The forest property market is currently showing some signs of uncertainty due to declining stumpage prices and a slight weakening in transaction volumes and price levels. This raises the question of what types of properties are selling best under current market conditions.
In the final quarter of 2025 (October–December), 626 transactions involving forest properties of more than 10 hectares were completed across Finland. Trading activity was clearly strongest in Central Finland, which accounted for 45% of all completed transactions. Southern Finland’s share of the market has increased compared with previous years, while the shares of Northern Finland and Lapland have declined. Most transactions involved smaller properties of less than 20 hectares, and their share has increased compared with recent years. Very few large properties exceeding 100 hectares are currently on the market. Properties dominated by mineral soils and more mature forest development classes are also prominent in the market.
Transaction volumes alone do not provide a complete picture of demand; selling times and the proportion of listed properties that are successfully sold also matter. Of the properties withdrawn from the market between September and November, 72% have so far been sold, and this proportion will continue to increase as not all transactions have yet been registered. The proportion of properties sold is clearly higher in Southern Finland than in the north. In Lapland, a significant proportion of properties remain unsold, and selling times are longer on average. Smaller properties generally sell more efficiently than larger ones. “In Southern and Central Finland, however, larger forest properties are more likely to sell than smaller ones – probably because there are relatively few such properties available compared with demand,” says Eero Viitanen, Head of Forest Information at Suomen Sijoitusmetsät. “Nevertheless, selling times for large properties are longer in both Southern and Northern Finland.”
Under current market conditions, appropriate pricing is more important than ever. Properties where the asking price is close to their forestry-based market value tend to sell best. “If the asking price is set significantly above market value, selling times become longer and the probability of a sale decreases,” says Mika Venho, CEO and founding partner of Suomen Sijoitusmetsät. “According to the statistics, underpricing does not produce better results either. Realistic pricing increases buyer interest and facilitates transactions.”
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