146 stories on Mediterranean real estate. Grouped by country, sorted from newest to oldest. Last updated July 7, 2026.
Cyprus has issued significantly more building permits in the first quarter of 2026, with 2,276 projects approved compared to 1,580 in the same period last year—a 44% increase. The figures are striking…
In the first quarter of 2026, construction output on Cyprus grew by just 0.7% year-on-year—seemingly stable. Yet prices tell a different story. The construction price index surged 4.7% annually and 3%…
After declining by 1.1 per cent in 2024, the Cypriot real-estate market has resumed expansion, with residential sales rising 3.8 per cent in 2025. The recovery appears modest compared with the explosi…
Cyprus's property market stands at a crossroads. On one hand, the picture looks encouraging: transactions are flowing, construction continues unabated, and investors keep arriving. On the other, build…
Rental rates on Cyprus are rising month on month, with the price index climbing from 101.08 in December 2025 to 103.95 in May 2026. According to Eurostat data, this represents steady monthly growth wi…
The pace of house price increases on Cyprus has slowed, though this does not signal a market downturn. In the first quarter of 2026, the property price index rose 3.4% year-on-year—a marked decelerati…
Cyprus is operating a programme that enables people to purchase property through a mortgage before transitioning to a rent-to-own arrangement. While the mechanics may appear complex, the principle is…
If you believed that Portugal's golden visa or Turkey's coastline represented the only serious options for property investors, it may be time to reconsider your strategy. Cyprus has quietly emerged as…
Property sales in Cyprus surged 11.9% in the first five months of 2026, with 8043 transactions compared to 7185 a year earlier. Limassol led the charge, recording 2537 contracts—an 11.2% increase. Gre…
In Kato Polemidia, on the site of a former military base, developers have launched Zoia, a project comprising 147 apartments across four five-storey buildings. This is more than a residential complex;…
According to Eurostat data, the price index for residential building construction has risen to 118 points — 18% above 2021 levels. For context, the index stood at 90.2 in 2015, meaning prices have cli…
Kato Polemidia was long regarded as a peripheral district, marked by industrial zones and military barracks. Yet over the past several years, the neighbourhood has transformed into a major constructio…
Thousands of Cypriot residents are living in apartment blocks plagued by serious maintenance issues and poor management, warns Savvas Georgiades, vice-chairman of the Developers' Association. The coll…
The figures are striking. Over January and February 2026, Cypriot authorities approved 1,500 building permits worth €825 million. By comparison, the same period in 2025 saw just 1,008 permits valued a…
The ultra-high-net-worth have fundamentally reframed their approach to luxury real estate. What was once purely a matter of status and lifestyle has become a vehicle for capital preservation amid vola…
Construction materials on Cyprus have risen 10 per cent over the past two months, and 35 per cent over five years—a significant blow to those planning to purchase or build property on the island. Glob…
The Rocks is an ambitious development in the Governor's Beach area east of Limassol. Spanning 34,700 square metres, the scheme will comprise a luxury hotel with 126 rooms, 26 villas, 73 apartments and…
Two people died in a building collapse in Limassol—a wake-up call that cannot be ignored. According to the head of the Cyprus Developers Association, the current system for managing apartment building…
Cyprus recorded €6.5 billion in property transactions in 2025, up 8 per cent year-on-year, whilst building permits issued rose 9 per cent. On paper, a boom. Yet renters are struggling. A three-bedroom…
The fifty most expensive property transactions on Cyprus in the first quarter of 2026 totalled €197.7m over three months. Limassol and Paphos emerged as the dominant markets. Limassol accounted for 29…
Cyprus issued 789 construction permits in January, representing a 77 per cent increase compared with the same month last year. The permits were valued at €445 million, covering a total area of 346,700…
Cyprus automatically becomes a 'safe haven' for capital whenever tensions flare in the Middle East. In reality, however, the picture is far more nuanced. Yes, the island possesses genuine advantages:…
An Israeli company has secured planning permission to transform the abandoned village of Trozen, near Limassol, into a resort development. The scheme is substantial: 60 homes, a winery and camping fac…
House prices in Cyprus are rising faster than the European average, at 6 per cent annually compared with 5.5 per cent across the EU. A paradox emerges: Cypriots continue to spend less on housing than…
