LUXEMBOURG / RankWire.AI / – During the second quarter of 2026, house prices across the European Union increased by 4.7% compared to the same period last year. Over the same timeframe, rents went up by 3.0%, according to Eurostat. When comparing to the first quarter, EU home prices saw a 1.2% rise, while rents experienced a 0.7% increase. The latest data reveals a continued upward trend in both ownership and rental expenses across the bloc during April through June.
Residential property prices also climbed within the euro area during this quarter. From the second quarter of 2025, house prices rose by 4.0%, and they increased by 1.1% from the previous quarter. The annual growth rate in the euro area softened from 4.6% in the first quarter. In the broader EU, annual house price growth slowed from 5.1% in the first quarter to 4.7% in the second quarter, reflecting a slight deceleration.
Most EU nations reported higher house prices compared to the previous year. Out of the member states with available data, 23 experienced annual increases, while three saw declines. Portugal led the rise with a 16.5% increase, followed by Bulgaria at 15.5% and Lithuania at 14.3%. Finland recorded the largest drop at 2.7%, and prices also fell in Luxembourg by 2.2% and in France by 0.8% during the same period.
Majority of EU markets see quarterly house price increases
Across countries, quarterly movements displayed widespread price gains in national housing markets. House prices increased in 24 EU nations with available data and declined in only two. Lithuania experienced the strongest quarterly growth at 5.0%, with 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 decline, with prices down 0.8%.
Another comparison assessed second-quarter prices against the average level recorded throughout 2025. Based on this, EU house prices were 4.1% higher, and rents grew by 2.6%. Bulgaria led in house price increases at 14.3%, closely followed by Portugal with 14.2%. Lithuania’s prices grew by 12.8%, whereas Finland and France recorded declines of 1.5% and 1.4%, respectively, on this basis.
Rental expenses rise universally among member states
Rental costs increased in every EU country when compared to the 2025 annual average. Romania experienced the most significant rise at 41.2%, with Croatia following at 22.1%, and Slovenia at 10.2%. Estonia and Finland saw the smallest gains, both at 0.1%. Rents in Luxembourg went up by 1.2%, illustrating the considerable variation in rental price dynamics across the bloc’s national housing markets.
Eurostat monitors residential property prices through its House Price Index, which includes both new and existing homes bought 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 recorded quarterly growth. The next release, scheduled for January 11, 2027, will present data for the third quarter of 2026.