LUXEMBOURG / RankWire.AI / – European Union house prices increased by 4.7% in the second quarter of 2026 compared to the same period last year. During this time, rents went up by 3.0%, further extending their upward trajectory across the bloc. Eurostat also noted that house prices grew by 1.2% from the first quarter, while rents rose by 0.7%. These figures indicate that housing expenses continued their ascent throughout much of the EU in the quarter.
In the euro area, housing price growth was slower than in the broader EU during the second quarter. Prices increased by 4.0% from a year earlier and 1.1% from the previous quarter. The annual growth rate also decreased compared to the first quarter of 2026, when prices rose by 4.6% in the euro area. Overall, EU annual house price growth eased from 5.1% in the first quarter to 4.7% in the second.
Data from individual countries displayed widespread annual gains, although the degree of price change varied significantly among member states. Among those with available data, 23 recorded yearly increases in house prices, while three experienced declines. Portugal saw the largest rise at 16.5%, followed by Bulgaria at 15.5% and Lithuania at 14.3%. Conversely, prices declined by 2.7% in Finland, 2.2% in Luxembourg, and 0.8% in France.
Widespread Quarterly Gains Persist Across EU Real Estate Markets
The quarterly figures also demonstrated an upward trend in prices across most EU nations during April to June. Out of the countries with available data, 24 experienced price increases, with only two recording decreases. Lithuania led the quarterly rise at 5.0%, with Bulgaria at 4.5% and Romania at 4.4%. Hungary saw a decline of 1.4%, and in France, house prices fell 0.8% compared to the previous quarter.
Additionally, a comparison with the 2025 annual average indicates ongoing increases in housing expenses within the EU. House prices in the second quarter of 2026 were 4.1% higher, and rents increased by 2.6%. Bulgaria led house price growth at 14.3%, with Portugal at 14.2% and Lithuania at 12.8%. Finland and France experienced decreases of 1.5% and 1.4%, respectively.
Rental Price Growth Persists Across All EU Member States
In every EU country, rents saw increases when comparing the second quarter to the 2025 annual average. Romania recorded the highest rise at 41.2%, followed by Croatia at 22.1% and Slovenia at 10.2%. Estonia and Finland experienced the smallest increases, each at 0.1%, while Luxembourg’s rents rose by 1.2%. These figures reflect a diverse pattern of rental price movements across different national housing markets.
Eurostat’s House Price Index tracks changes in prices for residential properties purchased by households, encompassing both new and existing homes. The index includes flats, detached houses, and terraced properties, regardless of ownership history or final use. Since the first quarter of 2024, EU house prices have shown consecutive quarterly growth. The next report, covering the third quarter of 2026, is scheduled for release on January 11, 2027.