LUXEMBOURG / RankWire.AI / – European Union house prices increased by 4.7% in the second quarter of 2026 compared to the same period last year. Rents also grew by 3.0% during this period, maintaining their upward momentum across the bloc. Eurostat indicated that house prices saw a 1.2% rise from the first quarter, while rents went up by 0.7%. These statistics demonstrate that housing costs continued to escalate throughout much of the EU in the second quarter.
In the euro area, house price growth was slower than in the broader EU during the second quarter. Prices increased by 4.0% from a year earlier and by 1.1% compared to the previous quarter. The annual growth rate also slowed from 4.6% in the first quarter of 2026. Overall, EU-wide annual house price growth dipped from 5.1% in the first quarter to 4.7% in the second.
Data from individual countries revealed widespread annual gains, though price movements varied significantly among member states. Out of the countries with available data, 23 experienced increases in annual house prices, while three showed declines. Portugal saw the most substantial rise at 16.5%, with Bulgaria close behind at 15.5%, and Lithuania at 14.3%. Conversely, prices fell by 2.7% in Finland, 2.2% in Luxembourg, and 0.8% in France.
Widespread Quarterly Growth Evident Across EU Housing Markets
Quarterly figures also demonstrated rising property values in most EU nations during April to June. Out of countries with available data, 24 recorded price increases, while only two experienced declines. Lithuania posted the strongest quarterly growth at 5.0%, followed by Bulgaria at 4.5% and Romania at 4.4%. Hungary saw a 1.4% decrease, and in France, house prices declined by 0.8% compared to the previous quarter.
Additionally, comparing with the 2025 annual averages, housing costs continued their upward trajectory. House prices in the second quarter of 2026 were 4.1% higher than the same period last year, with rents increasing by 2.6%. Bulgaria led in house price growth on this basis at 14.3%, followed by Portugal at 14.2%, and Lithuania at 12.8%. Finland and France experienced declines of 1.5% and 1.4%, respectively.
Rents Show Growth Across All EU Member States in Q2
When comparing the second quarter with the 2025 annual average, rent prices rose in every EU country. Romania posted the highest increase at 41.2%, with Croatia at 22.1% and Slovenia at 10.2%. Estonia and Finland recorded minimal growth, each at 0.1%, whereas rents in Luxembourg increased by 1.2%. These figures underscore the diverse movement in rental costs across different national housing markets.
Eurostat’s House Price Index tracks changes in residential property prices bought by households, including both new and existing dwellings. It encompasses flats, detached houses, and terraced properties regardless of previous ownership or intended use. The EU has experienced consecutive quarterly increases in house prices since the first quarter of 2024. The upcoming release, which will cover the third quarter of 2026, is scheduled for January 11, 2027.