As a real estate agent, I receive the same question almost every day: “What is currently happening in the real estate market?”
The figures for 2025 bring interesting, but somewhat contradictory data.
Decline in the Number of Transactions in 2025
In 2025, a total of 117,395 real estate transactions were completed, which represents:
· 17,800 fewer properties sold compared to 2024
· a 13.2% year-over-year decrease.
At first glance, such a decline in transactions suggests a cooling market and potential price drops. However, reality is more complex.
Istria Shows an Even More Significant Decline
Particularly noteworthy is the data for Istria County, where the decline in transactions is even more pronounced, reaching 16.5% compared to the previous year. This indicates that even attractive tourist regions are no longer immune to market slowdowns.
Property Prices Continue to Rise
Despite the lower number of completed sales, property prices increased by 13.1% over the past year. The average asking price per square meter has exceeded €3,500 per m².
This leads to the key question: Why aren’t prices falling if sales are decreasing?
Possible reasons:
· Limited supply of high-quality properties
· Sellers are unwilling to lower prices
· The premium segment remains stable
· Foreign capital is present in certain parts of Istria
· Credit policies and interest rates have slowed domestic buyers
· The market has become selective – quality properties are selling, while average listings are stagnating.
Decline in Demand for Holiday Homes
A particularly noticeable decline can be seen in the holiday home segment, where demand is estimated to have decreased by up to 30%.
Houses with swimming pools, which were highly sought-after in previous years, are no longer in the same focus. Buyers are more cautious, selective, and rational.
What Is Happening in Pula?
When speaking about the city of Pula, the situation is somewhat more specific:
· Apartments remain the most in-demand category.
· Houses and holiday homes are stagnating.
· A significant portion of the local population finds it difficult to purchase property in the near future due to high prices.
Pula is the administrative and economic center of Istria, but the gap between the average citizen’s borrowing capacity and market prices is becoming increasingly pronounced.
This could, in the long term, affect the buyer structure and demographic trends.
Will There Be a Market Crash?
In my opinion, a “market crash” is unlikely. However, it is clear that trends are shifting. The market is slower, more cautious, and segmented. The euphoria is gone – but there is no panic either. We are in a phase of stabilization, where the real value and quality of a property will play a key role.
Conclusion
The year 2025 has brought:
· fewer transactions
· declining demand in certain segments
· yet still high prices
This means the market is in a phase of adjustment rather than collapse. For buyers, this is a period of greater negotiating power. For sellers – a time for realistic price positioning.
If you would like concrete data and a property valuation in the Pula and Istria area, feel free to contact me.