Every year, with the arrival of January, we repeat an ancient ritual: we create a list of New Year's resolutions. We promise to change habits, improve quality of life, make decisions we've been postponing. But we rarely stop to think where this tradition comes from and why it remains so present in our lives.
More than just a simple wish list, New Year's resolutions reveal something deeply human: the irresistible urge to start over. And when it comes to our home, the desire to renew the space where we live and, so often, to change houses, context, and chapter. Who has never felt this inner call?
A tradition over 4,000 years old
New Year's resolutions are not a modern invention nor a social media phenomenon. Their origin dates back to ancient Babylon, around 2000 years before Christ.
During the Akitu festival, which marked the beginning of the new agricultural year, the Babylonians made solemn promises to their gods. These promises were concrete and practical: pay debts, return borrowed items, and fulfill commitments made. It was believed that honoring these promises would ensure protection and prosperity throughout the following year.
From the beginning, therefore, the resolutions were linked to 3 essential ideas: responsibility, balance, and preparation for a new cycle.
The symbolism of starting over in Ancient Rome
Later, in Ancient Rome, the New Year gained an even stronger symbolic meaning. The month of January was dedicated to the god Janus, represented with two faces: one looking to the past and the other to the future.
It was a time of balance and reflection. The Romans evaluated the decisions made, recognized mistakes, and committed to act better. Something we all should do not only year after year but also in every professional project or relationship. The New Year thus became a moment of awareness and intention, something that, deep down, continues to define resolutions to this day.
It was a time of balance and reflection.
The ancient Romans paused to evaluate the decisions of the past year, recognize the mistakes made, and renew the commitment to act better.
Something that we would all do well to practice, not only year by year but in every important professional project or relationship in our lives. In summary, for the Romans, the New Year was indeed a serious moment: to stop and think, become aware, and set clear intentions. And this tradition, deep down, is the same that still inspires us today to formulate the resolutions with which we welcome each new year.
From spiritual dimension to modern life
In the Middle Ages, this practice was absorbed by the Christian tradition, taking on a more spiritual and moral character. Promises were no longer made to the gods and were made to oneself: improve behaviors, reinforce values, live more in line with one's own principles.
Over time, resolutions became more personal and practical: health, family, career, financial stability, and inevitably, housing.
Why do we continue to make New Year's resolutions?
Despite living in a world very different from Babylon or Rome, the motivation remains. The New Year acts as a powerful psychological milestone.
Change is less daunting when we see it as the first paragraph of a chapter that has yet to be written.
There is a symbolic boundary between the “before” and the “after” that drives us to act differently. Deep down, resolutions are just this: a sincere declaration that we want to live better in the cycle that follows.
And what does it mean to live better? For many, more comfort, more space, a prime location, and a higher quality of life, reasons that, deep down, explain the vast majority of house changes.
The house as a New Year's resolution
In practice, many of the most common resolutions end up converging on a central point: the place where we live. A house is not just a property. It is the space where our family grows and where life happens: in the simple gestures of daily life, in routines, in relationships, and in plans for the future.
I witness this often: when someone decides to “change their life,” there is almost always a dimension of space and home in that desire. And it is no coincidence that so many resolutions translate into decisions like:
- Buy the first own house and finally stop paying rent
- Move to a bigger house to accommodate the family's growth or have a dedicated office for remote work
- Move to a smaller house to simplify life, cut expenses, and gain more freedom
- Move to a quieter area, away from the center, in search of peace, nature, and quality of life
- Move to a house with a garden, pool, or large terrace, to enjoy more of the outdoor space
- Move to a more vibrant neighborhood, full of shops, culture, restaurants, and nightlife
- Move to a location closer to work or with better transport, to save time
- Leave behind a space filled with difficult memories (divorce, grief, etc.) and start a new chapter
- Move to a more modern and technological house (home automation, comfort, energy and acoustic efficiency)
- Invest in real estate for greater financial security and long-term stability
Just like in ancient resolutions, there is also the idea of closing one cycle and opening another, in a conscious and structured way.
Why do so many resolutions fall by the wayside?
It's true: most New Year's resolutions don't survive the first quarter. Recent studies and statistics show that about 80% of people abandon their goals by February, and many don't even make it to the end of January. But why?
When it comes to the resolution to move house, one of the most ambitious resolutions, the obstacles are even greater.
In 2026, the real estate market in Portugal is not making this resolution easy. We are talking about a goal that involves a lot of money, bureaucracy, and the emotional side, and the current context makes everything more challenging:
- Prices still high and competitive market → In 2025, house prices hit records (increases of up to 17.7% in some quarters, with a median around 3,019 €/m² at the end of the year). For 2026, stabilization or more moderate increases are expected, but supply remains limited in the most sought-after areas. Finding “the” house takes months, and we often lose opportunities to other buyers.
- Additional costs and financial surprises → Despite historically low interest rates, mortgage payments are rising slightly in January (Euribor at 12 months stood at 2.267%, with small increases in some contracts). There is also the return of the early repayment commission, increase in IMI on new houses, and rents rising by 2.24%. Those without sufficient financial reserves end up backing out.
- Long and exhausting process → Visits, negotiations, credit approval, deed... it can take 6-12 months. In the meantime, emotional fatigue arises: “is it worth it?”.
- Emotional attachment and fear of change → Leaving a house full of memories (good or bad) is harder than it seems. Many postpone because “it's not the right time yet.”
- Uncertain economic context → With the housing crisis still present, many families feel that incomes do not keep up with prices. The resolution is postponed “for next year.”
In my opinion, the problem rarely lies in the will. It lies, above all, in the way decisions are made. Resolutions fail when they are vague, too ambitious, or when they lack a plan and there is no support and guidance.
The same happens in real estate. Moving house or investing should not be a New Year's impulse, but a well-informed decision, supported by market knowledge and professional guidance.
Starting the year with the right decisions
New Year's resolutions have existed for thousands of years because they respond to a deep human need: the desire to improve life through conscious choices.
If one of your resolutions is to move house, sell a property, or invest in real estate, that step deserves time, reflection, and specialized support.
Each change should be made with confidence, transparency, and strategy, so that the new year is not just a symbolic restart, but a real and sustainable change.
Want to talk about your real estate plans for this year?
Talk to me and turn your resolution into a successful decision. Contact me!
