• Culmia presented the third edition of its report, “The Homebuyer’s Journey in Spain,” at its event “Golden Years: Time to Live,” a conference focused on analyzing how people’s relationship with housing evolves throughout the different stages of life.
• Homeownership is gaining ground as the preferred housing option among Spaniards: 82.2% of those surveyed choose this option, compared to 70.8% three years ago.
• Health is becoming increasingly important in the home: natural lighting is the most highly valued aspect in terms of well-being at home, with a score of 8.5 out of 10, and 59.2% prioritize factors such as air quality, lighting, and healthy materials.
• Senior living remains a niche option in Spain: only 5.4% of people over the age of 65 are considering living in this type of residential setting.
• Affordability continues to be a key factor in purchasing decisions: 56.9% of Spaniards are considering purchasing an affordable home or one that receives some form of public subsidy, a percentage that rises to 73% among young people aged 26 to 34.
• One in three people over the age of 65 is considering moving, well above the 14.9% recorded in the 2022 study, and 55.4% would consider obtaining cash from their home while continuing to live there.
• Human interaction remains key to the purchasing process: 68.9% prefer personal contact with a professional, and 47.6% prioritize human interaction over using a virtual agent or chatbot.
• Sustainability is valued, but price remains a factor: 41.1% consider energy certification to be a deciding factor, although they would not be willing to pay more for it.
• The brand plays an increasingly important role in the purchasing decision: 80.8% of respondents consider it important to have a well-known developer.

Madrid, June 25, 2026. Homeownership is firmly established as the preferred housing option for Spaniards, although affordability continues to play a major role in the purchasing process. This is according to the third edition of the report “The Homebuyer’s Journey in Spain,” prepared by Sigma Dos for Culmia, which reveals that 82.2% of respondents consider homeownership to be the option that best fits their future situation, compared to 70.8% in the previous edition, while 56.9% are considering purchasing an affordable home or one that receives some form of public subsidy.

The study provides an up-to-date snapshot of homebuyers in Spain and highlights significant changes in their priorities. Homeownership remains the primary aspiration for most people, affordability continues to influence purchasing decisions, and those over 65 have a more active relationship with their homes, both from a residential and an asset management perspective.

Culmia, the real estate platform that brings together all the housing solutions available on the market, presented the report’s findings during the event “Golden Years. Time to Live,’ held today at the German Evangelical Church in Madrid, located at Espacio Castellana, 6. The event focused on analyzing how our relationship with housing evolves throughout the different stages of life.

The event, hosted by María Rodríguez Benito, a journalist with Antena 3 Noticias, brought together representatives from various fields related to the residential sector, market analysis, architecture, innovation, and new housing models. Based on the report’s data, the event addressed issues such as young people’s access to the housing market, the consolidation of homeownership as a widespread aspiration, the importance of well-being at home, the role of housing as a financial asset, and the new challenges associated with an aging population.

The results were presented by Rosa Díaz, CEO of Sigma Dos, who led the study. The event also featured the participation of Cristina Ontoso, Director of Sales and Marketing at Culmia; Carlos Lamela, architect, co-founder, and CEO of Estudio Lamela; Consuelo Villanueva, Director of Institutions and Major Accounts at Sociedad de Tasación; Marta Pallarés, CSO of Zenova; Andrea Martínez and Víctor Sardá, from Grado Inmobiliario; and Laura Díaz, Healthcare Director at Colliers.

Homeownership is gaining traction as a residential goal

The report confirms that homeownership remains the preferred housing option for Spaniards and has gained ground compared to the previous edition. Specifically, 82.2% of respondents believe that homeownership is the option that best fits their future situation, compared to 70.8% in 2023.
This preference reflects that homeownership continues to play a central role in the population’s housing expectations, even in a context where access to housing continues to be a major factor in the decision-making process.

This focus on homeownership also goes hand in hand with a strong inclination toward saving for a home. 32.6% of respondents say that their current financial priority is saving to buy a home, ahead of other ways to spend money such as traveling, pursuing experiences, or covering everyday expenses. This priority is particularly strong among young adults aged 26 to 34, where the percentage rises to 49.7%.

