The Hungarian housing market continued its recovery in 2025, with prices rising by 20% in nominal terms and by 15% after adjusting for inflation. The number of registered transactions approached 136,000, and the final figure, according to estimates by the Hungarian Central Statistical Office (KSH), is expected to exceed 140,000 transactions, according to the latest annual market review.
However, the KSH has not yet published detailed statistics for 2025 breaking down homebuyers by citizenship. The latest available comprehensive snapshot shows that in 2024, foreign nationals purchased 6,600 residential properties in Hungary with a total value of approximately 834 million euros. This represented a 5.2% increase in the number of properties compared to the previous year.
Thus, foreigners accounted for about 5% of all real estate transactions in Hungary in 2024, and in monetary terms, they accounted for 6.4% of the market’s turnover. In total, approximately 131,100 real estate properties were sold in the country that year.
Following a decline in activity in 2023, the number of transactions in Hungary rose by 25% in 2024—to 131,100. Growth continued in 2025: as of the data cutoff, the Hungarian Central Statistical Office (KSH) had received information on 135,700 sales, of which 128,200 were in the resale market and approximately 7,600 were new construction units. The final number of transactions is expected to exceed 140,000.
The market picked up particularly noticeably in the second half of the year following the launch of the Home Start government program for subsidized housing loans. In September, the number of sales was 47% higher than a year earlier, and in the fourth quarter, KSH estimated annual growth in the number of transactions at approximately 10%.
In Budapest, the average price per square meter for resale housing in the fourth quarter of 2025 was approximately 3,240 euros.
The average price of a sold property reached approximately 184,000 euros. Prefabricated apartments sold for an average of approximately 165,000 euros, while single-family homes sold for 284,000 euros.
The price per square meter in the capital rose by 21% over the year. At the same time, growth was even higher in certain segments: prefabricated apartments rose in price by approximately 35%.
Outside the capital, the highest prices among administrative centers at the end of 2025 were observed in Debrecen—about 2,620 euros per square meter, Dióra—2,450 euros, Veszprém—2,440 euros, and Szeged—about 2,380 euros per square meter.
Although comprehensive statistics for 2025 are nearly complete, the most recent detailed ranking of buyers by citizenship published by the KSH still pertains to 2024.
Foreign nationals purchased 6,600 residential properties that year, which is 5.2% more than in 2023.
The total value of real estate purchased by foreigners amounted to approximately 834 million euros, or 6.4% of the Hungarian housing market’s turnover.
Statistics by major groups of foreigners in 2024:
Germany — 1,369 properties
China — 708
Romania — 671
Slovakia — 671
Netherlands — 438
Vietnam — 329
Austria — 268
Russia — 185
Ukraine — 144
Israel — 137
Differences between groups of foreign buyers are particularly noticeable in terms of the geographic location of purchases.
Chinese citizens completed 91.5% of their transactions in Budapest, Vietnamese buyers — 96%, and Russians — 84.9%.
Ukrainians were significantly less focused on the capital: only 39.6% of the homes they purchased were located in Budapest. Thus, the majority of Ukrainian buyers chose other cities and regions of Hungary.
Germans, despite ranking first in the number of transactions, showed virtually no concentration in the capital—Budapest accounted for only 8% of their purchases. The KSH notes high activity among German citizens in small towns in the Southern and Western Transdanubia regions.
The average price of a property purchased by a Ukrainian citizen was approximately 96,000 euros, and the average price per square meter was about 1,350 euros.
Nationwide in Hungary, foreigners account for about 5% of the total number of transactions, but their share is significantly higher in Budapest. In 2024, foreign citizens accounted for 7.8% of residential purchases in the capital and 10% of their total value.
In the inner districts of Pest, foreigners accounted for approximately 19% of all transactions and, in terms of value, represented about 26% of the market. Chinese and Vietnamese buyers were particularly prominent here.
Thus, the latest official statistics already allow us to assess the Hungarian real estate market for 2025: approximately 136,000 registered transactions, with the prospect of exceeding 140,000 after final data processing; a 20% increase in prices; and a further significant rise in housing costs in Budapest and most major cities.
However, the breakdown of purchases by citizenship for 2025 has not yet been published.
Source: Hungarian Central Statistical Office (KSH).
The Ukrainian company Termojet, a manufacturer of equipment for boiler rooms and heating systems, is considering entering the Serbian market and is seeking a local representative or partner to develop sales and distribution, the Serbian Economist Telegram channel reports.
