In the first nine months of 2025, the real estate auction market recorded a contraction, with volumes down 11% compared to the same period in 2024, but also showed signs of stabilization and a first reversal of the trend in third quarter (+5,1%)This is what emerges from the data updated to 30 September, released today byBerry Brick Observatory
Real estate auctions: all the numbers
From January to September 2025, 5,000 accidents were recorded 80.416 auctions, almost ten thousand fewer than the 90.345 of the same period in 2024. The average starting price remained substantially stable at 168.483 euros (-0,3% compared to the first nine months of 2024), while the overall auction base fell from 15,27 billion to 13,55 billion euros (-11,3%).
Looking at the only third trimester, The three months of July and September, however, marked a change in pace: 22.183 auctions were held, up 5,1% compared to the 21.102 in the third quarter of 2024. In that period, the average starting price stood at €162.436 (-3,1% year-on-year), while the overall starting price reached €3,6 billion (+1,9%).
“The data for the first nine months show a market that is absorbing the shocks of recent years: there is still a contraction, but the growth in volumes and the stability of overall values in the third quarter indicate that the system is absorbing the reforms and the digital evolution of sales processes,” commented Chai Botta, director of the Berry Brick Observatory. "The expansion of asynchronous online auctions is proof that digitalization not only simplifies processes but also encourages the participation of new investors and citizens. A more stable macroeconomic environment and digitalization are driving a more transparent, efficient, and inclusive auction market model."
According to the observatory, the reduction in procedures over the first nine months was influenced by the lower credit pressure and from the growing recourse to out-of-court solutions, These phenomena have slowed the opening of new auctions. However, the decline in the number of procedures has not translated into a significant decline in average prices, the report emphasizes. The stability of the average starting price indicates that the market has largely absorbed the pressures resulting from rising interest rates and post-pandemic tensions.
The performance of the third quarter, with +5,1% of volumes, represents a first confirmation of exit from the recessionary phase.
Lombardy reigns supreme at auctions, Sicily and Marche are the most dynamic.
La Lombardia remains the region with the highest number of auctions in the nine months (9.855, equal to 12,3% of the total), while Sicily and the Marche are among the most dynamic areas. In the third quarter, Marche showed extremely marked growth (+66,5%), while Sicily recorded a 23,2% increase. Conversely, Lazio and Lombardy showed a decline in quarterly volumes (-33,0% and -7,3% respectively), while maintaining higher average values in some provinces. The most active provinces in terms of number of auctions were Rome (1.060) Macerata (709) and Turin (673); among the most active courts, Macerata (631 auctions), Cagliari (617), Rome (556) and Milan (520) stand out.
As regards the types of properties, in the first nine months of 2025, the residential sector represented the largest share of the market, with approximately 54% of the total, while in the quarter the share stood at 53,6%, with a slight increase in incidence. Categories classified as "other" (special properties, land, appurtenances) showed positive trends, growing by over 10% over the nine months and 16,9% in the quarter. commercial and industrial segment, instead, highlights a contraction, "reflecting the lower business activity and the increase in liquidation procedures in the previous year", comments the observatory.
Sales methods and digitalization
From January to September, the asynchronous telematic auctions covered over 45% of the total, while in the third quarter alone the share of auctions was equal to 44,2%. mixed synchronous auctions instead, they remained at around 30% (30,5% in the third quarter), while sales at the dealer fell below 17% (17,1% in the third quarter), a trend which confirms the progressive marginalisation of traditional methods.
