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 period, rents also saw a rise of 3.0%, further extending the upward trend across the bloc. According to Eurostat, house prices rose an additional 1.2% from the first quarter, with rents climbing 0.7%. The data indicates that housing costs continued their upward trajectory throughout much of the EU during the quarter.
In the euro area, the pace of house price growth was slower than the broader EU during the second quarter. Prices increased by 4.0% year-on-year and by 1.1% compared to the previous quarter. This also marked a slowdown from the first quarter of 2026, when euro area house prices had risen by 4.6%. Overall, the EU’s annual house price growth decreased from 5.1% in the first quarter to 4.7% in the second.
Country-specific data revealed widespread annual gains, although the extent of price changes varied significantly among member states. Out of the countries with available figures, 23 experienced annual increases in house prices, while three saw declines. Portugal led the way 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.
Most EU Housing Markets Continue to See Quarterly Price Growth
Quarterly data similarly indicated widespread price increases across the majority of EU nations during April through June. In 24 member states with available data, prices rose, while only two countries experienced declines. Lithuania recorded the strongest quarterly increase at 5.0%, with Bulgaria at 4.5% and Romania at 4.4%. Hungary experienced a slight decline of 1.4%, and in France, house prices fell by 0.8% from the previous quarter.
A comparison with the 2025 annual average further confirmed continued growth in housing costs across 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 on this measure with a 14.3% increase, followed by Portugal at 14.2%, and Lithuania at 12.8%. Finland and France saw declines of 1.5% and 1.4%, respectively.
Rental Prices Rise Across All EU Member States
When comparing rents in the second quarter to the 2025 annual average, every EU country experienced an increase. Romania reported the highest rise at 41.2%, with Croatia at 22.1% and Slovenia at 10.2%. Estonia and Finland recorded the smallest increases at 0.1% each, while rents in Luxembourg grew by 1.2%. These figures illustrate the diverse movements in rental prices across different national housing markets.
Eurostat’s House Price Index measures changes in residential property prices purchased by households, including both new and existing homes. The index encompasses flats, detached houses, and terraced properties regardless of ownership history or final use. Since the first quarter of 2024, EU house prices have demonstrated a pattern of consecutive quarterly increases. The next report, covering the third quarter of 2026, is scheduled for release on January 11, 2027.