The recovery of the Malta property market

There are few subjects that stimulate more emotional discussions among the Maltese than the movements in house prices. Everyone seems to have an opinion on whether the price of the Malta property is going up, down, or is simply flat.

Statistics published by the Central Bank confirm that advertised house prices have actually gone up by 4.5 per cent in the first quarter of this year. Some time earlier, the National Statistics Office confirmed that, in the same period, actual sale prices rose by 0.38 per cent. Even this more modest increase seems to confirm that the two-year fall in property prices is being reversed. Read more

RE/MAX Malta launches webpage to promote enewsletter archive

RE/MAX Malta recently launched a webpage to promote their archive of enewsletter’s. The newsletter that was launched over twelve months ago has been a huge success.  The Newsletter, apparently growing its subscriber’s list at a rate of 20% per month with an unsubscribe rate of a mere 2%, provides readers with information about the market, latest properties available on the market to let and for sale as well as links to specific pages that relate to niche markets such as luxury property, first time buyers and relocating to Malta. (Read more)

‘Good prospects’ for the Malta property market

The Malta property market is picking up again after the slowdown experienced during the recession, with the value of promise-of-sale agreements increasing by nearly 17 per cent in the first half of this year.

These are encouraging signs for estate agents, who are seeing “good prospects” for the rest of the year, Association of Estate Agents president Ian Casolani said. Read more

‘Slow and steady’ increase good for Malta property market

Higher Malta property prices were good news for the construction industry, Malta property owners and estate agents but increases must be “slow and steady”, a veteran economist has warned.

“A slow and steady increase as has been witnessed is good for the sector. Jumps and bumps are the worst thing that could happen because they create a bubble that can harm the economy,” Karm Farrugia said.

He was reacting to statistics published in the Central Bank’s quarterly review that showed advertised Malta property prices going up for the first time in two years. Read more

Malta property prices rise for first time in two years

Advertised prices for Malta property have gone up for the first time in two years, returning to positive territory in March, according to the Central Bank of Malta’s quarterly review.

Data show that in the first quarter of this year, prices increased by 4.5 per cent when compared to a year earlier, the first upward movement in 24 months. This contrasts with a decline of 1.4 per cent in the previous quarter.

Property prices started to drop in the second half of 2007 and took a sharp downturn between December 2008 and March 2009, as the global recession bit deep. Since then they have continued to fall but at a slower pace and the market started to show signs of stabilising.

The Central Bank’s data, compiled from advertised prices, show the upturn in the first quarter was primarily due to higher prices being asked for apartments and the more luxurious dwellings such as villas, townhouses and houses of character.

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