Romania’s real estate market slowed down in 2025 after a more dynamic year in 2024, yet interest in housing remained high in several key areas. Data from the National Agency for Cadastre and Land Registration (ANCPI), analyzed by Economica.net, show that the total number of apartments sold nationwide decreased by about 5% compared to the previous year, reaching nearly 160,000 transactions. Even in this cooling market context, Bucharest continued to be the main focal point, with one district standing out clearly.

One district, the clear leader of transactions in the capital

Between May and December 2025, around 30,000 apartments were sold in Bucharest, according to ANCPI data. Among the capital’s six districts, District 3 clearly dominated the market, recording 7,555 transactions involving individual housing units. In practical terms, almost one quarter of all apartments sold in Bucharest were purchased in this district.

District 3’s performance is even more significant given that it comes in a year marked by uncertainty, higher costs for new homes, and increased caution among buyers. During the summer months of July and August, when the VAT increase on new homes influenced market behavior, District 3 recorded over 1,300 transactions per month, confirming steady demand in this area.

Districts 1 and 6 followed, with over 5,800 and nearly 5,700 apartments sold, respectively. At the opposite end, District 5 recorded the fewest transactions, with 3,024 individual units sold during the analyzed period. These differences reflect both available supply and buyers’ preferences regarding infrastructure, transport access, and urban amenities.

December 2025, the weakest year-end month in the past five years

At the national level, December 2025 was the weakest December of the past five years in terms of transaction volume. Only 13,870 individual units were sold, well below the level reached in December 2021, considered the strongest year-end month, with more than 18,300 apartments sold.

This decline points to greater buyer caution, influenced by factors such as financing costs, inflation, and fiscal changes. Still, the fact that 2025 levels remained slightly above those of 2023 suggests the market did not enter a standstill, but rather a phase of adjustment.

Apartment sales in Romania’s major cities

Beyond Bucharest, ANCPI began publishing city-level data for county capitals starting in May 2025, offering a clearer picture of the real estate market in major urban centers. After the capital, Timișoara ranked second nationwide, with over 4,100 homes sold during the analyzed period.

Brașov and Iași followed closely, with approximately 3,800 and 3,750 transactions, respectively, while Cluj-Napoca and Constanța completed the list of the most active real estate markets outside Bucharest. These cities continue to attract buyers thanks to economic development, new residential projects, and steady demand from people relocating for work or education.

In mid-sized cities such as Galați, Târgu Mureș, Oradea, or Bacău, transaction volumes were lower but relatively stable, indicating that local real estate markets remain functional even in a more cautious economic environment.

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A slowing market, but not a stalled one

The 2025 data outline a real estate market that has slowed down but continues to function, especially in areas with consistent demand. Bucharest’s District 3 remains a benchmark, showing that even in a year of decline, certain areas can still outperform the average.

Overall, the 2025 trend suggests that interest in apartments has not disappeared, but has adapted to new economic conditions, while differences between districts and cities are becoming increasingly visible as buyers choose their investments more carefully.