According to Open4business, Budapest’s residential real estate market began showing signs of cooling off following Hungary’s parliamentary elections: in April 2026, the capital’s housing price index fell by 0.1% after rising by 1.1% in March. This marked the first monthly price decline in Budapest in about a year and a half, according to Hungarian real estate market data.
The decline appears moderate so far, but it has sent an important signal to the market, which in recent years has remained one of the most expensive and overheated in Central Europe. Annual price growth in Budapest slowed from 13.7% to 10.9% and, according to market participants, could fall below 10% for the first time since November 2024.
The market cooling comes amid a sharp political shift in Hungary. In April, Péter Mádár’s Tisza party defeated Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz, ending his 16-year rule. The new government was sworn in on May 12, and Tisza secured two-thirds of the seats in parliament—141 out of 199. Fidesz holds 52 seats following the election.
A direct link between Orbán’s defeat and the decline in housing prices has not been proven, but political uncertainty and expectations of a shift in economic policy may have increased caution among buyers and investors. The new government has stated its intention to restore predictability in economic policy, reduce the budget deficit, step up the fight against corruption, and secure the release of frozen EU funds.
An additional factor weighing on investment sentiment may be the situation surrounding the assets of business groups linked to the former government. The Guardian reported that following Orbán’s defeat, some influential figures close to Fidesz began transferring assets abroad, particularly to countries in the Middle East, the U.S., Australia, and Singapore. Péter Magyar also publicly stated that businesspeople linked to Orbán are attempting to move tens of billions of forints out of the country.
For the real estate market, this could mean a decline in activity in the high-end price segment, where wealthy investors and buyers linked to domestic capital have played a significant role. If some of these players are indeed withdrawing funds from Hungary or adopting a wait-and-see approach, this could reduce demand for expensive apartments and houses in Budapest.
At the same time, the fundamental reasons for high housing costs in the Hungarian capital remain. Supply remains limited, and new housing construction is proceeding slowly.
In early 2026, the Bulgarian housing market began to emerge from the frenzy associated with the country’s transition to the euro and is returning to a more stable demand pattern. The number of transactions fell by approximately 10%, while the supply increased by more than 25%, strengthening buyers’ bargaining power and extending the time properties remain on the market.
One of the main factors behind last year’s surge was the so-called “euro effect”—the expectation that housing prices would rise even faster after the currency change. However, judging by current trends, this driver has largely run its course. Bulgaria adopted the euro on January 1, 2026, and Central Bank Governor Dimitar Radev told Reuters that the inflationary effect of the transition turned out to be limited and largely one-time.
At the same time, the market does not appear weak in the classical sense of the word, as it continues to be supported by mortgage lending. Mortgage rates will remain low—around 2.47%—and official data from the Bulgarian National Bank, published via BTA, show that the volume of residential loans to households as of the end of February 2026 grew by 27.8% year-over-year—to €17.299 billion. This indicates that demand from end buyers remains strong, although the speculative component is noticeably weakening.
Thus, the Bulgarian real estate market is not entering a phase of sharp decline but is rather transitioning to a more realistic configuration: less hype, more supply, and a more cautious buyer. For investors, this marks the end of a period when the mere fact of joining the Eurozone automatically fueled expectations of rapid price growth, and for ordinary buyers, it signals the emergence of a more favorable window for selection and negotiation.
Source: https://relocation.com.ua/bulgarias-real-estate-market-is-shifting-from-a-boom-to-a-slowdown/
The DFM Real Estate Index (DFMREI), which reflects the dynamics of real estate companies’ shares on the Dubai Financial Market, fell by 4.71% to 13,359.61 points on Monday, March 9, reaching a daily low of 13,353.18 points, according to exchange statistics.
Over the last five trading sessions, the index has fallen by about 17%, which is close to estimates on social media of “about 20%,” but according to aggregated market data, the decline is actually about 17%.
At the same time, the Dubai market’s broad index (DFMGI) continued to decline amid the US and Israel’s war with Iran and growing nervousness over risks to logistics and infrastructure.
Against the backdrop of the UAE’s deteriorating perception as a “safe haven,” some wealthy clients are already considering moving their assets from Dubai to other financial centers. A number of wealthy Asian clients have made inquiries or taken steps to transfer funds to Singapore and Hong Kong, fearing a protracted conflict and rising risk premiums.
At the same time, market participants surveyed by Reuters emphasize that DFMREI is an exchange indicator (shares of developers and related companies) and can react much faster than the physical housing market, where price changes are recorded with a delay based on transaction data.
Dubai’s real estate market, which ended 2025 with record figures, may face a temporary slowdown in demand in early 2026 amid military escalation between the US, Israel, and Iran, but experts do not expect prices to collapse yet.
In 2025, real estate sales in Dubai were estimated at $187 billion, with more than 215,000 transactions. Investors from India, the UK, and Russia were identified as key buyer groups, while in early 2026, some investors took a wait-and-see approach.
Among the factors putting pressure on the market, analysts highlight reports of incidents in landmark locations and the impact of transport restrictions: temporary disruptions and closures of air hubs reduce the influx of foreign buyers and complicate transactions, especially in a segment that depends on quick visits and viewings.
