Housing prices are rising again in the EU, and sales have increased in most countries in 2025
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Housing prices in the European Union increased by 5.1% in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025, while rents rose by 3.0%, according to Eurostat. In 2025, housing sales increased in most EU countries for which data is available, after a period in which interest rates, inflation, and construction costs pressured the European real estate market.
Housing prices rose again in the European Union at the beginning of 2026, while housing sales increased in most member states for which data is available. Eurostat shows that, in the first quarter of 2026, the prices of houses and apartments were 5.1% higher in the EU and 4.7% higher in the euro area compared to the same period in 2025.
In short
1. Housing prices increased by 5.1% in the EU and by 4.7% in the euro area in Q1 2026 compared to Q1 2025.
2. Rents increased by 3.0% in the EU in the same period.
3. Compared to the previous quarter, housing prices increased by 1.2%, while rents increased by 0.7%.
4. In 2025, housing sales increased in 15 of the 18 EU countries for which data is available.
5. The largest increases in sales in 2025 were in Slovenia, Lithuania, and Austria.
Eurostat data shows that the European real estate market has returned to growth after the correction in 2023. Housing prices decreased for several quarters after the peak in 2022, then began to rise again in 2024. In the first quarter of 2026, the annual growth remained strong: 5.1% in the EU and 4.7% in the euro area.
Compared to the fourth quarter of 2025, housing prices increased by 1.2% in the EU. Rents increased by 0.7% compared to the previous quarter and by 3.0% compared to the first quarter of 2025. The evolution confirms the difference in pace between the two markets: rents are increasing more steadily, while housing prices have had larger fluctuations in recent years.
In the first quarter of 2026, housing prices increased annually in 25 member states for which data is available and decreased in only one state. The only annual decrease was in Finland, down 2.0%. The largest increases were in Portugal, up 17.8%, Bulgaria, up 14.8%, and Slovakia, up 14.4%.
Compared to the previous quarter, prices decreased in four countries: Belgium and Finland, both down 0.8%, France, down 0.6%, and Hungary, down 0.5%. The largest quarterly increases were in Bulgaria, up 6.2%, Portugal, up 3.8%, and Slovakia, up 3.6%.
Eurostat also shows that, in 2025, houses were traded more in most countries for which data is available. Housing sales increased in 15 of the 18 member states covered by the available data and decreased in three. The decreases were in Croatia, down 4.1%, Bulgaria, down 2.5%, and Poland, down 1.1%.
The largest increases in the number of houses traded in 2025 were in Slovenia, up 29.9%, Lithuania, up 22.8%, and Austria, up 21.4%. Transaction data is voluntarily provided by member states and covers sales of new and existing houses, apartments, and homes when the buyer is a household.
The increase in sales comes after a mixed 2024. In that year, compared to 2023, the number of houses traded decreased in six countries and increased in 12. The largest decreases in 2024 were in Slovenia, Croatia, and France, while the largest increases were in Luxembourg, Hungary, and the Netherlands.
In the long term, the difference between housing prices and rents is much larger. Eurostat shows that, between 2010 and 2024, housing prices increased by 53% in the EU, while rents increased by 25%. During the same period, total inflation was 39%.
Housing became more expensive between 2010 and 2024 in all member states except Italy and Cyprus. The largest increases were in Hungary, up 231%, Estonia, up 228%, and Lithuania, up 179%. Rents increased in all member states except Greece, where they decreased by 16%.
The cost of living remains very different between states. In 2024, households in the EU spent an average of 19% of their disposable income on housing. In Greece, the share was 36%, the highest in the EU, followed by Denmark, 26%, and Sweden and Germany, both 25%. Cyprus had the lowest share, 11%.
For individuals with incomes below 60% of the national median, housing weighs much more heavily in the budget. On average, at the EU level, this category spent 37% of their disposable income on housing, compared to 16% for those above the 60% national median threshold.
Almost 10% of the urban population in the EU lived in 2024 in households where housing costs exceeded 40% of disposable income. In rural areas, the rate was 6%. The highest rates of housing cost overburdening in cities were in Greece, 29%, and Denmark, 23%.
Eurostat shows that 9% of people in the EU lived in households with mortgage, rent, or utility arrears in 2024. Greece had the highest share, 43%, followed by Bulgaria, 19%, and Romania, 15%. The lowest shares were in the Czech Republic, 3%, and in the Netherlands and Poland, both 4%.
The housing situation is not limited to prices. In 2024, 68% of people living in households in the EU lived in a home owned by the household, while 32% lived in rented housing. Romania had the highest ownership rate, 94%, followed by Slovakia, 93%, Hungary, 92%, and Croatia, 91%. Germany was the only EU country where renters were in the majority, 53%.
The quality of housing remains unequal. In 2024, 17% of the EU population lived in overcrowded housing, down from 19% in 2010. The highest rates were in Romania, 41%, Latvia, 39%, and Bulgaria, 34%. Conversely, Cyprus had 2%, Malta 4%, and the Netherlands 5%.
In the same year, 9% of the EU population could not adequately heat their home. The highest shares were in Bulgaria and Greece, both 19%, followed by Lithuania and Spain, both 18%. Finland, Slovenia, and Poland had the lowest shares, below 3%.
Eurostat data outlines a real estate market where prices are rising again, rents continue to climb, and transactions have recovered in several countries. For households, the pressure remains linked not only to the purchase price but also to rents, utilities, arrears, and the share of housing in disposable income.
The indicators cover new and existing homes purchased by households, and transaction statistics are voluntarily reported by member states.
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