LUXEMBOURG / RankWire.AI / – European Union reports that housing prices grew by 4.7% in the second quarter of 2026 compared to the previous year. During the same period, rents increased by 3.0%, further extending their upward trend throughout the bloc. Eurostat also indicated that house prices rose 1.2% from the first quarter, with rents climbing 0.7%. These figures demonstrate a continued rise in housing costs across much of the EU during this period.
In the euro area, the growth in house prices was slower than in the broader EU during the second quarter. Prices increased by 4.0% year-on-year and by 1.1% compared to the previous quarter. The annual growth rate also decelerated from 4.6% in the first quarter of 2026 within the eurozone. Meanwhile, the EU’s annual house price increase slowed from 5.1% in the first quarter to 4.7% in the second.
Data from individual countries revealed widespread annual gains, although there were notable disparities in price movements across member states. Out of the countries with available data, 23 experienced annual house price increases while three saw declines. Portugal recorded the largest annual rise at 16.5%, 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 Growth Seen Across EU Housing Markets
Most EU countries experienced rising prices during the April-June period, with data showing increases in 24 member states and only two declines. Lithuania led the quarterly gains with a 5.0% increase, followed by Bulgaria at 4.5% and Romania at 4.4%. Hungary saw a 1.4% decrease, while house prices in France declined by 0.8% from the previous quarter.
An additional comparison with the 2025 annual average also reflected ongoing growth in housing expenses across the EU. House prices were 4.1% higher in the second quarter of 2026, with rents 2.6% increased. Bulgaria led house price growth on this measure at 14.3%, followed by Portugal at 14.2% and Lithuania at 12.8%. Finland and France, however, reported declines of 1.5% and 1.4%, respectively.
Rents Continue to Rise Across All EU Member States
Comparing the second quarter to the 2025 annual average, rent prices increased in every EU country. Romania saw the highest rise at 41.2%, with Croatia at 22.1% and Slovenia at 10.2%. Estonia and Finland experienced the smallest increases at 0.1% each, while Luxembourg’s rents rose by 1.2%. These figures illustrate the varied movement of rental costs across different national housing markets.
Eurostat employs the House Price Index to monitor changes in residential property prices bought by households, including both new and existing homes. The index encompasses flats, detached houses, and terraced properties, regardless of previous ownership or intended use. Since the first quarter of 2024, EU house prices have shown consecutive quarterly increases. The upcoming release, covering the third quarter of 2026, is scheduled for January 11, 2027.