In 2025, homes priced up to 208,000 euros made up 20.7% of the market; a year later, that figure dropped to 14.4%, making it harder for young people exempt from IMT to access the market

Buying a first home for around 208,000 euros is becoming increasingly difficult. Between January and September of this year, only 14.4% of the apartments and single-family homes listed for sale on Imovirtual were priced at or below this amount, which corresponds approximately to the average transaction price for young people covered by the IMT and Stamp Duty exemptions, according to government data. By the end of June, more than 112,000 young people had already benefited from this measure.

During the same period in 2025, these properties accounted for 20.7% of the supply. In one year, the ratio shifted from about 1 in every 5 listings to about 1 in every 7.

The number of listings priced up to 208,000 euros fell 33% compared to the same period in 2025. Meanwhile, the total number of listings for apartments and single-family homes, across all price ranges, declined by only 2.8%. In practice, the segment’s market share fell by 6.3 percentage points.

“For those looking to buy their first home within this price range, it means having a more limited selection and having to consider factors such as location, layout, or property type more carefully,” explains Sylvia Bozzo, Marketing Manager at Imovirtual, in a statement sent to Lisboa Secreta.

There is more supply in the North

Porto continues to account for the largest share of listings priced up to 208,000 euros, ranging between 16% and 17% of the segment during the periods analyzed. In 2026, Setúbal and Lisbon lost relative market share, while Coimbra, Braga, and Castelo Branco gained market share.

Furthermore, in 2025, apartments accounted for 53.6% of the supply up to this price point, while single-family homes accounted for 46.4%. In 2026, the ratio reversed: single-family homes rose to 55.6%, and apartments fell to 44.4%.

Smaller unit types are gaining ground

Three-bedroom apartments continue to be the most common, but their share dropped from 55.1% to 48.5%. Two-bedroom apartments rose from 32.2% to 34%, and one-bedroom apartments from 12.6% to 17.5%.

Data from Imovirtual thus indicates that those looking for a home priced up to 208,000 euros will find a smaller proportion of available properties today than a year ago, and with a different mix: more single-family homes, more one- and two-bedroom apartments, and fewer three-bedroom apartments.