They are the figures that will determine the course of one of the most important sectors of our economy, the first names of Spanish real estate activity in 2018, and noteworthy among them is Juan Velayos, CEO of residential developers Neinor Homes.

This is one of the conclusions of the study on the outlook for the real estate sector in 2018 compiled by Instituto Coordenadas de Gobernanza y Economía Aplicada. This in-depth analysis of the outlook and trends expected for the market over the course of this year that is just beginning also identifies those who will lead its recovery.

With a variety of profiles and management styles, focusing on different branches of the business (residential development, pre-owned homes, rentals, renovation, etc.), each of the ten protagonists of this report currently plays a key role in the real estate sector and will be one of its driving forces in this new year.

Neinor Homes sets a trend that continues

Juan Velayos is at the helm of a developer that inaugurated this new era in the real estate business by going public in March 2017, becoming the first developer to do so in years and setting a trend that continues.

This highlights that the trust investors have shown in new developments remains unchanged and is defining a new market.

Moved by the desire to lead the sector's transformation towards professionalism, transparency and quality, based on innovation and digitalisation, Neinor Homes is approaching this new year with ambitious launches and new projects, structuring its activities into three main focal points: institutionalisation, product and client.

The other figures named in the study as the main players in the business for 2018 are: David Martínez, CEO of Aedas Homes, a real estate development company that is also publicly traded; Iheb Nafaa, CEO of Servihabitat; Miguel Oñate, CEO of Testa Residencial; Ismael Clemente, CEO of MERLIN Properties; Antonio Martín Jiménez, President of Avintia; Juan Villar Mir, President of OHL; Juan Hoyos, CEO of Cerberus; Eduard Mendiluce, CEO of Blackstone; and Estanis Martín de Nicolás, CEO of Schibsted Spain, the group that owns sites like Fotocasa and Habitaclia, among others.

Furthermore, this in-depth study expects home sales to far exceed 500,000 in 2018, up approximately 10% from 2017 and returning to levels like those seen in 2010.

Specifically, the analysis highlights the significant push the new-homes market, with permits to build roughly 95,000 units, up 7% from the previous year.