The company has been operating since 2002 and has its own full-cycle production facilities.
Its product range includes pump groups, distribution manifolds, hydraulic separators, separators, valves, circulation pumps, underfloor heating equipment and automation systems.
For large facilities, the company produces the Termojet Mega series with a capacity of up to 2,200 kW.
In Serbia, the company is primarily interested in cooperating with an established participant in the heating and HVAC equipment market.
The preferred partner:
In addition, entering the markets of neighboring countries — Bosnia, Montenegro, Albania and other countries in the region — is also a near-term prospect.
Termojet is ready to work with dealers, distributors, installation companies and design organizations and provides its partners with technical support and training.
For inquiries regarding partnership and the organization of cooperation in Serbia, please contact: 100events@ukr.net.
Ukrainian high school student Taras Symak from Kolomyia won a bronze medal at the 22nd International Geography Olympiad (iGeo 2026), which took place August 11–17 in Istanbul.
Taras Symak is a student at the Vasyl Stefanyk Lyceum No. 1 in Kolomyia. He has previously won prizes at several student Olympiads, and in the spring of 2026, he won the regional round of the All-Ukrainian History Olympiad.
This year’s iGeo featured 184 high school students from 50 countries around the world. Each national team could consist of a maximum of four participants, selected based on the results of national Olympiads.
Among the countries whose representatives won awards in Istanbul were Serbia, Belarus, Romania, Mongolia, Turkey, and Iran.
In particular, Serbian high school student Petar Tolimir from Belgrade won a gold medal. The Belarusian participants won gold, silver, and bronze medals. The Romanian team finished the Olympiad with two silver and two bronze medals.
Mongolia achieved a historic result—Amina Ayanbek won the country’s first-ever gold medal at the International Geography Olympiad. Another Mongolian participant received a bronze medal. A representative from the host country, Turkey, took silver, while Iran received bronze.
The International Geography Olympiad is considered the premier international geography competition for high school students aged 16–19 and is held under the auspices of the International Geographical Union.
Unlike traditional subject-based tests, participants are required not only to demonstrate knowledge of geographical facts but also to analyze maps, statistical data, economic and demographic processes, and conduct fieldwork.
The final score is based on three components: 40% from a written exam, 40% from field research, and 20% from a multimedia test using maps, photographs, graphs, and statistics.
The first iGeo took place in 1996 in The Hague with only five countries participating. Over the course of three decades, the Olympiad has become one of the leading international academic competitions for high school students, alongside the Olympiads in mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, and computer science.
The next, 23rd International Geography Olympiad, is scheduled to take place in 2027 in Jelgava, Latvia.
EDUCATION, GEOGRAPHY, high school student, OLYMPIAD, UKRAINE
The Indian Embassy in Ukraine held a ceremonial event in Kyiv to mark India’s 80th Independence Day. The celebration took place at India House and was attended by representatives of the Indian community, Ukrainian government agencies, the business sector, the cultural sector, and civil society organizations.
At the ceremony, the recently appointed Indian Ambassador to Ukraine, Anjani Kumar, raised the national flag and read a message from Indian President Draupadi Murmu to those in attendance on the occasion of the holiday.
The event was attended by members of the Indian community living in Ukraine—including students and entrepreneurs—as well as representatives of Ukrainian government agencies, politicians, Indologists, writers, dancers, representatives of cultural and spiritual organizations, and Ukrainian friends of India. The embassy described the guest list as a broad representation of people connected to Indian-Ukrainian cultural and civic relations.
Anjani Kumar was appointed India’s new ambassador to Ukraine by a decision of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs on July 8, 2026. On August 10, Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Oleksandr Mishchenko accepted copies of his credentials from him.
In an address on the eve of Independence Day, President Draupadi Murmu emphasized that India is moving toward its goal of becoming a developed nation by the centennial of its independence, and that development must provide opportunities for all segments of the population. She particularly highlighted the contributions of students, scholars, engineers, doctors, workers, farmers, entrepreneurs, and the Indian diaspora to the nation’s development.
“The true meaning of freedom lies in ensuring that all citizens can seize opportunities to realize their aspirations,” the President of India stated in her address to the nation.
Murmur also highlighted the role of Indians living abroad and diplomatic mission staff in strengthening the country’s international standing. Among the priorities for further development, she cited digitalization, economic growth, expanding opportunities for women and youth, developing modern infrastructure, and preserving cultural heritage.
