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. During the same timeframe, rents went up by 3.0%, extending their upward trajectory across the bloc. Eurostat indicated that house prices also grew by 1.2% from the first quarter, while rents saw a 0.7% rise. These numbers demonstrate that housing expenses continued to escalate throughout much of the EU during the quarter.
In the euro area, housing price growth was somewhat slower than the broader EU figures in the second quarter. The data shows a 4.0% increase from a year earlier and a 1.1% rise compared to the previous quarter. This annual growth rate also decelerated from the first quarter of 2026, when prices had risen by 4.6% in the eurozone. Overall, EU-wide annual house price growth slowed from 5.1% in the first quarter to 4.7% in the second.
Looking at individual countries, the data reflects widespread yearly gains, although the extent of price changes varied significantly across member states. Out of the countries with available data, 23 recorded annual increases in house prices, while three experienced declines. Portugal saw the highest rise at 16.5%, followed by Bulgaria with 15.5%, and Lithuania at 14.3%. Conversely, prices declined by 2.7% in Finland, 2.2% in Luxembourg, and 0.8% in France.
Expanding Quarterly Growth Evident Across EU Housing Markets
Data from the second quarter also indicates that most EU countries experienced rising home prices during April to June. Out of the countries with available data, 24 reported price increases, with only two showing declines. Lithuania led the quarterly gains at 5.0%, followed by Bulgaria at 4.5%, and Romania at 4.4%. Hungary experienced a 1.4% decrease, while house prices in France fell 0.8% from the previous quarter.
Comparisons with the 2025 annual averages also reveal ongoing rises in housing costs across the EU. House prices were 4.1% higher in the second quarter of 2026, and rents increased by 2.6%. Bulgaria again ranked highest for house price growth at 14.3%, followed by Portugal at 14.2%, and Lithuania at 12.8%. Conversely, Finland and France experienced declines of 1.5% and 1.4%, respectively.
Rents Continue to Rise Across All EU Member States
When comparing the second quarter with the 2025 annual average, rental prices rose in every EU country. Romania posted the largest increase at 41.2%, with Croatia at 22.1% and Slovenia at 10.2%. Estonia and Finland experienced the smallest increases, both at 0.1%, while rents in Luxembourg grew by 1.2%. These figures underline the diverse patterns of rental price changes among EU nations.
Eurostat’s House Price Index measures fluctuations in the cost of residential properties purchased by households, encompassing both new and existing homes. The index includes flats, detached houses, and terraced properties, regardless of ownership history or intended use. Since the first quarter of 2024, EU house prices have seen consistent quarterly growth. The upcoming report covering the third quarter of 2026 is scheduled for release on January 11, 2027.