Yes, real estate is restarting and that's good news for society

For two years, the French real estate market was put on hold. High interest rates, persistent inflation, and declining purchasing power: projects were postponed, prices were frozen, and professionals were impacted. According to Unis, activity declined by 21 to 25%.

But a recovery dynamic is gradually taking hold: teams are getting back into gear, demands are intensifying, and agreements are being signed again within reasonable timeframes. This restart is not simply a cyclical rebound. It is a social reconquest.

The market is picking up because the French are making it pick up again. A deep yearning for stability, for projection, for anchoring, is expressed through real estate.

Tangible signs of recovery

Finally! Borrowing rates have stabilized at around 3% for 20-year loans, compared to 4,5% a year earlier. As a result, purchasing power has increased by 15% according to Crédit Logement/CSA. At the same time, prices have stopped falling. After falling by 4,7% in 2024, some cities are even showing signs of rebound: +1,2% in Nantes, +0,9% in Lille. In several rural and coastal areas, demand is picking up strongly. Between January and April 2025, compromises increased by 6%. Buyers and sellers are finally reuniting.

A more mature, more demanding market

But what's at stake in 2025 goes beyond the simple interplay of rates and prices. We're witnessing a cultural transformation of the market. Buyers are better informed, better prepared, and more demanding; projects are better constructed. "Curiosity" visits have given way to thoughtful, coherent projects, often driven by a true wealth strategy. This is what we're experiencing on the ground. Sellers, for their part, are adapting their prices quickly. The time of the "dream price" is over. This maturity is an opportunity: it's pushing the entire profession to elevate itself, to focus on tailor-made support, human touch supported by digital technology, and total transparency. The expectations are clear: expertise, responsiveness, trust.

Towards a qualitative recovery

This isn't about recreating a bubble or returning to the frenzy of the post-Covid years. The market is picking up, yes, but not on the same footing. It's picking up with new expectations: energy performance, quality of life, accessibility, and the environment. The DPE (Energy Performance Certificate) has become a decisive factor in 60% of transactions. Proximity (schools, transportation, and the possibility of teleworking) is now a priority.

Real estate must be attentive to societal developments and lifestyle changes, in addition to becoming sustainable. Private investors, often young, digital natives, seeking financial independence, are also making a comeback. Today, those under 35 now represent nearly one in three buyers of existing rental properties. We are delighted to see a new generation of investors returning to real estate. They truly embody a generational shift, where personal projects also become a civic and supportive gesture.

Real estate remains a business of life

Yes, real estate remains a lifestyle. The market is picking up because it meets a deep need: to plan ahead, stabilize, and secure one's future. It's a lever for emancipation and a foundation of trust. This momentum will only survive if all stakeholders support it:

Professionals: let us commit ourselves even more to supporting, advising, and reassuring.
Banks and financial institutions: adapt your offers to promote access and secure journeys.
Public authorities: make procedures easier, simplify standards, support renovations and stop bothering those who work to house the French.
Media: Tell this story. Don't give in to fatalism or overreaction. Be balanced, educational, and use common sense.

Together we will succeed. Stone is not dead. It is reinventing itself.

Tribune by Xavier Belvaux, Managing Director of We Invest - France (LinkedIn).