LUXEMBOURG / RankWire.AI / – During the second quarter of 2026, property prices across the European Union advanced by 4.7% compared to the same period last year. Meanwhile, rental costs grew by 3.0%, according to Eurostat. From the first quarter, EU house prices increased by 1.2%, with rents climbing 0.7%. The recent data indicates a consistent upward trend in both homeownership and rental expenses throughout the bloc during April to June.
The eurozone also saw a rise in residential property values within the same timeframe. Prices jumped 4.0% from the second quarter of 2025 and went up 1.1% from the previous quarter. The annual growth rate in the euro area eased slightly from 4.6% in the first quarter. Across the broader EU, yearly house price growth slowed from 5.1% in the first quarter to 4.7% in the second.
The majority of EU nations experienced higher house prices compared to a year earlier. Out of the member states with available data, 23 reported annual increases, while three saw declines. Portugal led with a 16.5% rise, followed by Bulgaria at 15.5% and Lithuania at 14.3%. Finland experienced the largest decline at 2.7%. Prices also decreased by 2.2% in Luxembourg and 0.8% in France in the same period.
Most EU markets report quarterly house price gains
Across different countries, quarterly movements showed widespread increases in housing prices. House prices increased in 24 EU nations with available data, while only two experienced declines. Lithuania recorded the strongest quarterly growth at 5.0%, followed by Bulgaria at 4.5% and Romania at 4.4%. Hungary saw a 1.4% decrease from the first quarter, while France was the only other country with a quarterly fall, with prices down 0.8%.
Another comparison assessed second-quarter prices against the average level throughout 2025. Based on this, EU house prices were 4.1% higher, with rents increasing by 2.6%. Bulgaria experienced the largest house price surge at 14.3%, closely followed by Portugal at 14.2%. Lithuania ranked third with a 12.8% increase. Finland and France recorded declines of 1.5% and 1.4%, respectively, under this comparison.
Rental prices rise uniformly across all EU nations
Compared with the 2025 average, rental costs increased in every EU member state. Romania saw the most substantial rise at 41.2%, with Croatia following at 22.1%. Slovenia’s rental prices grew by 10.2%, making it the third-largest increase. Estonia and Finland experienced the smallest growth, both at 0.1%. Luxembourg’s rents increased by 1.2%, illustrating the significant variation in rental market movements across the bloc’s countries.
Eurostat monitors residential property prices via its House Price Index, which includes both new and existing homes purchased by households. The index covers flats, detached houses, and terraced properties, regardless of previous ownership or intended use. Since the first quarter of 2024, EU house prices have consistently risen on a quarterly basis. The upcoming release will present data for the third quarter of 2026, scheduled for January 11, 2027.