Buying a property remains one of life's great aspirations for many people, yet the data shows that it is happening later and later. According to a wide-ranging study of the residential market in Spain, homeowners become the majority for the first time in the 35-to-44 age group, where 58% of people already own their home. Below that age, the picture looks very different.
Homeownership: a goal that keeps being pushed back
Among young people aged 18 to 24, only one in ten owns or co-owns the home they live in. In the 25-to-34 age bracket, the figure rises but remains a minority: just 37%. This means that nearly two in three people at that stage of life — an age by which many have been working and building a household for years — have still not been able to buy a property.
From the age of 55 onwards, the situation reverses entirely: around 78% of people in that age range are already homeowners. The gap between younger generations and those that came before reflects a structural shift in access to housing that goes far beyond personal preference.
Savings: the number-one obstacle for first-time buyers
What is it that really holds aspiring buyers back? The most common answer is clear: a lack of prior savings. Raising the initial capital needed to cover the deposit and the costs associated with a purchase — which typically amount to between 20% and 30% of the total price — is the main stumbling block for almost four in ten prospective buyers. Among younger buyers, that proportion is even higher.
In cities such as Barcelona, and in highly sought-after towns along the Maresme coast — such as El Masnou or Premià de Mar — and the Costa Brava — such as Blanes or Palamós — property prices have continued to rise in recent years, making it even harder to accumulate enough savings to take that first step.
44% of 25-to-34-year-olds intend to buy within the next five years
Despite these challenges, the desire to buy has not gone away. Quite the opposite. According to available data, young people aged 25 to 34 are the group with the strongest intention to purchase: 44% of them plan to buy a property within five years. This makes them the most active and most urgent first-time buyer profile in the market.
This figure has a positive reading: there is very significant real, latent demand. But it also carries a warning: if access conditions do not improve, that intention may come to nothing for a great many people.
Key things to consider if you are a first-time buyer
If you fall into this age group and are thinking about taking the plunge, there are some important points worth getting clear before you commit:
- Calculate the true cost of buying. The asking price is only part of the picture. Taxes, notary fees, land registry costs and administrative fees can add up to several thousand euros on top.
- Review your borrowing capacity. Banks typically lend a maximum of 80% of the property's assessed value. The remaining 20% must come from your own funds, plus associated costs.
- Choose your location carefully. Don't focus solely on the current price: consider how the neighbourhood is evolving, transport links, local amenities and future demand. In the Barcelona metropolitan area and in Maresme towns such as Vilassar de Mar, there are interesting options to suit a range of budgets.
- Seek professional advice before signing anything. A reservation contract or a mortgage are documents with significant consequences. Do not sign them without fully understanding what they entail.
- Factor in community fees. If you are buying in a building with a residents' association, find out about the monthly charges, the condition of the shared areas and whether any major works are planned.
The right time to buy is a personal decision — but you don't have to make it alone
Every situation is different. There is no universally perfect moment to buy, but there are ways to prepare more thoroughly and make better-informed decisions. Understanding your local market, knowing what you can realistically afford and having trusted professionals by your side makes an enormous difference.
At Fincas Caseuro, we have spent more than 30 years supporting owners, investors and buyers in Barcelona, the Maresme and the Costa Brava. If you are thinking about taking the step towards your first home, or have questions about the buying process, we would be delighted to guide you with no obligation whatsoever.