In February, the Finnish real estate market witnessed a significant decline, with the total number of transactions falling by 9.4%. This downturn was particularly pronounced in the new build segment, where sales volumes nearly halved compared to the same period last year. The drop in transactions is attributed to high electricity prices and rising unemployment rates, which have negatively impacted consumer confidence, as noted by Tuomas Viljamaa, the CEO of the Central Federation of Finnish Real Estate Agencies (KVKL). Additionally, the uncertainty in global politics has also influenced Finnish consumers' decision-making. The ongoing trend of saving for emergencies is reflected in the increase of consumer deposits reported by the Bank of Finland. Despite the challenges, February 2026 saw higher transaction volumes than in February 2023 and 2024, suggesting that there are optimistic indicators from various economic and consumer metrics that point to a potential economic turnaround this year. Viljamaa mentioned that the current housing price levels, relative to consumer earnings, are among the most attractive in decades from the perspective of homebuyers. This sentiment suggests a cautious optimism for future real estate activities as buyers navigate the current market dynamics and potential economic recovery.