Portugal Emerges as Europe’s Fastest-Growing Property Market PORTUGAL: Portugal (INE) show housing bank appraisal values increased 16.9% year-on-year in April 2025, reaching US$ 2138 (€1,866) per square metre. The surge reflects continued demand outpacing supply despite rising construction activity. Prime residential property prices in Lisbon are forecast to grow 4.5% in 2026, outperforming major European cities such as Geneva and Paris. Investment appeal is also supported b

PATRIZIA and COSIMO Launch Berlin Residential Development Programme Germany: PATRIZIA has launched a residential development programme in Berlin through a joint venture with developer COSIMO Investment Group. The initiative targets a total development volume of up to EUR 500 million (USD 545 million) and includes plans to develop around 2,000 residential units in the coming years. Up to EUR 200 million (USD 218 million) of equity will be deployed through PATRIZIA’s Living inv

UK Construction Activity Continues Decline in February UK: Britain’s construction sector recorded its fourteenth consecutive month of contraction in February, according to the latest S&P Global UK Construction Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI). The index declined to 44.5 in February from 46.4 in January, remaining below the 50 level that indicates expansion. The reading was also below economists’ expectations of 47.0. Survey data indicated that residential construction activit

Taiwan Allocates Subsidies for Renovation of Older Residential Buildings Taiwan: Taiwan’s Executive Yuan has allocated NTD 5,000 million (USD 157.81 million, EUR 145.19 million) in subsidies to support the renovation of residential buildings that are 30 years old or older. The programme aims to improve building safety and functionality. According to the National Land Management Agency, applications for renovation subsidies will be accepted by the Ministry of the Interior from

Builders Identify Key Forces Shaping Housing Affordability and Market Demand USA: US home builders have highlighted several economic and social trends influencing housing affordability and demand. Industry feedback indicates that the ageing housing stock is a major driver for construction activity, cited by 73% of builders. Meanwhile, the shift towards remote and hybrid working continues to influence housing preferences, with 65% noting its impact on demand patterns. Technolo

US Construction Sector Adds Strong Job Gains at Start of 2026 USA: Construction employment in the United States increased by 33,000 jobs in January 2026, marking one of the strongest monthly gains in more than two years, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The increase brought total construction employment to over 8.3 million workers nationwide. Much of the growth came from non-residential construction, particularly specialty trade contractors, which a

Gurugram Overtakes Mumbai as India’s Largest Luxury Housing Market India: Gurugram has surpassed Mumbai to become India’s largest luxury housing market, recording transactions worth about USD 2.9 billion for homes priced at ₹10 crore and above in 2025, an 80% rise from about USD 1.61 billion in 2024, according to a joint report by India Sotheby’s International Realty and CRE Matrix. Meanwhile, Mumbai’s luxury segment recorded about USD 2.64 billion in 2025 compared with about

Nestoria Group Launches Large-Scale 3D Printed Housing Project in Dholera Smart City India: Nestoria Group has initiated a large-scale 3D printed housing development in Dholera Smart City, marking one of the broadest implementations of 3D construction technology in the region and positioning the city as a key hub for infrastructure transformation. The project supports India’s Viksit Bharat 2047 vision by accelerating construction timelines from months to days through automate

Union Government Approves 5,000 Houses for Displaced People in Manipur India: The Government of India has approved the construction of 5,000 houses for internally displaced persons in Manipur under the framework of Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) for FY 2025–26, following a proposal by Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh. The initiative comes after ethnic conflict between the Meitei and Kuki communities that began on May 3, 2023, which resulted in more than 260

Australia’s Total Construction Work Falls 0.7% Despite Growth in Building Activity Australia: Construction activity in Australia showed mixed performance in the September quarter, according to official data. Total construction work done fell 0.7% to USD 52.85 billion, while building work increased 4.0% to USD 28.84 billion and engineering work declined 5.8% to USD 24.01 billion. Meanwhile, the trend estimate for total construction work rose 0.7% to USD 52.12 billion during th

Centre approves construction of 2.88 lakh houses in urban areas under PMAY 2.0 India: The Government of India has approved the construction of around 2.88 lakh houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) 2.0, according to an official statement. With the latest approval of 2,87,618 houses, the total number of sanctioned homes under PMAY-U 2.0 has crossed 13.61 lakh units. The decision was taken during a meeting of the Central Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee, chair

United Kingdom UNITED KINGDOM: Councillors have approved a balanced budget featuring a record US$ 1.89 billion (£1.6 billion) investment to tackle Edinburgh’s housing emergency and reduce poverty over the next five years. The funding will deliver thousands of affordable homes, including 2,500 for temporary accommodation and over 3,000 settled homes. The budget prioritises homelessness prevention, early family support, education and social care, while committing US$ 101.48 mil

2026 Outlook for the Residential Remodelling and Construction Sector USA: The article highlights expectations for the residential remodelling and construction sector in 2026, noting that economic uncertainty and declining consumer financial confidence are influencing homeowner decisions. Many households are choosing to remain in their current homes and invest in renovation rather than purchasing or constructing new properties, partly due to rising home values. As a result, la

France Construction sector FRANCE: According to the latest report from the Tendances récentes du bâtiment – Janvier 2026 (FFBâtiment), the French building industry shows signs of recovery in new construction, despite ongoing challenges. Between September and November 2025, both housing starts and planning permissions rose by over 20%, driven by increases in individual and collective housing projects. Non-residential construction also grew, with a near 13% rise in new surface

Residential construction SOUTH AFRICA: As South Africa approaches the 2026 national Budget cycle, much of the focus is usually on bold growth projections, policy changes, and large infrastructure commitments. However, in the residential property market, confidence tends to build slowly rather than through sweeping announcements. Following a difficult decade marked by high interest rates, declining property values, and financial pressure on households, homebuyers have become m

Construction GERMANY: Housing construction permits in 2025 increased for the first time in three years, according to data from the German Federal Statistical Office. A total of 238,500 permits were issued for residential units in both new and existing buildings, marking a 10.8% rise compared to 2024, when approvals had dropped to their lowest level since 2010. Building permit figures are widely seen as an early indicator of upcoming construction activity. It was further noted

Housing Starts Show Uptick Towards the End of 2025 USA: According to recent construction data, U.S. housing starts showed an uptick late in 2025, signalling a modest rebound in residential building activity after earlier softness during the year. The increase was driven in part by a rise in single‑family housing starts, which reached their highest level since February, suggesting builders responded to improving seasonal and market conditions. While starts earlier in 2025 had

Multifamily Housing Market Forecast to Cool in 2026 as Vacancies Climb USA: The multifamily housing market in the United States is expected to slow in 2026 as vacancy rates continue to rise, according to economists speaking at the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) International Builders’ Show in Orlando. After a post‑pandemic slump, multifamily property sales rebounded in 2025 with a 15 % increase across most metropolitan areas, but the influx of new supply is now

Home Resales Decline in January CANADA: Sales of existing homes in Canada declined in January 2026, with resale activity down 5.8 percent compared with December, according to the Canadian Real Estate Association. On a non‑seasonally adjusted basis, sales were also 16.2 percent lower than in January 2025. At the same time, the number of newly listed properties rose by 7.3 percent, indicating growing supply even as buyer activity weakened. The combined effect suggests a cooling

Survey Highlights Growing Doubts About Homeownership Affordability CANADA: A new public opinion report by the Canadian Home Builders’ Association reveals increasing concern among Canadians about the feasibility of owning a home. While 88% of Canadians under 45 aspire to homeownership, only 29% of non-homeowners believe they will ever be able to purchase a property. The survey also found that 66% of respondents consider the federal government responsible for addressing the hou