does that of investors.

Hexaom also points out that these now represent only 3,4% of buyers (-2,5 points), even though the detached house constitutes a potential answer to the lack of rental housing offers.

According to Steve Beaudel, Sales and Marketing Director of the Hexaom Group: “The return of the zero-interest loan (PTZ), combined with lower interest rates and more flexible borrowing conditions, has significantly contributed to the increase in the proportion of first-time buyers among our clients since the last quarter of 2024. This has allowed us to optimize the financing of loans sold in 2024 and opened in 2025, even though there are still many repeat buyers, as a house with a garden remains the preferred type of housing for 80% of French people, regardless of age! That's why we strive to offer solutions tailored to all types of buyers, and especially to young households, by supporting them in two areas: preparing their loan application so they can obtain the zero-interest loan and subsidized loans, and also building up their down payment through the Hexaom savings account.”

House construction: the zero-interest loan (PTZ) is reviving projects in less densely populated areas.

Since April 2025, the extension of the Zero Interest Loan (PTZ) to the entire territory for the construction of individual houses has changed the geography of the market.

Whereas before its abolition in April 2024 the scheme was reserved for tense areas, its expanded return now favors projects in relaxed areas.

Thus, while 56,7% of new homes under construction remain located in zones A, B1, and B2, the share of construction in zone C has now reached 43,3%. This level, up 7,3 percentage points year-on-year, clearly illustrates the impact of the zero-interest loan (PTZ) on the recovery of single-family home construction in these areas.

An increase in construction in urban areas and near employment hubs

The single-family home market in 2025 is also characterized by a change in the locations of projects.

Urban construction is on the rise, now representing 50% of homes (+4 points compared to 2024). Similarly, projects located in the territorial departments have reached 58% (+4 points).

This trend is explained in particular by the desire of first-time buyers to get closer to economic hubs and employment areas, in a context where financial accessibility and location are becoming determining criteria.

Real estate projects closer to where people live

Another notable development in the market is the decrease in residential mobility.

In 2025, 72% of buyers will build their house less than 18 km from their current home (+4 points), a sign of a stronger territorial attachment.

Moreover, 1 in 4 buyers builds in their home town (+ 3 points), confirming a trend towards proximity and stability in residential trajectories.

For Loic Vandromme: “We welcome the return of the Zero-Interest Loan for single-family homes across the country and its impact in less densely populated areas, even if it only represents 20% of the total cost. This demonstrates that a house is a quick and concrete solution to housing problems, including in peri-urban and rural areas. But we believe it must also be accessible to those who do not have the means or the desire to become homeowners, which is why we are calling for its inclusion in the Jeanbrun scheme, from which it is currently excluded.”

Mortgage lending: a major lever for financing home construction in 2025

In 2025, the use of mortgage loans to finance a single-family home construction project is expected to increase significantly, in a context of banks easing their borrowing conditions.

Thus, 87% of Hexaom's customers used a mortgage loan (compared to 76% in 2024), confirming the central role of bank financing in access to property.

The average amount borrowed is €192.000, over an average period of 21 years, with an average personal contribution of €53.000 (-€3.000/2024), illustrating the adaptation of households to still demanding financing conditions.

PTZ 2025: a scheme still gaining momentum in home financing

In 2025, 16% of Hexaom customers benefited from a Zero Interest Loan (PTZ), a level that is still limited but consistent given its reintroduction from April, for an average amount of €62.900.

Since that date, the momentum has accelerated significantly: for sales made after April 2025, more than 30% of financing files include a PTZ, confirming its key role in homeownership, particularly for first-time buyers.

Sustainable construction: homes that outperform the RE2020 standard

Hexaom confirms in 2025 its commitment to sustainable construction and energy performance of housing.

The houses built show performance exceeding the requirements of the RE2020 environmental regulation, with a 34% reduction in energy consumption and a carbon footprint 16% lower than regulatory thresholds.

Heat pump: equipment that has become standard in new homes

In this context of energy transition, the heat pump is emerging as the reference heating system in the construction of individual houses.

Praised for its comfort, energy savings and flexibility, it now equips 96% of the homes delivered by Hexaom, illustrating the evolution of market standards towards more efficient and sustainable solutions.

For Loïc Vandromme: “Improving energy efficiency is at the heart of our approach. Our homes consume less energy, preserve our customers' purchasing power, and are more environmentally friendly, while guaranteeing optimal comfort for residents.”

Home renovation: a rapidly growing activity at Hexaom

Alongside the construction of new houses, Hexaom is strengthening its position in the housing renovation market.

The group thus carried out 8.824 renovations in 2025, bringing the total number of projects carried out since the launch of this activity to more than 160.000, confirming its role as a major player in renovation in France.

Illustrative image of the article via Depositphotos.com.