Montauban Habitat Show Opens Amid Surging Existing and Stagnant New Homes
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The 29th edition of the Montauban Habitat Show opens on Friday, October 9, 2026, at Eurythmie, welcoming 90 exhibitors and roughly 4,000 expected visitors through October 11, against a backdrop of stark contrast between a surging existing-home market and a persistently stagnant new construction sector, l’essentiel reported.
A Bifurcated Real Estate Landscape Across Tarn-et-Garonne
While the overall real estate market in Tarn-et-Garonne and across France has regained volume in 2026, the recovery remains strictly bifurcated. Existing property transactions, particularly clean homes requiring minimal immediate upgrades and possessing strong energy ratings, experienced a spring and early summer peak unseen in years. Conversely, the market for new builds—spanning individual home construction and promoter-led programs—remains entirely atone.
Regulatory Hurdles and Climate Pressures Strangle New Builds
Industry professionals attribute the severe slowdown in new construction to increasingly stringent building regulations and recurring weather extremes such as droughts. Alain Nouvian, director of the Montauban sector for Crédit Agricole Nord Midi-Pyrénées, points out that market demand has firmly pivoted toward buying older properties, executing major renovations, and boosting energy performance.
Within his regional sector, the bank financed 60 million euros in housing projects through the first half of 2026, capturing a 44.4 percent market share by the end of June.
Rising Loan Rates Slow Market Momentum
Market momentum slowed notably after July. Nicolas Riquelme, vice-president of FNAIM 82, notes that while spring activity reached exceptional highs, September brought a distinct cooling off as households turned cautious. That hesitation stems from shifting economic and political conditions alongside climbing borrowing costs.
Average loan rates sit at 3.30 percent and face projected increases before the end of the year, prompting cautious buyers to delay major acquisition commitments.
Climate Shifts Drive Demand for Home Upgrades
These shifting macroeconomic pressures alter the daily focus of property owners. With escalating heatwaves and broader climate shifts, local demand heavily favors summer comfort upgrades, including reversible air conditioning, enhanced thermal insulation, and outdoor leisure additions like compact swimming pools and spas.
The three-day exhibition at Eurythmie, featuring predominantly regional exhibitors, runs daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. with free admission, alongside a festive evening afterwork event scheduled for Saturday.
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