Italy is one of the most attractive countries in Europe for buying real estate. Its favorable climate, rich history, developed infrastructure, and high standard of living attract both investors and those looking for a second home on the coast or in a picturesque village. But before buying, it is important to understand the tax system: in Italy, property taxes depend on many factors, from the location of the property to the status of the owner.
Main property taxes in Italy
The Italian tax system for real estate includes both one-time taxes on purchase and annual taxes on ownership.
IMU (Imposta Municipale Unica) — municipal property tax
The IMU rate is set by local authorities and ranges from 0.46% to 1.06% of the cadastral value of the property.
The basis for calculation is the cadastral value (rendita catastale) multiplied by an adjustment coefficient (usually 160 or 168), after which the rate is applied.
When buying from a private individual:
2% of the cadastral value — if it is the primary residence for a resident buyer.
9% — if it is a secondary or investment property.
When buying from a developer:
10% VAT, plus fixed registration fees (€200 each).
Cadastral and mortgage fees are also payable — €50 each.
Special features for non-residents
Foreigners are free to buy real estate in Italy. However, there are several important nuances:
If you are not registered as a resident, IMU tax is levied even on a single property.
Property status is determined not by citizenship, but by registration with the municipality (residenza anagrafica).
If the property is rented out, the rental income is subject to mandatory declaration and taxation:
under the simplified cedolare secca scheme — 21%,
or at a progressive income tax rate: from 23% to 43%.
Calculation examples
An apartment in Rome purchased by a German citizen for vacation purposes:
Cadastral value: €80,000
IMU at a rate of 1%: approximately €1,280 per year
House in Tuscany, rented out:
IMU + TARI: from €1,500 to €2,000 per year
Plus tax on rental income: 21% or according to the scale.
Conclusion
The Italian tax system for real estate requires attention and calculations. The main annual expenses are IMU and TARI, and when purchasing, there are significant one-time fees. In the case of rental or resale, there are additional taxes on income. Therefore, before signing a contract, it is recommended to consult with an Italian lawyer or accountant to avoid surprises and fines.
Source: http://relocation.com.ua/property-taxes-in-italy-analysis-by-relocation/
Buying real estate in Serbia is not only a profitable investment, but also an obligation to pay annual property tax. All property owners, both Serbian citizens and foreigners, must pay this tax, regardless of whether the property is used or not.
Payment schedule
Property tax in Serbia is paid quarterly:
Important: in case of late payment, a penalty of 16.5% per annum is charged, and in case of systematic evasion, penalties are possible.
How to pay tax for the first time?
For non-residents of Serbia, the procedure begins with a personal visit to the tax office. Notifications are not sent to foreigners automatically.
You must provide:
If there are several owners
Documents must be submitted simultaneously by all co-owners. The tax is calculated based on the shares:
If the shares are not specified, the amount is divided equally.
Property tax rates in Serbia (2025)
The tax is calculated based on the estimated value of the property and is divided into several categories:
Source: https://t.me/relocationrs/1036
The DIM.RIA marketplace for verified real estate analyzed
the situation on the primary, secondary, and rental housing markets in Ukraine in May
2025. The report presents the dynamics of prices, supply, and demand compared
to April 2025 and May last year.
Primary market
Supply
In May, the share of operating sales departments for new buildings
remained unchanged at 77%. During the month, four new buildings
(5 sections) were commissioned during the month: two in the Lviv region, one in the Kyiv region, and one in the Zakarpattia region.
The highest share of completed projects among all new buildings was recorded in the Rivne
(62%), Zaporizhzhia (56%), and Odesa (54%) regions.
Prices
Prices in the primary market in most regions are showing
growth. The highest price increases were recorded in the Chernihiv (+8%),
Zhytomyr (+8%), and Kyiv (+6%) regions. Only Kirovohrad showed
a decrease, averaging 5%. Kyiv remains the most expensive city, with an average
price of $1,409/m². The cheapest new buildings are in the frontline regions: Zaporizhzhia,
Sumy, and Mykolaiv.
Demand
The most noticeable growth in interest in new buildings
was observed in the Ternopil region (+22% compared to April). At the same time,
a significant decrease in demand was recorded in the Sumy (-25%) and Dnipropetrovsk
(-17%) regions.
Secondary market
Supply
The largest number of advertisements for the sale of secondary housing in
in May came from the Volyn, Rivne, and Mykolaiv regions.
Prices
According to the DIM.RIA marketplace, during May, the average
cost of one-room apartments continued to grow in most regions of Ukraine.
The largest increase was recorded in the Kherson region (+16%), although it remains
the cheapest for this type of housing.
The most expensive housing is in the capital: the cost of a one-room
apartment in Kyiv reaches $92,400. In terms of districts, Pechersky remains
the most expensive (almost $132,000), and Desniansky is the most affordable ($45,000).
