QUARTERLY FIGURES HOUSING MARKET UTRECHT: HOW IS THE MARKET DOING?
The housing market in Utrecht will remain tight in the first quarter of 2026. The number of home sales will be virtually the same as a year ago, and homes will still be sold well above the asking price. At the same time, the housing supply is increasing slightly, although the differences remain limited, and the average buyer still has little choice.
Despite a slight drop in the average selling price, Utrecht remains one of the most expensive housing markets in the Netherlands. Competition among buyers is high, while well-positioned homes continue to attract a lot of interest.
In this blog, we'll outline the most important developments and quarterly figures for the Utrecht housing market.
Home sales in Utrecht virtually the same as last year
In the first quarter of 2026, a total of 902 homes were sold in Utrecht. This is reasonably in line with the number of homes sold in the first quarter of 2025 (925 transactions).
The best-selling properties were apartments. Detached houses and semi-detached houses sold the least. That difference is not surprising: apartments make up a large portion of Utrecht's housing supply and remain popular among first-time buyers, singles, and young families.
The limited number of detached and semi-detached houses sold is mainly related to the limited supply of these types of houses within the municipality of Utrecht.
Supply in the Utrecht market increases slightly
The housing supply in the municipality of Utrecht is increasing slightly, although the differences are not significant. Compared to the fourth quarter of 2025, the increase amounts to 7%. Compared to the first quarter of 2025, this represents an increase of 4%. When comparing the first quarters of the past five years, the supply was higher than it is now only in 2023.
At the same time, the number of new homes listed for sale is actually declining again. In the past quarter, 6% fewer homes were listed for sale than a year earlier.
Despite a slight increase in supply, the housing market in Utrecht remains very tight. The so-called tightness indicator stood at 1.7 in the first quarter. This indicator shows the average number of choices a potential buyer has in the housing market.
While this is slightly higher than in the previous quarter, when the indicator was 1, the number of available homes per buyer remains particularly low. For comparison, in a balanced housing market, the scarcity indicator is typically between 5 and 10 (source: NVM).
For home seekers, this means that acting quickly is still important.
Slight decrease in the average selling price
The average selling price of a home in Utrecht was €559,000 in the first quarter of 2026. This represents a slight decrease of 1.21% compared to the fourth quarter of 2025.
However, housing prices in Utrecht remain at a high level. The average price per square meter is now €6,513. This makes Utrecht one of the most expensive regions in the Netherlands.
Homes still well above the asking price sold
One thing that remains constant in the Utrecht housing market is that properties are still being heavily outbid. The difference between the asking price and the final sale price averages 13%. That percentage remained unchanged from the previous quarter.
As many as 89% of homes are selling for more than the asking price. For buyers, this means that a competitive bidding strategy is more important than ever. Simply looking at the asking price often does not provide a realistic picture of what a home will ultimately fetch and what it is worth.
For sellers, this actually shows that well-positioned homes still attract a lot of interest. A good strategy is very important in the current housing market.
What do these numbers mean for buyers and sellers?
For buyers, the Utrecht housing market remains challenging. The supply is limited, homes sell quickly, and overbidding is the rule rather than the exception. Good preparation and expert guidance can therefore make a difference.
For sellers, the current market still offers opportunities. Despite a slight price decrease, the demand for homes remains high, and properties are regularly sold above the asking price. A good sales strategy is therefore very important, with the right asking price playing a major role. Many buyers are already factoring in a certain degree of overbidding.
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