At the same time, prior to the current escalation, price dynamics remained positive: according to REIDIN, in January 2026, the Dubai residential sales price index rose by 0.75% compared to the previous month and by 11.79% year-on-year, indicating continued inertial growth at the onset of the crisis.
Market participants admit the possibility of a “pause without a fall” scenario if the hot phase ends quickly, but warn that a protracted conflict could severely affect liquidity and lead to a more noticeable correction, primarily in the most sensitive segments and locations.
Slovenia’s real estate market continues to show strong demand, with a steady presence of foreign buyers, particularly from neighboring EU countries. Although the country’s property sector is smaller and more regulated than those of Croatia or Montenegro, Slovenia remains one of the most attractive investment destinations in Central Europe — offering political stability, EU membership, and a balance between Alpine lifestyle and Mediterranean proximity.
According to data from Slovenia’s Geodetic Administration and industry analysts for early 2025, around 6–7% of all real estate transactions in the country involve foreign citizens — a figure that has remained stable over the past three years.
Among foreign buyers, the leading nationalities are:
1) Austria – approximately 28% of transactions involving foreigners;
2) Germany – around 22%;
3) Italy – roughly 14%, mainly in the coastal Primorska region;
4) Croatia – about 8%, driven by cross-border purchases in the northeast;
5) Hungary and Switzerland – jointly accounting for about 10%.
Buyers from outside the EU (including the U.K., Israel, and the United States) represent a smaller but growing segment, often focusing on luxury mountain properties in Bled, Bohinj, and Kranjska Gora, or on historic residences in Ljubljana’s old town.
The Slovenian real estate market continues to experience price growth, albeit at a more moderate pace compared to its peak years. In 2024, average residential prices increased by 6.8%, while in Ljubljana — by over 10%. Newly built apartments and energy-efficient houses remain the most sought-after properties, while older buildings without renovation are less competitive.
Despite strong fundamentals, experts expect foreign share in property transactions to remain around 6–7%.
At the same time, rising connectivity with Austria, Italy, and Croatia — including through new rail and road infrastructure — is expected to stimulate cross-border investment and second-home demand.
In the medium term, Slovenia’s property market is likely to remain stable but competitive, with local and EU buyers dominating, and luxury and eco-friendly segments gaining ground.
Slovenia’s real estate sector combines European stability with regional charm. Foreign investors, particularly from Austria, Germany, and Italy, continue to view the country as a safe, high-quality destination for second homes and long-term investment — though affordability and supply remain key constraints.
Rental activity in the warehouse real estate market of Ukraine in January-June 2024 increased by 13% compared to the same period last year and amounted to about 70 thousand square meters, according to a study by CBRE Ukraine.
“Despite the ongoing war and related challenges, the warehouse market continues to show signs of recovery and is the most stable segment of commercial real estate today. Although the volume of leasing activity is still restrained due to the current market conditions, several large tenants are exploring market opportunities for expansion, which may have a positive impact on leasing transactions in the coming quarters,” the company said in its report.
According to the company, the main trend in the first half of the year was the predominance of preliminary lease agreements in the structure of gross absorption, which are concluded before the commissioning of facilities. The reason for this was the low vacancy rate on the market – at 2%, as well as growing demand from the wholesale and retail trade segment and pharmaceutical companies, CBRE notes.
In the second half of 2024 and in 2025, about 170 thousand square meters of new supply is expected to enter the market, which will reduce the pressure of minimum vacancy, according to the company’s analysts. In addition, over the next two years, it is planned to restore 100 thousand square meters of warehouse space that was destroyed as a result of the aggressor’s missile attacks in 2022.
By the end of the first half of 2024, the prime rental rate for warehouses in Kyiv amounted to $4.9 per sq m per month (excluding VAT and OPEX payments), which is on average 20% lower than in other capitals of Central and Eastern Europe. At the same time, the cost of construction of warehouse real estate in our country is 20% higher than in our neighbors: $500-600/sq m versus $400-500/sq m. This is influenced by the economic and energy crisis, hostilities, labor shortages and supply chain disruptions, the study says.
At the same time, there is an increase in investment activity in the Ukrainian warehouse market. CBRE points out that among foreign investors interested in industrial real estate, construction companies that plan to participate in the restoration of Ukraine after the end of active hostilities stand out.
In addition, European companies are actively considering nearshoring (outsourcing to neighboring countries) in Central, Southern and Eastern Europe, including Ukraine. According to the CBRE European Logistics Occupier Survey 2024, 68% of respondents believe that outsourcing will have a significant impact on the development of logistics in Europe in the near future.
CBRE, headquartered in Los Angeles (USA), is the world’s largest commercial real estate advisory and investment company, with revenues of $30.8 billion in 2022. According to Fortune, it is one of the world’s 500 largest companies. CBRE Group Inc. shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange. CBRE’s Ukrainian office was opened in January 2008 and is part of the company’s affiliate network.
Source: https://interfax.com.ua/
