LUXEMBOURG / RankWire.AI / – European Union house prices increased by 4.7% during the second quarter of 2026 compared to the same period last year. Over the same timeframe, rental costs grew by 3.0%, further extending their upward trend across the bloc. Eurostat indicated that house prices also saw a 1.2% rise from the first quarter, while rents increased by 0.7%. These statistics demonstrate that housing expenses continued to climb throughout much of the EU during this period.
In the euro area, the pace of house price growth lagged behind that of the broader EU during the second quarter. Prices grew by 4.0% year-over-year and by 1.1% compared to the previous quarter. The annual increase 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.
Data from individual countries revealed widespread annual gains, although the movements varied significantly among member states. Among nations with available data, 23 experienced increases in annual house prices, while three reported declines. Portugal experienced the most notable rise at 16.5%, followed by Bulgaria at 15.5% and Lithuania at 14.3%. Conversely, prices declined by 2.7% in Finland, 2.2% in Luxembourg, and 0.8% in France.
Widespread quarterly growth persists across EU housing markets
The quarterly figures also demonstrated a general trend of rising prices in most EU countries during April through June. Out of the countries with available data, 24 reported price increases, with only two experiencing declines. Lithuania saw the strongest quarterly increase at 5.0%, followed by Bulgaria at 4.5% and Romania at 4.4%. Hungary faced a 1.4% decrease, while house prices in France fell by 0.8% from the previous quarter.
Comparisons with the 2025 annual averages also indicate ongoing increases in housing costs across the EU. During the second quarter of 2026, house prices were 4.1% higher, and rents rose by 2.6%. Bulgaria led house price growth on this basis at 14.3%, followed by Portugal at 14.2% and Lithuania at 12.8%. Finland and France recorded declines of 1.5% and 1.4%, respectively.
Rental price growth remains consistent across all EU member states
When comparing the second quarter to the 2025 annual average, rents increased in every EU country. Romania experienced the largest rise at 41.2%, with Croatia at 22.1% and Slovenia at 10.2% following. Estonia and Finland had the smallest increases at 0.1% each, while Luxembourg saw a 1.2% rise. These figures underscore the diverse trends in rental prices across different national housing markets.
Eurostat’s House Price Index monitors price shifts for residential properties purchased by households, encompassing new and existing homes. It includes flats, detached houses, and terraced properties, regardless of previous ownership or intended use. Since the first quarter of 2024, EU house prices have experienced consecutive quarterly increases. The next release, covering Q3 2026, is scheduled for January 11, 2027.