Demand
In May, users were most actively searching for secondary
real estate in the Khmelnytskyi, Odesa, and Volyn regions.
The ratio of the number of purchase listings to the number of
responses to them in May in Kyiv was 1:3, with only the Odesa region having a lower ratio —
1:2. In the Vinnytsia region, it was 1:18, in the Ternopil region — 1:16, and
in the Mykolaiv region — 1:15.
Rental market
Supply
According to DIM.RIA analysts, the rental market was
unstable in May. The largest number of new listings appeared in the Chernivtsi (+35%) and
Zakarpattia (+29%) regions. In contrast, in Kirovohrad, the number of
offers decreased by 40%. In Kyiv, the decline was 22% compared to April.
Prices
Kyiv remains the most expensive city for rent:
the average cost in May was 18,200 UAH, which is 4% more than in
April. The most expensive apartments are in the Pecherskyi district — 26,300 UAH, and the cheapest are
in the Desnianskyi district (10,900 UAH).
In most regions, rental prices changed by
a few percent, with the exceptions of Zakarpattia and Ternopil regions (an increase of
11%), Cherkasy (-11%) and Chernihiv (-15%).
Demand
In May, users were actively looking for rental housing:
according to data from the DIM.RIA analytical center, interest was observed in almost
in all regions of Ukraine. The ratio of rental ads to
responses in May in Kyiv was 1:6, while in most
regions these figures differed several times over.
The full analytical
report and high-quality images are available at the link!
A sharp drop in the Euribor interbank rate by 0.25 percentage points in June 2024 and subsequent easing reduced the cost of mortgage lending. This brought buyers back to the market, especially large families and investors.
After the winter slump, an unexpected surge in transactions was observed in January: the number of available properties fell by more than a third, and some market segments experienced shortages. This signaled a recovery in demand.
New changes in legislation have eased refinancing conditions, with a number of fees abolished and commission thresholds reduced. This has encouraged homeowners who are willing to change their loan terms.
Renting a home to avoid extreme risks is becoming a lifestyle choice—renting is no longer just a temporary measure, but a full-fledged alternative to buying. Cafes, coworking spaces, and city services have moved renting into a new category.
Latvians continue to invest in housing abroad, especially in Southern Europe, and foreign investors are attracted by the growing rental market – but government regulation has already restricted short-term rentals in some countries.
There is active construction of rental housing (ALTUM projects) in the regions. However, housing shortages in cities such as Ventspils, Cesis, and Jurmala remain a problem.
According to estimates, average housing price growth rates in Latvia are expected to be in the range of 3-7% by the end of the year. For example, a 60 m² apartment in Riga for €150,000 could rise in price to €154,500-160,500.
Breakdown by property type:
Property type Growth forecast
Studio (30 m², €75,000) to €77,250-80,250
Apartment (75 m², €200,000) to €206,000-214,000
Penthouse (100 m², €500,000) up to €515,000-535,000
Where the highest price growth is expected
In recent years, the real estate market in Serbia has shown a unique trend: the vast majority of transactions are made in cash. According to data from the
Republic Geodetic Administration (RGZ), in the fourth quarter of 2024, 89% of all real estate transactions were paid in cash, including 76% of apartment purchases. In Belgrade, this figure was 70.4%, and in Novi Sad, 71.8%.
Experts identify several factors contributing to the high level of cash payments in the real estate market:
Limited access to mortgage lending: High interest rates and strict bank requirements make mortgages less accessible to many citizens.
Savings and investments: Citizens with savings prefer to invest in real estate, considering it a reliable way to preserve capital.
Financial support from relatives: Buyers often receive funds from family members or from the sale of inherited property.
Some analysts are concerned that the high level of cash payments may indicate attempts to legalize income of dubious origin. However, according to experts such as Alexander Radivojevic, most real estate transactions in Serbia are legal, and it is incorrect to link them to money laundering without sufficient grounds.
Impact on the real estate market
The prevalence of cash payments has a significant impact on the real estate market:
Rising housing prices: High demand from cash buyers contributes to rising real estate prices.
Reduced housing affordability: For citizens who do not have significant savings, purchasing a home becomes less affordable.
Declining role of mortgage lending: Banks are facing a decline in demand for mortgage loans, which may affect their lending policies.
To ensure transparency and stability in the real estate market in Serbia, the following is recommended:
Improving access to mortgage lending: Developing programs with more favorable terms for borrowers.
Strengthening control over financial flows: Improving the effectiveness of monitoring large cash transactions.
Improving financial literacy among the population: Informing citizens about the advantages and risks of different methods of financing home purchases.
Source: https://t.me/relocationrs/1032
The Greek residential real estate market 2025 continues to show steady growth despite global economic challenges. Demand for housing remains high among both local residents and foreign investors, which contributes to higher prices and the development of new projects.