Access continues to shape the buyer’s journey

Accessibility remains one of the key factors influencing the home-buying journey. According to the report, 56.9% of Spaniards are considering purchasing an affordable home or one that receives some form of public subsidy. This percentage rises to 73% among people aged 26 to 34, highlighting the importance of these options among younger buyers.

The report also shows that interest in these solutions coexists with barriers to access linked primarily to compliance with requirements, eligibility, or the perception that the procedures are complex. Nearly one in four respondents says they would consider applying for affordable housing but do not meet the requirements, while some of those interested also point to the need for greater clarity in the processes.

Likewise, purchase prices remain the main obstacle identified by buyers when it comes to purchasing a home, cited by 73.1% of respondents. This is followed by the lack of affordable or subsidized housing, cited by 25.2%; economic uncertainty, at 19.5%; and difficulty obtaining mortgages, at 18%.

As for the time spent searching, the report shows that, among those who have searched for and purchased a home, 26.3% spent between six months and one year on the process, while 23.8% took between three and six months. Among those who are currently looking for a home or considering doing so, the process tends to take longer: 20.1% have been searching for between one and two years, and 19.2% have been searching for three years or more.

The Senior Homebuyer: A More Dynamic Relationship with Housing

One of the report’s most significant findings is the changing profile of the senior buyer. Contrary to the traditional perception of people over 65 as being less mobile or necessarily tied to their primary residence, the study reveals a more dynamic relationship with the home.

Specifically, one in three people over the age of 65 is considering moving, a figure well above the 14.9% recorded in the 2022 study. This trend points to a more active relationship with the home and a greater willingness to adapt one’s living space to new life needs.

The data reflects a shift in perspective regarding later life: housing is no longer necessarily a permanent residence but rather a choice that can be reconsidered based on new life priorities, such as comfort, home accessibility, proximity to services, the surrounding environment, or the possibility of greater financial flexibility.

Among those aged 65 and older, 34.9% would choose to stay in the same city—or even the same neighborhood—if they were to move, a figure lower than that recorded among other age groups. In addition, this group shows a greater willingness to move to another city within the same autonomous community, an option considered by 12.4%.

The report also notes greater budgetary diversity within this segment. People over 65 are the group most likely to consider homes priced above 600,000 euros, but they are also the group most likely to consider homes priced below 100,000 euros, which highlights very different housing realities within the same age group.

“This report reflects how Spaniards’ relationship with housing is changing. Homeownership remains the standard residential option, but buyers are incorporating new priorities related to accessibility, well-being, trust throughout the process, and the specific needs of each stage of life. Housing is no longer viewed solely as an asset or a physical space, but as a decision that shapes people’s way of life,” says Francisco Pérez, CEO of Culmia.

Housing as a Financial Asset in Later Life

The study also analyzes how perceptions of housing as a financial asset are evolving. For a significant portion of people over 65, housing is no longer viewed solely as a property asset but has also become a potential strategic resource during retirement.

Specifically, 55.4% of people over the age of 65 would consider obtaining immediate liquidity from their home while retaining the right to continue living there. This figure reflects a new way of viewing one’s home—not only as a place to live, but also as an asset capable of providing financial flexibility during a new stage of life.

The specific analysis of “Golden Years” also shows that most people over 65 have a stable relationship with their current home: 64.7% are satisfied and do not plan to move. However, 35.3% do consider or would like to move as they get older, mainly to more comfortable homes or ones better suited to their situation, such as rural or less densely populated areas, second homes, or senior living communities—an option that still represents a minority, at 5.4%.

Beyond the move itself, the report identifies the top housing priorities at this stage of life. Among the features considered essential are having services nearby, cited by 54.8%; having conditions conducive to health and well-being, cited by 53.3%; living in a quiet environment, cited by 49.4%; and improved accessibility and the absence of architectural barriers, cited by 35.1%.

When it comes to the home of the future, people over 65 envision homes that are more energy-efficient—an option cited by 51.7%; more accessible and adapted to all ages, cited by 45.2%; and equipped with systems that contribute to health care, cited by 38.2%.