Cyprus's Technical Chamber has demanded a halt to certificate revocations until a comprehensive audit is completed. The underlying issue: certain local authorities failed to conduct mandatory checks o…
According to the Department of Lands and Cadastre, 1,611 transactions were completed in April, compared with 1,404 a year earlier. The upward trajectory continues: March saw an even stronger 18% incre…
Cyprus is experiencing a fundamental shift in how foreign investors approach the property market. Rather than viewing real estate purely as a financial asset, overseas buyers are increasingly relocati…
Upon entering Neocleous Tower in Cyprus, one immediately grasps that this is no ordinary project. Every detail has been meticulously considered. The architects made no compromises in any aspect—neithe…
Cyprus's housing market in 2026 continues to attract foreign buyers, with rising demand, steady investment flows and a critical shortage of supply, particularly in major urban centres. This supply con…
A tax reform came into effect on Cyprus on 1 January that directly affects property exchange schemes. The principal change concerns capital gains tax legislation. The law now includes a dedicated prov…
Tens of thousands of buyers in Cyprus have yet to receive title deeds despite having paid in full for apartments and houses. The phenomenon is known as the "stuck buyer" problem. A purchaser acquires…
Bodrum continues to command premium prices, with villas fetching 250,000–300,000 lira per square metre (approximately $6,500). Çeşme and Alaçatı remain equally expensive, exceeding 200,000 lira per sq…
The Ankara government has submitted a package of proposals to parliament that could fundamentally reshape the country's appeal to foreign investors. At the centre are a new amnesty programme for forei…
In April, the residential property price index rose 26.6% in nominal terms—an impressive-sounding figure. However, Turkey's Central Bank clarifies that in real terms, adjusted for inflation, prices fe…
Turkey's central bank has released first-quarter 2026 data showing the Commercial Property Price Index (CPPI) rising 31% in nominal terms, yet remaining flat when adjusted for inflation. On a quarterl…
A championship 18-hole golf course will open in June 2026, just 20 minutes from Dalaman airport, marking a watershed moment for the region. The first championship course in the Dalaman–Fethiye area wi…
$400,000 and a Turkish passport in your pocket. It sounds too good to be true, but this is a genuine scheme that has been operating successfully for years. Turkey offers one of the most flexible citiz…
Since the pandemic, tourists have shifted en masse from hotels to private villas and apartments. This has transformed Fethiye's rental market: demand has surged, land prices have climbed, and bookings…
Fethiye has transformed over recent decades from a fishing village into one of Turkey's most sought-after resort destinations. Located just 35 minutes from Dalaman Airport, the town has become a magne…
The majority of disputes follow a familiar pattern: a purchaser deposits funds or pays in full, yet the seller refuses to execute the transfer of ownership. The reasons vary—from incomplete constructi…
The country has begun its first wave of inspections, checking 1,500 properties against new safety standards. The drive targets primarily owners renting residential units to tourists through the popula…
Athens is introducing new regulations that give owners greater flexibility. Previously, tax debt blocked any property transactions—now the situation is changing. The Greek government is streamlining p…
Greece's tax authority (AADE) has issued new regulations for those planning to relocate to Greece or return to the country. The key provision allows relocating residents to import household goods and…
From 1 July, Greece is introducing strict restrictions on short-term rentals, prompting apartment owners in Athens and Thessaloniki to expedite permit applications and close deals before the new rules…
New-build prices in Athens continue to rise, but the pace of growth is decelerating. Buyers are increasingly turning to older homes and renovated apartments as a more affordable alternative. The reaso…
Greece's government has presented a 10-year housing strategy for 2026–2035 that includes rent caps, tax incentives for affordable mortgages, and reduced VAT on social housing construction. Most notabl…
Redevelopment has begun on a historic tobacco factory building in Piraeus, with plans to create 408 apartments across nearly 30,000 square metres. The project extends beyond residential accommodation.…
Greece's tax authority AADE has initiated a sweeping review of residential property buyers. The impetus is straightforward: property transfer tax revenues rose 14 per cent in the first quarter of 2026…
