A survey recently published by the National Federation of Real Estate Associations (FAI) and Asicval puts numbers to a sentiment that many buyers have been describing for months: there is a desire to buy, financing is available, but there aren’t enough properties that fit the bill. 72.8% of buyers in Valencia were unable to find their desired home due to a lack of supply, high prices, or a shortage of properties in their preferred area. This is how the demographics and methods of buying an apartment in Valencia are changing in 2026.
Why It’s So Hard to Buy an Apartment in Valencia: Lack of Supply Affects 73% of Buyers
The assessment by Nora García Donet, president of Asicval, is straightforward: “Housing prices are skyrocketing for both purchases and rentals because there isn’t enough housing—neither new nor resale.” The INE’s Housing Price Index confirms this trend, with an annual increase of 12.9% in the first quarter of 2026 (9.1% for new construction and 13.5% for resale properties). With these figures, according to Asicval itself, it takes about seven years’ worth of full salary to buy a home in the Valencian Community, which excludes a significant portion of the demand—people who do have the means to pay but cannot find homes in Valencia that fit their budget and desired location.
Who Is Buying Apartments in Valencia Today: Fewer Foreigners, More Local Residents
The buyer profile has changed dramatically. Residents of the Valencian Community now lead in all categories: 72.2% of primary residence purchases, 55.5% of real estate investments, and 36.4% of second homes. At the same time, foreign buyers have declined significantly, particularly those from outside the European Union, whose share of primary residences has dropped from 24.6% in 2023 to just 10% in the past year. The lack of available properties is also affecting foreign investors, who are finding fewer and fewer listings on real estate portals compared to the easier access that local real estate professionals have to opportunities in the real estate market.
The price range buyers are actually looking for when purchasing an apartment in Valencia: between 150,000 and 200,000 euros
The €150,000 to €200,000 range accounts for 43.5% of all demand, and the average price sought by buyers has risen from €170,250 in 2023 to €193,478 over the past year. In terms of square footage, the most in-demand apartments are those between 90 and 120 m² (47.7%) and those between 60 and 90 m² (40.9%). This is precisely the range where available apartments for sale are most scarce, which explains why so many buyers with real budgets and needs are unable to find anything that fits their criteria.
Not even homeowners can move: replacement sales are falling
One of the most striking findings of the study is the sharp decline in replacement sales—that is, homeowners selling their homes to buy another one. These transactions have dropped from accounting for 60.8% of all transactions in 2023 to just 34.3% in the past year. The shortage of supply and high prices make it difficult to move homes even for those who already own a home and have the capital from a previous sale. In contrast, there has been strong growth in the number of buyers looking to move out on their own (from 22.6% to 35.4%) and those switching from renting to a mortgage (from 16.4% to 30.2%), attracted by the drop in interest rates in recent months.
What This Means for Selling, Buying, or Investing in Valencia Right Now
For homeowners looking to sell, the message is clear: if your home falls within the most sought-after price and size range, you’re in a position of strength that rarely comes around. For buyers, acting quickly and having pre-approved financing makes all the difference in a market where seven out of ten fail to close the deal they wanted. And for those considering investing, the dominance of local buyers over foreign ones indicates that local knowledge once again carries more weight than foreign capital when it comes to securing the best opportunities.
At RK Quinta Avenida, we support both sellers and buyers looking for an apartment in Valencia in this tight market, using strategy and up-to-date data—because selling isn’t just about listing; it’s about strategy. Contact our team, visit quintaavenidainmobiliaria.com, or call us at 963281119 / 676607208. Every story starts at home.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
