The fourth quarter of 2025 brought the weakest residential sales result in Bucharest-Ilfov in nine years and the weakest nationally in six years, according to SVN Romania. Overall, 2025 ended with a 5.3% annual decrease in home sales nationally and an 8.5% decrease in the Bucharest-Ilfov region.

Property transactions in Romania fell by nearly 1% in the first two months after the VAT increase compared to August-September 2024, but rose over 10% compared to May-June transactions, according to official data from the National Agency for Cadastre and Real Estate Advertising (ANCPI).

Over 119,500 residential units were sold in Romania in the first nine months of 2025, a similar level with that recorded in the same period of 2024 (down only 0.3%), according to a market analysis by SVN Romania and based on official statistics of the National Agency for Cadastre and Land Registration.

After several years of record demand, Romania's residential market entered 2025 in a cooling phase, marked by cautious buyer sentiment. Consumer confidence recorded the steepest half-yearly decline since the 2009-2010 crisis, excluding the temporary pandemic shock when optimism quickly rebounded, according to Colliers consultants. They note the deterioration runs deeper and is expected to last longer, fueled by labor market slowdown, political instability and fiscal changes eroding purchasing power.

The residential market in Bucharest returned to a rhythm more in line with previous years, following the record-breaking July, according to an analysis of Fortim Trusted Advisors.

Romania's residential market experienced a significant surge in July, with a record number of apartment sales recorded in Bucharest and other major cities.   

The increase in VAT to 21% for new homes is having a direct impact on pricing and sales strategies in the residential market, with effects already becoming visible, according to Valentin Neagu, Managing Director at Crosspoint Real Estate.

Buyers of homes in Romania with a price of maximum €140,000 will pay a VAT of 5%, extending a facility that was applicable up to now only for residential units with costs up to €90,000, according to a government decision.