According to experts.news, housing prices in the European Union rose by 5.1% in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025, while rents increased by 3%, according to Eurostat data released on July 2, 2026. Compared to the fourth quarter of 2025, housing prices in the EU rose by 1.2%, and rents by 0.7%.
In the eurozone, the growth rate was slightly lower: the housing price index rose by 4.7% year-over-year and by 1% compared to the previous quarter. In the fourth quarter of 2025, growth stood at 5.1% in the eurozone and 5.4% in the EU, meaning the market remains on an upward trend, but the pace of annual price increases has slowed somewhat.
Among EU countries for which data is available, housing prices fell year-over-year only in Finland—by 2%. The highest price increases were recorded in Portugal (17.8%), Bulgaria (14.8%), and Slovakia (14.4%). Growth rates also remain high in Croatia (14.3%), Spain (12.8%), Lithuania (11.9%), Hungary (11.2%), and Latvia (10.9%).
On a quarterly basis, housing prices rose in 22 EU countries and fell in four. The largest increases compared to the fourth quarter of 2025 were recorded in Bulgaria (6.2%), Portugal (3.8%), and Slovakia (3.6%). Declines were recorded in Belgium and Finland—0.8% each—in France—0.6%—and in Hungary—0.5%.
Rents in the EU rose more slowly than purchase prices but remained positive in nearly all countries. When comparing the first quarter of 2026 to the 2025 average, rents increased in all EU countries except Slovenia, where they fell by 0.9%, and Finland, where the figure remained unchanged. The largest increases in rents during this period were recorded in Croatia (21.9%), Bulgaria (6.4%), and Greece (5%).
Eurostat data show that the most overheated part of the European housing market is now shifting toward the south and east of the EU. Portugal, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Croatia, and Spain are experiencing double-digit price growth, while some of the established markets in Western and Northern Europe are growing much more slowly or experiencing a correction. For example, in Germany, housing prices rose by only 1.4% year-over-year in the first quarter; in France, by 0.1%; and in Sweden, by 2.6%.
For Ukrainian homebuyers and real estate investors, these statistics are important from a practical standpoint. The fastest growth is observed precisely in countries that are actively being considered for relocation, vacation, rental businesses, or long-term investments—specifically Portugal, Bulgaria, Croatia, Spain, and Greece. At the same time, rapid price increases signify not only profit potential but also a higher risk of buying at the peak of the local cycle.
Eurostat also notes that the new housing and rent price indices have been recalibrated to a new 2025 base, while data from the previous 2015 base remain available in the agency’s database. For Greece, European aggregates use data from the Bank of Greece based on estimated values, as transaction data on housing prices are not available.
https://www.experts.news/posts/tsiny-na-zhytlo-v-yes-u-i-kvartali-zrosly-na-51-orenda-na-3