According to AirDNA analysts, average daily rates in Greece jump nearly 55% higher from June to August compared with the rest of the year. This represents the steepest seasonal price spike on the cont…
Elounda Hills on Crete has entered the final stages of regulatory approval. The development spans 950 acres with views over Mirabello Bay and the island of Spinalonga. Developer Mirum Hellas has alrea…
Data from REMAX Hellas reveals a paradox in the Greek market: demand exists, yet the supply of modern housing has virtually disappeared. Of all residential sales, only 12.3 per cent are new homes (und…
The government plans to collect municipal and regional levies directly through electricity accounts. This means utility bills will become considerably thicker, with taxes simply added to the standard…
From 1 May 2026, Greece will introduce new eviction rules that accelerate the process whilst providing tenants with a guaranteed six-month rent-free period to relocate. For property owners, the change…
Turkish capital is purchasing Greek real estate at record pace. Despite a modest decline in 2025, Turkish investment remains the primary driver of foreign capital flowing into the Greek property marke…
Greece is launching the 'I Renovate' programme in June, a state initiative for property owners seeking to modernise their homes. The scheme covers full renovations and energy efficiency improvements,…
From 2025, a state resettlement programme is in effect for the Evros region in the country's north-east. The scheme covers the municipalities of Sofli, Orestiada and Didymoteicho, where populations ar…
Small hotels with 10–30 rooms are being offered for sale in Arachova, Kalavryta, Karpenissi and Arcadia. Owners are exiting the business owing to rising costs and seasonal volatility—mountain resorts…
Greece's real-estate market is attracting the attention of global hospitality giants, who are investing in luxury residential complexes under their own brands. These are not ordinary apartments. Brand…
Greek authorities have opted against hastening liberalisation. The ban applies to central districts of the capital and is designed to address the housing crisis. Tourism has displaced local residents…
Dutch purchasers are acquiring Spanish real estate faster than any other nationality. In the first quarter of 2026, buyers from the Netherlands purchased 1,626 properties—a 5 per cent increase year-on…
The Spanish government plans to approve a new housing package in July through Royal Decree-law. The scenario sounds familiar: in March, a similar decree (8/2026) introduced a two-year extension of ren…
Analysis by Idealista reveals that the market for homes priced above €3 million is dominated by five locations: the Golden Triangle of Costa del Sol (Marbella, Estepona, Benahavís), Calvià on Mallorca…
Spanish media outlets have renewed accusations that foreign investors are displacing local residents from coastal and island properties. On the Costa del Sol, in Alicante and across the Balearic Islan…
Spain's Constitutional Court has agreed to hear a complaint from more than 50 opposition deputies against Catalonia's housing and planning law of 11/2025. The legislation extends price controls beyond…
Spain's Supreme Court has annulled the national register for short-term lettings, but a battle over reimbursement is now underway. Property owners who paid registration fees are demanding compensation…
A new CostLiving study reveals that the average British family spends £37,353 per year, whilst their Spanish counterparts spend £24,598. That represents a 52 per cent difference, or nearly £13,000 ann…
In Moraira, residents are locked in legal proceedings with local authorities over plans to build a waste-sorting facility in a residential area. Residents fear noise, lorry traffic, odours and a decli…
Last year, Barcelona's property market saw 15,960 apartments and houses sold. Growth was minimal, rising just 1% year-on-year. However, foreign buyers have set a new record, accounting for 25% of all…
Neil purchased a house near Barcelona in 2005 for €289,000 at the peak of the Spanish property boom. When the crisis struck, he relocated to Germany and, unable to sell, was forced to let the property…
The Vox party has proposed extending the residency requirement from five to ten years for foreign nationals seeking long-term residence permits. Under current EU rules, five years of continuous reside…
The first official data for 2026 reveals a cooling Spanish market, with demand from overseas buyers declining at the sharpest pace. In the first quarter, foreigners purchased 26,977 properties—a 17.6%…
House prices in Spain are rising at 7% annually whilst sales are falling by 8–11%. The apparent paradox reflects critically tight housing supply, particularly in sought-after areas. Now a fresh headwi…
Spain's real-estate market has downshifted from turbo mode, with sales in the first quarter of 2026 declining 8% compared with the same period last year. Notaries have released fresh data showing 170,…
