No real recovery in new home sales to individuals yet expected by early 2026

Limited growth in reservations for new housing

Between January and March 2026, 16.502 new homes were reserved by individuals, representing a 4% increase compared to the last three months of 2025. This growth was deemed insufficient by real estate professionals, who had hoped for a stronger rebound in sales after several years of crisis.

Compared to the first quarter of 2025, reservations remained stable, according to seasonally adjusted figures published by the government. This stability confirms the persistent difficulties in the new housing market despite the support measures implemented.

The new tax system is struggling to produce its effects.effects

At the end of February, the State adopted a new tax scheme designed to encourage rental investment as part of the 2026 budget. The stated objective is ambitious: to enable the construction of 50.000 additional homes per year.

This measure had raised many hopes among property developers, who have been facing a deep crisis for three years. However, the initial results remain disappointing.

The French Federation of Real Estate Developers (FPI) indicates that it recorded only 550 additional homes sold to individual investors during the first quarter of 2026, a level still too low to really revive the market.

Sales contrasted between new apartments and houses

Specifically, new apartments show a slight improvement. The number of reservations has increased by 4,3% compared to the last quarter of 2025.

Conversely, new home sales continue to decline slightly, falling by 0,9% over the same period. This trend reflects the ongoing difficulties households face in making choices amid high interest rates and limited purchasing power.

Developers are further reducing their supply of new housing.

Faced with insufficient demand, property developers are continuing to reduce their supply. In the first quarter of 2026, only 13.939 homes were put on the market, a decrease of 12,7% compared to the end of 2025.

This level is approaching the low point observed in mid-2024, illustrating the caution of industry players in the face of a still fragile market.

A still high stock of available housing

Despite this slowdown in new listings, the stock of available new homes remains substantial, reaching 118.927 units at the end of the first quarter of 2026.

However, the volume declined slightly by 3,1% compared to December 2025, a sign of a market that is still struggling to absorb the existing supply.

The new housing market remains under pressure

After a particularly difficult year in 2025, with fewer than 65.000 homes sold to individuals, the real estate development sector is still waiting for concrete signs of recovery.

Professionals now hope that recent tax measures and a possible improvement in financing conditions will gradually revitalize new home sales in the coming months.

Illustrative image of the article via Depositphotos.com.