“Housing isn’t viewed the same way at age 30, 45, or 65 and beyond. With ‘Golden Years,’ we wanted to spark a discussion about how housing needs change throughout life and how the industry must be able to respond to an increasingly diverse demand. The data shows that senior homebuyers are more active than traditionally thought and that a home can be, in addition to a place to live, a key asset for navigating new life stages,” says Cristina Ontoso, Director of Sales and Marketing at Culmia.

A lawsuit with territorial implications

The report also highlights significant differences by autonomous community, both in terms of budget expectations and preferences regarding access to and types of housing. Although the most common investment range nationwide is between 100,000 and 200,000 euros, in Catalonia and the Basque Country the most frequent range is between 200,000 and 400,000 euros. Likewise, the preference for an apartment in a building remains the top choice in all the regions analyzed, although in Andalusia the gap with single-family homes or villas has narrowed significantly.

From the perspective of affordability, the mismatch between available supply and economic expectations is evident in most regions, with particularly pronounced levels in Madrid, the Valencian Community, and Galicia. These regional differences show that, although major buyer trends are shared, the home-buying process exhibits significant nuances depending on each region’s housing market.

Trust and Support in a High-Stakes Decision

The report highlights that buyers are not only looking for a home, but also for trust, information, and guidance throughout the entire process. In this regard, 80.8% of Spaniards consider it important to have a reputable developer when making their purchase decision, which underscores the value of a developer’s track record, financial stability, and ability to provide guidance in one of the most significant financial and personal decisions.

Although digitization is becoming an increasingly integral part of the purchasing process, human interaction still plays a major role. 68.9% of respondents prefer to interact with a salesperson rather than rely on exclusively virtual or automated options.

This preference is also reinforced when it comes to the use of virtual agents or chatbots: 47.6% prefer human assistance when searching for and purchasing a home, while 16.6% do not find these types of tools useful. However, among young adults aged 26 to 34, there is a growing willingness to use virtual assistants for basic inquiries or on a frequent basis.

Health, Natural Light, and Well-Being at Home

The report also notes that homes are no longer chosen solely on the basis of functional considerations such as price, location, or square meters. Buyers are increasingly taking into account factors related to well-being, health, and quality of life within the home.

Natural lighting is the aspect related to health and well-being that respondents value most highly, with a score of 8.5 out of 10.

This trend is even more pronounced when it comes to purchasing decisions: natural light is the most frequently cited factor, at 59%, followed by spaciousness, at 51.7%; the layout of the rooms, at 38.4%; and thermal comfort, at 34.3%.

Common areas are also playing an increasingly important role in this concept of the home as a space for well-being. Green spaces and landscaped areas are the most highly valued, at 78.1%, followed by the swimming pool, the gym, and the playground.

Furthermore, when thinking about the home of the future, 59.2% of respondents prioritize health-related factors—such as air quality, lighting, and healthy materials—as key to improving the living experience at home.

Sustainability: It’s valued, but it doesn’t always determine a purchase

The report also analyzes the role of sustainability in the purchasing decision. Although it is a factor that influences buyer preferences, it does not always act as a determining factor when it involves a higher cost. Specifically, 58% of respondents say they take into account whether the construction process is sustainable, but do not consider it a deciding factor in their purchasing decision.

When it comes to energy certification, 41.1% say it is a deciding factor when buying a home, although they would not be willing to pay more for it. Only 17.2% of those surveyed are willing to pay a premium if the home has a high energy rating.

Pets Play an Increasingly Important Role in Purchasing Decisions

The report also highlights the growing role of pets in housing choices. 39.2% of respondents say that having or planning to have a pet influences their purchasing decision and leads them to look for homes that are pet-friendly, with a terrace, green spaces, or other suitable areas. This trend is even more pronounced among those under 35, where it reaches 47.7%, and among those who are currently looking for a home or considering doing so, where it exceeds 50%.

In addition, 45.9% consider it important for new developments to include pet-friendly spaces and services, such as walking areas or washing stations. This percentage also rises to 53.5% among those who are actively looking for a home or considering a purchase.

You can download the press release here

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