SIMA 2026: Housing affordability and the role of data in the residential sector

SIMA, one of the leading international forums for the living and real estate sector, was held in Madrid this 2026 addressing the structural challenges shaping the residential market. During the sessions, two main pillars were discussed: housing affordability and the impact of technology on real estate activity.

Cristina Arias, Director of our Research team, analysed the residential markets of Spain and Portugal together with other experts, highlighting how housing prices continue to rise above inflation and wage growth, which intensifies pressure in major cities and tourist areas.

In addition, a debate on technology and AI took place, during which Manuel Cacho, Director of Banking & Advisory in Accumin Intelligence, presented his outlook on productivity gains thanks to the use of predictive models and how personalized insights based in data analysis enable efficient analytical decisions.

The event provided an opportunity to reflect on the main challenges facing the residential market and to identify key levers able to potentiate it.