The real estate market is moving again, but the real changes are happening elsewhere. Locally, independent real estate agents are noting that buyers’ and sellers’ decisions are now being built around new parameters: geopolitics, climate, energy regulation, financing, etc. Let’s break down the key lessons from the Intercab Observatory’s Q2 2026 barometer.
A more active market… but still demanding
Latest indicatorsIntercab Observatory confirm that real estate market continues to move again. In the second quarter of 2026 volume of signed compromise solutions increased by 41% compared to the previous quarter, while prices remained generally stable (-0.4%) and trade margins remained at around 5.4%.
However, the professionals surveyed do not talk about a return to normal life. The market remains selective and every real estate project requires more preparation, training and support.
As summarized by Olivier Budgett, Founding President Real estate box“The real estate market is no longer waiting for a serious signal of recovery. It has started to move differently again. (…) The market is looking for its new equilibrium.”
Read also: Real estate loan rates: summer stability under supervision
Customer problems are changing
This is undoubtedly the main lesson of this publication: real estate solutions no longer dictated solely by prices or financing terms.
So 78% independent real estate agents believe that the geopolitical context now influences their clients’ decisions. International tensions are fueling an atmosphere of uncertainty that is causing certain households to delay or rework their projects.
Another important development: climate change is gradually becoming a selection criterion. 61% of professionals say customers are now more interested in summer comfortVhome insulationtheir exposure to or ability to withstand periods of high temperature.
” episodes of extreme heat subsequent ones gradually change our view of real estate. Beyond price or location, shoppers are more focused on the quality of their daily lives and the ability of housing to remain comfortable despite the intense heat,” notes Olivier Buguette.
Thus, real estate is no longer valued solely by its price or location. This is also important for its ability to respond to the challenges of tomorrow.
Read also: Cost of living, climate, employment: understanding what determines housing mobility of the French
Investors continue to wait
The barometer also shows that investors for rent did not leave the market. They are still present, but are awaiting greater visibility.
Almost two out of three experts note stability or even renewed interest since the law came into force. Jeanbrun’s device. On the other hand, the announced relaxation for housing categories F and G has not yet changed the intentions of landlords, according to 75% of surveyed agents.
“Investors are still attentive. They need visibility, but interest in the stone remains. Once the rules are better understood and stabilized, this segment could gradually gain momentum,” analyzes Olivier Buguette.
Read also: Housing market: French remain cautious in the face of economic and political uncertainty
More than ever, the advisory role matters
This market complexity mechanically reinforces added value of real estate professionals.
About 70% of agents believe that their clients are not sufficiently informed about existing systems, be it interest-free credit, the Jeanbrun system, bridging tenancies or even the mechanisms associated with new construction.
In this context, the profession is evolving. Outside dealindependent agents become interpreters of the market, capable of explaining increasingly numerous rules, ensuring buyer journey and help its clients act as an arbiter in an environment that has become more uncertain.
As the Barometer editorial finally notes, “independent real estate agent takes its place. Not as a simple intermediary, but as market reader. One who perceives blockages, differences between displayed prices and reality, weak signals about which no picture is enough. »
This new edition of the report is more than just an economic barometer.Intercab Observatory This highlights a fundamental event: the market has started to move again, but expectations of buyers and sellers were deeply transformed. For real estate professionals, understanding these new drivers now becomes as important as tracking the evolution of prices, rates or transaction volumes.
Source: Barometer T2 2026 Interkab Observatory.