12 IESE Real Estate Industry Meeting

This video is a highlights reel for the 12 IESE Real Estate Industry Meeting in Madrid last January. All sectors are undergoing major transformations driven by global uncertainty, shifting regulations, financial tensions, and technological advances. In real estate, previously exhausted segments are re-emerging, alternative areas have become core business, and corporate operations present new competitive challenges. To succeed, real estate companies must adapt by harnessing data, artificial intelligence, and flexibility, while collaborating with experts and strengthening their organizations to consolidate competitive advantages. Through this discussion with industry experts, we analyse the complex landscape of the real estate market in 2025, addressing the main challenges, trends, and solutions that could help improve housing accessibility in Spain. Ana de Miguel, CEO of Empresa Municipal de Vivienda y Suelo de Madrid, stated that there was a general social and political consensus that the supply had to be increased and the release of land accelerated, but she added that in the short term they needed to agree on guarantees for owners until the European funds arrived and they could increase production more clearly. Francisco Javier Pérez, CEO of Culmia, argued for bold action, urging both the private sector and Administration to try new approaches, such as converting unused land reserved for facilities into housing. He noted resistance due to the original purpose of the land but emphasized that many plots have remained idle since 2007 and are not utilized, calling on authorities to act before facing greater challenges. Professor José Luis Suárez, Co-Academic Director of the Meeting, stated that housing was in a state of emergency. He noted Madrid as an example, having led with more housing and schemes to support private sector development, a model now spreading to other regions. Susana Rodríguez, Chief Commercial Officer of Savills España, noted that supply remained limited while demand kept rising over the past 12 years. She added that banks confirmed their willingness to increase real estate exposure if more projects could be mobilized and presented. Professor Carles Vergara, Co-Academic Director of the Meeting, noted that home construction was falling short of targets, with estimates ranging from 100,000 to 200,000 homes annually. He added that the sector was undergoing reform to become more specialized and professional. José Antonio Hernández, President of Tinsa by Accumin, commented that industrialization was once again being discussed, but that industrialization had a problem, since banks financed according to what was already built, not what was prefabricated, and he added that to this they had to add the problem they had with land. Santiago Aguirre, Chair of Savills España, noted that institutional investors were interested in subsidized housing for affordable rents but held back due to unstable legal frameworks and imbalanced landlord-tenant rights. He also mentioned that 2025 saw near-record investment levels, reaching about 18 billion. Belén Dávila, Head of International Clients & RICS at Tinsa by Accumin, noted optimism due to available financing and demand, with only streamlined construction and land processes needed. She also mentioned that tourism growth continued to strengthen the sector, highlighting 2025 as a standout year for Spain's hotel industry, with investments reaching 4.2 billion euros. To know more: industrymeetings.iese.edu