According to Agenzia delle Entrate data, 578,647 residential transactions were completed in 2018, +6.5% compared to 2017.

More specifically, 280,970 transactions were recorded in the first six months of the year – for a variation of around 5% compared to the same period in 2017 – and 297,677 in the second half of the year, with a change of around 8%.

With regard to prices, surveys by the agencies of the Gabetti, Professionecasa and Grimaldi networks indicate that the eight major cities recorded an average change of -0.3% in 2018. This figure shows signs of recovery compared to 2017 (-1%) and to the prior years. Trends differed with regard to the individual cities: Milan showed a positive change of +1.5%, while all of the other cities are gradually overcoming the negative scenario observed in the past.

In terms of average sales times, the average in the major cities examined was essentially stable compared to the prior year, amounting to between four and five months in 2018.

The average discount applied upon completion of negotiations was around 11-12% in 2018, down compared to the previous year’s figure.

Disbursements of home purchase loans to households amounted to a total of €36.6 billion in the first nine months of 2018, recording a positive change of +3.7% compared to the same period in 2017.