France developers survey: expected housing starts private sector
France developers survey: expected housing starts private sector stood at -35.5 Balance of opinion (%) in Q3 2026, according to INSEE – Institut national de la statistique et des études économiques (BDM). It is one of the indicators in the Property developers survey table (Value · Quarterly), with a complete series running from Q3 1991 to Q3 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Property developers survey table
| Indicator | Q3-2026 | Q2-2026 | Q1-2026 | Q4-2025 | Q3-2025 | Q2-2025 | Q1-2025 | Q4-2024 | Q3-2024 | Q2-2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Expected housing starts: free sector | -35.5 | -21.7 | -30.3 | -31.1 | -30.4 | -32.6 | -43.2 | -45.8 | -48.3 | -42.4 | |
| Unsold dwellings stock: overall | -8.4 | -5.1 | -9.9 | -6.3 | -19.7 | -15.8 | -16.8 | -14.5 | -15.4 | -14.6 | |
| Unsold dwellings stock: approved loans | -12 | -7.7 | -15.4 | -9.5 | -13 | -13.6 | -16.4 | -12.3 | -13.2 | -19.5 |
Understanding france developers survey: expected housing starts private sector
Real estate developers report their forward-looking construction plans for unassisted free market residential properties, excluding any public subsidies or specialized financing programs. This measure captures the net balance of builders intending to launch private market housing projects relying entirely on standard commercial or corporate resources. It serves as a core gauge of private sector initiative unclouded by public policy interventions.
Seasonal patterns, particularly weather disruptions in winter quarters, require careful normalization when interpreting short-term movements in private start intentions. Quarter-on-quarter changes highlight rapid shifts in private developer confidence, whereas annual comparisons provide longer-term perspective across business cycles. Comparing this private sector series with social and subsidized counterparts reveals how private risk appetite diverges from public sector initiatives.
Frequently asked questions
- What types of housing are excluded from this private sector starts measure?
- All social housing, zero-rate loan projects, and state-subsidized rental developments are excluded.
- What does a rising net balance indicate for these unassisted starts?
- A rising balance shows that more builders plan to increase private market housing starts than plan reductions.
- How does this series differ from the approved loan starts measure?
- This series tracks unassisted private developments, whereas the approved loan series focuses on projects tied to formal commercial credit.