Towards a record number of old housing transactions in 2021

Notaries have identified 1.198.000 real estate transactions in France over a twelve-month period, ending at the end of October, which represents an increase of 14,5% compared to the same period in 2019, according to a press release from the notaries.

"It is a remarkable progression", commented Frédéric Violeau, notary in charge of national real estate statistics, during a presentation to the press of the annual report of the sector. It is explained by "a catch-up phenomenon, an increase in transactions at the end of the confinement periods" and by an "acceleration phenomenon" in decision-making and project implementation, he said. .

The health crisis has led the French to refocus on their essential needs (space, quality of life), according to the notaries, which has "particularly benefited less densely populated municipalities where house purchases have been on the rise since 2019", specifies the press release.

Prices also rose during the period throughout France.

"We noticed that prices were increasing faster in the provinces than in Ile-de-France," said Mr. Violeau.

The upward trend in the number of transactions should have continued during the last months of the year, but once the catching-up effect has passed, the volume of transactions should decline and return to a level similar to that of 2019, when had reached 1.068.000, predict the notaries. In 2020, the number of transactions had fallen by 4% to 1.024.000.