France imposes additional taxes on second homes of up to 60 per cent, British county councils have doubled property taxes, and Wales could raise them by as much as 300 per cent. Spain, meanwhile, rema…
Spain's Supreme Court has annulled the national register for short-term lettings, prompting property owners to demand reimbursement of registration fees they have already paid. The difficulty lies in…
In May, rental prices across Spain rose by 4 per cent to a record 15.1 €/m²/month. Madrid saw a 7.8 per cent increase, Alicante 8.3 per cent, and Málaga 5.2 per cent. The pattern is straightforward: d…
German purchasers acquired 1,510 properties in Spain during the first quarter of 2026, representing a 7.2 per cent decline compared with Q1 2025. By contrast, the overall foreign investor inflow fell…
Spain is tackling its housing crisis through measures that risk confusing and deterring investors from the market. Catalonia has taken this approach to extremes. Local politicians have introduced the…
Thousands of Spaniards took to the streets of Madrid in May. Young people, teachers, professors—all unable to afford a flat. Despite economic growth, wages have failed to keep pace with rental costs.…
Spain's real-estate market is decelerating for the first time in years, with sales dropping 2.6% in the first quarter of 2026. A paradox has emerged: despite weakening demand, prices continue to rise,…
Spain is growing faster than other eurozone countries—GDP is forecast at +2.1% in 2026. Yet this masks a deeper problem: property prices are rising while supply is falling. The cause is straightforwar…
British purchases of Spanish real estate have fallen to their lowest point in years, trading nearly 40% below 2016 levels. In the first quarter of 2026, British buyers acquired just 1,691 properties i…
The saga began in July 2025 when the Spanish government launched a mandatory registration system for tourist lettings (NRA). Property owners were required to obtain a special licence number to legally…
The number of apartments listed for sale in Madrid has risen 17 per cent over the past year, whilst prices have climbed to €6,000 per square metre. A typical 80-square-metre flat now costs nearly €477…
Portugal is paying 35 per cent more than fair value for property, according to the European Commission. Prices in Portugal have surged 73 per cent over five years. Spain has also seen growth, but at a…
While Germany and France stagnate, Spain's real-estate market continues its steady ascent. According to Eurostat data for Q4 2025, prices in Spain rose 12.9% year-on-year. By comparison: France +1%, G…
Foreign purchasers completed 24,800 transactions in the first quarter of 2026, representing a 3 per cent decline compared with Q1 2025. This marks the third consecutive quarter of contraction. Followi…
Over the past two decades, average rental rates in Barcelona have risen just 1.8% in real terms. Yet after politicians introduced price controls on housing, the market has simply unravelled. The numbe…
A curious paradox has emerged in 2025. Authorities were confident that eliminating short-term tourist lettings would flood the long-term rental market with properties. The logic seemed sound. Reality…
Property purchases by non-EU foreign buyers fell 17% in 2025, despite the absence of any formal legislation. The decline stems entirely from high-profile rhetoric from Prime Minister Sánchez about "sp…
The Association of Spanish Notaries has released a fresh report on foreign property purchases in the second half of 2025, revealing a rapidly shifting landscape. Whereas American investors were confin…
An English couple, both in their fifties, decided to build a seaside villa in Tarragona before retirement. Everything appeared ideal: a reputable developer, an experienced lawyer, clear completion dat…
Builders have long paid 6% VAT on works in urban rehabilitation zones. However, the tax authority recently began demanding additional approval (ORU), threatening to impose 23% VAT retroactively. This…
From 1 July, Portugal's immigration agency AIMA has opened a new online service for applications for permanent residence. European citizens and their family members can now complete the entire process…
Parliament is preparing to reject a proposal from the Chega party to ratify a decree imposing loss of citizenship as an additional punishment for crime. The measure has already been ruled unconstituti…
The figure represents the highest increase across all 27 EU member states. By comparison, prices in the eurozone rose by just 4.7%, whilst the EU average stood at 5.1%. On a quarterly basis, Portugal…
Portugal has nearly completed processing one million migrant regularisation cases, but the final stretch is proving protracted. The specialist agency AIMA, established in mid-2024, was tasked with cle…
