tThe aim of this work is to determine whether the accounting information provided by constructionand real estate firms in Spain reflects the real economic activity, during upswings and downturns. Arelationship is found between economic conditions and financial reporting in a continental Europeancountry such as Spain. Although there is a relationship between real housing price growth and financialaccounting measures, real estate companies seem to show an artificial position, since they only presenta relationship with Return on Assets (ROA) based on low quality income (accruals). Therefore, a differentfinancial position influences a different behaviour in these two similar sectors. In fact, some signs alertingof possible risk in real estate firms are shown.