LUXEMBOURG / RankWire.AI / – European Union house prices experienced a 4.7% increase in the second quarter of 2026 compared to the same period last year. Rents also saw a 3.0% rise, maintaining their upward trajectory across the bloc. Eurostat indicated that house prices grew by 1.2% from the first quarter, while rents increased by 0.7%. The latest figures demonstrate ongoing growth in housing expenses throughout much of the EU during this period.
In the euro area, house price expansion was more subdued than the broader EU trend during the second quarter. Year-over-year, prices went up by 4.0%, and quarter-over-quarter, they increased by 1.1%. The annual growth rate also slowed from the first quarter of 2026, when prices in the eurozone climbed 4.6%. Similarly, EU-wide annual house price growth decelerated from 5.1% in the first quarter to 4.7% in the second.
Data from individual countries revealed widespread annual gains, although the magnitude of price changes varied significantly across member states. Out of the nations with available data, 23 recorded increases in annual house prices, while three experienced declines. Portugal led the growth with a 16.5% rise, followed by Bulgaria 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 Price Growth Persisted in EU Housing Markets
During the April-to-June period, most EU countries saw rising housing prices according to quarterly data. Out of the member states with available information, 24 experienced price increases, while only two saw declines. Lithuania recorded the highest quarterly gain at 5.0%, with Bulgaria close behind at 4.5%, and Romania at 4.4%. Hungary’s housing market shrank by 1.4%, and house prices in France dropped 0.8% from the previous quarter.
A comparison with the 2025 annual averages confirmed that housing costs continued to climb across the EU. In the second quarter of 2026, house prices were 4.1% higher, with rents up by 2.6%. Bulgaria led on this metric with a 14.3% increase in house prices, followed by Portugal at 14.2%, and Lithuania at 12.8%. Finland and France, however, recorded declines of 1.5% and 1.4%, respectively.
All EU Member States Witness Rent Price Hikes in Q2 2026
When comparing the second quarter to the 2025 annual average, rent prices rose across every EU country. Romania experienced the largest jump at 41.2%, with Croatia at 22.1%, and Slovenia at 10.2%. Estonia and Finland saw the smallest increases, both at 0.1%, while Luxembourg’s rents increased by 1.2%. These figures highlight the variation in rental market trends across the EU.
Eurostat’s House Price Index tracks changes in residential property values purchased by households, including both new and existing homes. The index encompasses flats, detached, and terraced houses, regardless of previous ownership or intended use. Since the first quarter of 2024, EU house prices have recorded consecutive quarterly gains. The upcoming release, covering the third quarter of 2026, is scheduled for January 11, 2027.