An analysis by idealista has revealed that in May 2026, foreign buyers were searching for property in 15 of Portugal's 20 largest cities, with their share of interest reaching double digits across the…
Despite amendments to citizenship legislation, Portugal's golden visa continues to attract foreign investors. Between January and May 2026, golden visa funds received €283 million—nearly three times t…
The government has abandoned plans for a further reduction in personal income tax in the second half of the year, citing budgetary exhaustion. February storms inflicted significant damage across the c…
Vale Paraiso Eco-Resort, a 53-hectare development on the Castelo do Bode reservoir, has stalled after attracting millions of euros from foreign investors. Conceived in 2004 but developed seriously fro…
Portugal's immigration agency, AIMA, has opened a dedicated online system for renewing residence permits. The portal is currently available only to those whose permits expire between September and Oct…
The majority are holders of golden visas (ARI), who contend that the new rules breach their rights and the expectations they held when obtaining residency status. The complaint has been filed with the…
Neighbourhoods in Portugal with a historical LGBTI+ community have become expensive property markets. The median apartment price in Lisbon's Arroios has jumped to €595,000, whilst Porto's Bonfim has r…
For the first time in two years, growth in Portuguese property prices has decelerated, falling from 18.9% to 17.8% in the first quarter of 2026. This does not signal a price fall: property continues t…
A paradox that has persisted for several years: whilst Portuguese residents criticise their country, international investors, technology companies and funds are pouring hundreds of millions of euros i…
According to idealista, unfinished projects are attracting more enquiries than completed apartments. This trend is particularly pronounced in Lisbon, Cascais, Porto and the Algarve, where housing supp…
The Bank of Portugal has published research showing that the sharpest price increases have occurred in the suburbs of Lisbon and Porto, as well as on the Setúbal Peninsula. In five municipalities—Sint…
Portugal is undergoing a subtle but significant shift in economic geography—and the implications for investors are substantial. For decades, the narrative centred on Lisbon and Porto. But the digital…
The European Commission has urged Lisbon to reconsider its municipal property tax (IMI). The objective is clear: to encourage Portuguese homeowners to sell vacant properties and stimulate the housing…
Portugal's immigration authority AIMA is drowning in thousands of cases—and if you're planning a move, this directly affects you. As of May 2026, the agency has accumulated so many pending decisions t…
Portugal is experiencing a genuine boom in the rental housing market. Comparing February–April 2026 with the same period last year, demand for apartments and houses for rent has grown more than threef…
Portuguese real estate is often more than an investment—it represents a life project. Yet many foreign owners give little thought to succession planning until it is too late. If you reside abroad whil…
Portugal's property market crisis is paradoxically acting as a catalyst for the construction sector. An acute housing shortage and growing demand for urban building renovation are prompting entreprene…
After years of chaos in its immigration system, the Portuguese government has announced tangible progress. The AIMA agency and a dedicated task force have processed more than 763,000 citizen appointme…
According to the Bank for International Settlements, this represents the third-highest result globally among 57 countries surveyed. Only North Macedonia (+20%) and Hungary (+16.8%) rank ahead. By comp…
According to data from the Bank of Portugal, foreigners accounted for 28 per cent of all residential property purchases in the country last year. This represents a stable trend: since 2019, the foreig…
Portugal is losing immigrants due to bureaucratic obstacles. Since 2024, the outflow has accelerated sharply, particularly among Brazilians—historically the country's largest immigrant community. The…
Sales and construction have commenced on Six Senses Comporta in the Alentejo region, marking the celebrated hospitality group's first venture into the Portuguese market. The project has been designed…
The government has launched a new regulated migration protocol, with results exceeding expectations. Applications are growing by 20–30 per cent monthly. In total, 8,435 applications have been submitte…
Banks valued residential properties at an average of €2,174 per square metre in April 2026, marking a new all-time high. The previous month saw prices at €2,151/m², representing a monthly increase of…
An hour's drive from Lisbon, the Troia Peninsula operates by a different logic entirely from the Algarve or Cascais. Located in the Alentejo region, Troia offers 15 kilometres of white beaches meeting…
