The suffocating surge in rental prices is driving a structural shift in the psychology of the Spanish housing market. With monthly rents systematically hitting all-time highs, public perceptions are crystallising in a clear direction: seven out of ten private individuals (71%) believe that, at current levels, it is financially more cost-effective to pay a mortgage than to rent.
This is the main conclusion of the report X-ray of the housing market in 2026 (source in Spanish), produced by Fotocasa Research. The data show the strongest consensus in the entire study (with an average score of 7.6 out of 10) and point to a slight increase compared with the first half of 2025, when 70% of people active in the market agreed with the statement.
Property as a "safe haven" amid the imbalance in renting
The analysis shows that the preference for buying is not just a cultural trait but a financial survival strategy in the face of the rising cost of renting.
"Although getting onto the housing ladder remains difficult because of a lack of savings and high purchase prices, more and more people feel that, if they can afford to take the plunge, paying a mortgage is a more profitable option than putting a monthly payment into rent that keeps increasing. This perception reflects the huge imbalance currently affecting the rental market," explains María Matos, Head of Research and spokesperson for Fotocasa.
