The latest reading shows that expectations for the housing market eased somewhat in August after recovering during the summer. Even so, the indicator has moved only within a relatively narrow range this year and has returned to the same level as at the start of 2026.
According to SEB’s survey, 53 per cent of respondents expect home prices to increase over the next year, compared with 55 per cent in July. At the same time, the share expecting prices to fall rose to 9 per cent from 8 per cent. The proportion of households that are uncertain about the outlook remains relatively high at 14 per cent.
“Housing market sentiment remains above its historical average, and activity in the housing market continues to improve”, says Daniel Bergvall, Head of Economic Forecasting at SEB.
Housing market sentiment is stronger than consumer confidence
The survey shows that housing market sentiment remains stronger than broader consumer confidence.
Marcus Widen, economist at SEB, notes that ‘’recent regulatory changes, including a higher loan-to-value limit and lower amortisation requirements, are likely supporting both sentiment and market activity.’’
Turnover in the housing market has continued to improve, while recent price developments indicate that home prices remain on track to rise by around 5 per cent year-on-year.
Another notable trend is that more households plan to fix their mortgage rates within the next three months. At the same time, expectations for future policy rates increased marginally. According to SEB’s economists, this suggests that households are becoming somewhat more cautious about interest rate developments.
The decline in August follows a period of relatively stable sentiment since late 2025. While geopolitical uncertainty and higher energy prices may have influenced households’ views, the overall picture remains one of cautious optimism in the Swedish housing market.