LUXEMBOURG / RankWire.AI / – European Union property prices increased by 4.7% in the second quarter of 2026 compared to the previous year. Rents grew by 3.0% over the same period, sustaining their upward trajectory across member states. Eurostat noted that house prices also saw a 1.2% rise from the first quarter, with rents climbing 0.7%. These figures indicate that housing costs continued their rise throughout much of the EU during the quarter.
In the euro area, growth in house prices was slightly slower than the broader EU. Prices increased by 4.0% year-over-year and 1.1% from the previous quarter. The annual growth rate decelerated from 4.6% in the first quarter of 2026, when euro area prices had risen by that amount. Meanwhile, the EU’s overall annual house price growth eased from 5.1% in the first quarter to 4.7% in the second.
Data from individual countries revealed widespread annual increases, though the magnitude of price changes varied significantly across nations. Out of the countries with available data, 23 experienced yearly house price growth, while three saw declines. Portugal recorded the highest increase at 16.5%, followed by Bulgaria at 15.5% and Lithuania at 14.3%. Conversely, prices declined in Finland by 2.7%, in Luxembourg by 2.2%, and in France by 0.8%.
Broad-based quarterly growth persists across the EU housing sector
During the April to June period, most EU countries saw rising property prices. Out of the available data, 24 member states experienced price increases, with only two recording decreases. Lithuania led quarterly gains at 5.0%, followed by Bulgaria at 4.5% and Romania at 4.4%. Hungary saw a slight decline of 1.4%, and house prices in France fell 0.8% from the previous quarter.
Additionally, comparing the second quarter of 2026 to the 2025 annual averages confirms ongoing increases in housing expenses across the EU. House prices in the second quarter were 4.1% higher, and rents rose by 2.6%. Bulgaria led house price growth on this basis at 14.3%, with Portugal close behind at 14.2%, and Lithuania at 12.8%. Finland and France experienced declines of 1.5% and 1.4%, respectively.
Rents continue to climb across all EU member states
When comparing the second quarter to the 2025 annual average, rent prices increased in every EU country. Romania saw the largest jump at 41.2%, followed by Croatia at 22.1% and Slovenia at 10.2%. Estonia and Finland registered the smallest increases, each at 0.1%, while Luxembourg’s rents grew by 1.2%. These figures illustrate the diverse movements in rental costs across national housing markets.
Eurostat’s House Price Index measures changes in residential property prices bought by households, including new and existing homes. It encompasses flats, detached, and terraced houses, regardless of ownership history or final use. Since the first quarter of 2024, EU house prices have experienced consecutive quarterly increases. The next report, covering the third quarter of 2026, is scheduled for release on January 11, 2027.