India gained independence from Great Britain on August 15, 1947. Therefore, in 2026, the country will celebrate its 80th Independence Day, even though 79 years have passed since independence was achieved: the 1947 celebration is considered the first Independence Day. Indian authorities are referring to this year’s celebration specifically as the 80th Independence Day.
The holiday is one of India’s major national holidays. The central ceremony is traditionally held in Delhi, where the prime minister raises the national flag near the Red Fort and delivers an address to the nation.
India was among the first countries to recognize Ukraine’s independence following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were officially established on January 17, 1992.
The Indian Embassy in Kyiv began operations in May 1992. Prior to that, India had a Consulate General in Odesa, which had been operating since 1962 and was closed in 1999.
The Embassy of Ukraine in New Delhi was opened in February 1993 and became one of the first diplomatic missions of independent Ukraine in Asia. It continues to represent Ukraine’s interests in India and to develop political, economic, cultural, and humanitarian ties between the two countries.
According to “The Serbian Economist”, Sarajevo is hosting the 32nd Sarajevo Film Festival, which over three decades has evolved from a festival founded during the city’s siege into one of the leading film platforms in Southeast Europe.
The festival runs from August 14 to 21, 2026. Its program features over 250 films, with participants hailing from approximately 70 countries and territories. Fifty-one films are competing for the top prize, the “Heart of Sarajevo,” across four competition sections. Among them are 21 world premieres, six international premieres, and one European premiere.
A distinctive feature of the Sarajevo Film Festival is its strong regional focus. The official competition section includes 21 countries: Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kosovo, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Turkey, and Ukraine.
But the actual geographical scope is much broader. Thanks to international co-productions, the program also features films made in collaboration with France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, the Netherlands, Denmark, Iran, Qatar, and other countries.
The festival opened with the film *Fatherland* by Polish director Paweł Pawlikowski, a co-production of Poland, Germany, Italy, and France. Among this year’s distinguished guests are British actress Emily Watson, Mexican actor and director Diego Luna, Iranian director Asghar Farhadi, and Woody Harrelson.
In addition to regular film screenings, the Sarajevo Film Festival has long served as a major business platform for the film industry. As part of the CineLink Industry Days, there are presentations of new projects, as well as meetings between directors and producers and funding organizations, distributors, and potential investors.
Why this festival is special. The Sarajevo Film Festival was launched in 1995, during the siege of Sarajevo. It was founded by Obala Art Centar as an effort to preserve the city’s cultural life amid the war. The first festival became a symbol of the city’s return to normal life.
Over the next three decades, it has evolved into one of the Balkan region’s leading film festivals and a platform through which regional cinema enters the European market. That is why, in August, Sarajevo effectively becomes one of the region’s cultural capitals: it attracts not only actors and directors, but also producers, film distributors, representatives of international foundations, and streaming platforms.
The festival will conclude on August 21.
According to Experts Club, 180 active jewelry companies in Ukraine list foreign nationals as ultimate beneficiaries, with owners from Israel, Turkey, and Russia being the most common, according to data from Opendatabot published on August 17, 2026.
Israeli citizens are listed among the beneficiaries of 22 jewelry companies, Turkish citizens of 20, and Russian citizens of 19. Foreign business owners also include citizens of Georgia, the United States, Uzbekistan, Switzerland, China, and other countries.
However, a single company may have multiple ultimate beneficiaries with citizenship in different countries, so these figures cannot be added together to determine the total number of companies.
Separately, Opendatabot analyzed companies with Russian beneficiaries. Of the 19 active companies where Russian citizens are listed among the owners, only one reported revenue over the past two years—the Bila Tserkva Jewelry Factory.
At the same time, its most recent reported revenue amounted to only 10,900 UAH for 2023.
Among all jewelry companies with foreign beneficial owners, only 32 enterprises submitted financial statements for 2025.
Specifically, 11 companies with Israeli owners submitted reports, five with U.S. beneficiaries, four with Swiss beneficiaries, and two each with owners from Turkey and China.
As of the end of July 2026, a total of 1,282 jewelry companies were registered in Ukraine. Thus, foreign beneficiaries are present in approximately 14% of the industry’s legal entities—this figure is based on the findings of the Experts Club analytical center and an analysis of data published by Opendatabot.
Together with sole proprietorships, there are currently 7,865 businesses operating in the country’s jewelry sector. At the same time, legal entities are showing more stable growth: their number has been increasing for five consecutive years, and in 2025, the number of new companies exceeded the number of closed ones by 54.