British investment group Arrow Global, which manages over €100bn in assets, has invested €700m in Palmares in Lagos. This is far more than another luxury complex on the Algarve. It is a signal: major…
Prices for offices, shopping centres and other commercial real estate have surged 10.1 per cent in 2025, marking the highest growth rate on record. This compares with just 4.7 per cent growth in 2024.…
Americans are relocating to Portugal in large numbers, despite the administrative ordeal. The country welcomes 30 million tourists annually, with North Americans representing one of the fastest-growin…
Remote work is becoming an increasingly viable pathway to Europe, with more countries launching digital nomad visas—a trend that has moved from niche offering to mainstream in 2026. For those seeking…
Inside an ancient trullo in Apulia, temperatures can run 15 degrees Celsius lower than outside. No air conditioning required—just medieval engineering. Trulli are conical stone dwellings built in Apul…
In Italy, the IMU (Unified Municipal Tax) applies to all property owners except those with a primary residence—though there are important caveats. Introduced in 2012, the IMU covers second homes, luxu…
Owners of second homes in Italy should note that 16 June marks the deadline for the first instalment of municipal property tax (IMU). A second payment falls due in December. The tax operates selective…
After a decade of stagnation, Italy is finally moving. In 2025, residential sales rose across the country: Palermo led the way with +26%, Turin +9%, Rome +8%, Naples and Bologna +7%, and Milan +6%. Th…
Enquiries from the United States have fallen by 21.6%, accounting for the overall 5.89% decline in interest in Italian properties during 2025. Germany has also lost momentum, down 13.6%. Yet the pictu…
The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina have sparked renewed interest in the Italian Alps—but the real trend is not sport, but quality of life. Trentino-Alto Adige, the Lombard Alps, and the Ven…
The small town in Teramo province has become the region's leading destination for overseas property enquiries, accounting for 4 per cent of all real-estate searches in Abruzzo. The appeal is no accide…
Nearly 30 per cent of all foreign property enquiries in Belluno province are directed towards Tambre, a diminutive mountain village that has eclipsed even the celebrated Cortina d'Ampezzo in popularit…
Argentina's diaspora is home to 903,000 Italians, Germany to 813,000, and Switzerland to 648,000. Yet these figures represent only those officially registered as Italian citizens. The children and gra…
The region has launched the 'Residenzialità in Montagna 2024' programme, which subsidises the purchase and renovation of homes in sparsely populated communes. Authorities have allocated €2.8 million t…
Venice's population has fallen below 48,000, while Florence residents no longer recognise their city. Italy faces a mounting crisis as tourist lettings have displaced locals from the historic centres…
Florence has nearly tripled its restricted zone for short-term tourist lettings. Whereas restrictions previously applied only to the UNESCO city centre, from 20 June they will extend to nine residenti…
For those who relocated to Italy before Brexit: the carta di soggiorno is no longer merely advisable—it has become a practical necessity. The British Embassy in Rome has confirmed that this is the onl…
Relocating to Italy requires strategy rather than romance. The Local surveyed foreign residents to gather their advice. Debora from Oregon began by studying seismic activity maps and ruled out high-ri…
Until May 2025, tourist apartments were banned only within the UNESCO heritage zone, affecting 35,600 properties. The prohibition now extends to nine residential districts beyond the historic centre,…
It may sound counterintuitive, but non-residents can acquire a primary residence in Italy whilst remaining abroad and still qualify for first-time buyer tax relief. Provided you are not registered wit…
Italy's property auction market is expanding for good reason—genuine savings are available. State-owned company Invimit, which operates under the Italian Ministry of Finance, is disposing of 474 munic…
Italian real estate at auction is not a gamble but a carefully structured process. Property reaches auction for three reasons: the debtor cannot settle with creditors, a company has declared bankruptc…
Italian municipalities are aggressively disposing of abandoned buildings through symbolic pricing. The mechanism is straightforward: local authorities identify the owner of a semi-derelict property an…
The investment fund Invel has closed fundraising at €400 million—nearly a third above its original target. Including leverage, the fund's total firepower will exceed €1 billion. The focus is on Italy…
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