LUXEMBOURG / RankWire.AI / – According to Eurostat, the European Union experienced a 4.7% rise in house prices during the second quarter of 2026 compared to the same period last year. Over the same timeframe, rental rates went up by 3.0%, as reported by Eurostat. When comparing to the first quarter, the EU saw a 1.2% increase in home prices and a 0.7% growth in rents. These figures indicate a continued upward trend in both homeownership costs and rental expenses across the bloc from April to June.
Residential property prices within the euro area also saw gains in the same quarter. The data shows a 4.0% increase from the second quarter of 2025, with a 1.1% rise from the previous quarter. The annual growth rate in the eurozone slowed slightly, decreasing from 4.6% in the first quarter. Similarly, the broader EU experienced a slowdown, with annual house price growth dropping from 5.1% in the first quarter to 4.7% in the second.
Most countries within the EU reported higher house prices compared to the previous year. Of the nations with available data, 23 recorded annual increases while three experienced declines. Portugal led the pack with a 16.5% rise, followed by Bulgaria at 15.5% and Lithuania at 14.3%. Finland experienced the largest decrease at 2.7%. Additionally, prices fell 2.2% in Luxembourg and 0.8% in France during the same annual comparison.
Quarterly House Price Trends Show Widespread Gains in EU Markets
Across different nations, quarterly data also pointed to broad increases in housing costs. House prices rose in 24 EU countries with data available, with only two showing declines. Lithuania experienced the highest quarterly rise at 5.0%, followed by Bulgaria at 4.5% and Romania at 4.4%. Hungary saw a 1.4% drop from the first quarter. France was the only other country with a quarter-on-quarter decrease, with prices down 0.8%.
Another comparison examined second-quarter prices against the average level recorded throughout 2025. Based on that, EU house prices increased by 4.1%, and rents grew by 2.6%. Bulgaria recorded the most significant house price increase at 14.3%, with Portugal close behind at 14.2%. Lithuania had a 12.8% rise, while Finland and France saw declines of 1.5% and 1.4%, respectively, under this same comparison.
Rental Costs Are Rising Across All Member States
When compared to the 2025 annual average, rental prices increased in every EU member state. Romania experienced the largest surge at 41.2%, with Croatia at 22.1%, and Slovenia at 10.2%. Estonia and Finland recorded the smallest increases, both at 0.1%. Meanwhile, rents in Luxembourg increased by 1.2%, illustrating the significant variation in rental cost movements across the bloc’s housing markets.
Eurostat’s House Price Index tracks residential property values, encompassing both new and existing homes bought by households. The index includes flats, detached houses, and terraced properties, regardless of previous ownership or intended use. Since the first quarter of 2024, EU house prices have consistently shown quarterly increases. The next update is scheduled for January 11, 2027, to cover the third quarter of 2026.