Old vs New: The price difference that is changing the real estate market.

The findings of the 5th survey "Real Estate Market Barometer" by the University of Macedonia reveal significant changes in the Greek real estate market. In the recent presentation of the survey (in Attica and Thessaloniki), new trends that will shape the landscape for 2026 were highlighted:

1. The dominance of sellers For the first time, there is such a marked imbalance: there are now almost twice as many sellers as buyers. While the percentage of sellers remains stable at 8%, active buyers who intend to proceed with a transaction within the year have shrunk to 4.37%, indicating a clear wait-and-see attitude.

2. The 30% "psychological threshold" When does a buyer prefer an older property over a newly built one? Research reveals that price difference is the determining factor. If the discount is only 20%, buyers turn to newly built properties. However, when the price of the old property is 25% to 30% lower, the majority choose the "used" property, sending a clear message to sellers who want to close deals.

3. The housing problem and closed homes 89% of Greeks consider the housing problem to be very serious. At the same time, 17% of property owners keep their properties closed, stating that they would only open them under certain conditions, such as tax reductions (65%)  and generous subsidies for energy upgrades (64%).

4. The impact of the "My Home 2" program Public opinion seems to agree that government support programs have driven up prices. Seventy-seven percent of citizens and 87% of professionals believe that the program led to an increase in sales prices, while similarly high percentages see an increase in rents.

Conclusion: The real estate market is at a critical turning point. The excessive pricing of older properties and the decline in purchasing power are creating a gap that requires realism on the part of sellers and targeted incentives from the state.