Mario Andrés Ramírez, president of Fedelonjas, warned of a 6.5% drop in new housing sales in the first quarter of 2026 compared to 2025, due to high credit costs and fewer subsidies. In cities, nearly half the population lives in apartments, with rentals becoming the dominant form of occupancy. The federation calls for professional management of the rental market.
At the III National Economic Forum of Fedelonjas, Mario Andrés Ramírez emphasized that the real estate sector drives GDP but faces macroeconomic hurdles. New housing sales fell 6.5% in Q1 2026 compared to Q1 2025, due to high credit costs, subsidy shortages, and household caution.
Horizontal property, mostly apartments, accounts for 38.1% of national housing stock, totaling 17.9 million units. In urban areas, it reaches 47.88%, close to 49.56% for houses. Cities like Bucaramanga (69.3%) and Bogotá (67.7%) lead this shift, driven by high financing rates and restrictive policies.
Ramírez noted that 40.4% of the population rents versus 39.6% owning homes, with 56 out of 100 rental contracts verbal. "The suspension of these subsidies not only affects those planning to buy new homes but also creates collateral effects in the real estate sector, including used housing and rentals," he stated. He added that 25% of new housing goes to rental investment.
Some 26.8% of households face housing deficits, and Fedelonjas urges recognizing rentals as a core element of housing policy.
