Court cases involving the Portuguese Migration Agency (AIMA) will no longer be handled exclusively in Lisbon.
Instead of creating separate courts, specialized sections in existing courts will be introduced.
Read →Topic desk
Property laws
Latest Mediterranean property laws news and analysis. 127 MedRealty stories.
In Cypriot law, the renunciation of inheritance and the gift are different legal procedures.
If the purpose is to transfer the property to a specific person, the heir must first accept the inheritance, and then issue a gift through the land office.
Read →Spain's parliament has rejected two emergency housing decrees that were in effect for less than a day.
The Bank of Spain estimated the housing shortage between 2021 and 2025 at 700,000 to 750,000 units.
Read →Italian residents are subject to all world income, including payments from pensions and savings plans.
However, not all foreign accounts are taxed automatically.
Read →Buying property on Lake Como, Garda and Maggiore requires careful preparation.
It is important to conduct a preliminary legal review and issue financing before choosing the object, not after.
Read →Buying property in Sardinia requires attention to specific restrictions.
Italian law establishes a protected coastal strip with a width of 300 meters, where construction of new facilities is prohibited. Regional planning rules divide the territory into…
Read →Buying a second property in Italy requires a clear understanding of tax status.
In Italian law, the status of a holiday home (casa vacanza) is assigned to an object that is not the main residence of the owner. This definition is based on the official…
Read →Buying property in Sicily is subject to the same legal regulations as in the rest of Italy.
Inland cities often offer affordable options costing less than €100,000.
Read →Brussels is considering measures that could limit Spain's second-hand housing market.
The Affordable Housing proposal will create a general mechanism to intervene in problem areas, including restrictions for second homes in popular areas such as the Balearic Islands…
Read →Buying real estate in Italy is possible without personal presence at most stages.
If you cannot come, a power of attorney (procura notarile) allows the representative to sign the deal.
Read →Buyers of real estate in Italy can require that the balance of the transaction amount be kept by a notary.
The deposit for the preliminary contract usually goes directly to the seller.
Read →Section 90 of the Town Planning Act allows you to apply for a permit without the consent of all co-owners, if the…
After the reform, powers were transferred to district authorities (EOA), but prior to the issuance of a permit, coordination with the director of the Urban Development Department…
Read →A notary in Italy is a neutral person representing the transaction and not the interests of the buyer.
The lawyer acts solely on the side of the buyer.
Read →Property inheritance in Greece requires verification of documents.
Families must confirm the exact composition of the inheritance before repair or sale.
Read →The Athens court banned the rent of apartments in a residential building for short-term tourist tours.
The company, which rented the apartment in the summer 2025 year, must immediately stop commercial lease.
Read →An Athens court has banned short-term rentals in a residential building.
The court pointed out that the rules of the house require only residential use.
Read →The rules for installing air conditioners in Italy depend on the type of property.
Installation must be carried out only by licensed professionals from January 2019.
Read →The division of property in participation is possible without the consent of all owners.
In the absence of agreement on the choice of a specific site, the distribution is carried out by drawing lots.
Read →The short-term rental sector in Spain is preparing claims for compensation to almost €500,000,000 following the repeal…
The Tourist Housing Federation (Fevitur) estimates the loss of property owners in €496,000,000. On average, each owner suffered losses around €33,000 due to lost profits and the…
Read →The court of first instance of Athens in the decision No 2937/2026 forbade the owner of the company to use an apartment…
The violation will result in a 1000 EUR fine for each violation. The court found that the work in the Airbnb format disturbed the peace of neighbors and affected the operation of…
Read →The government of the Balearic Islands has ruled out the introduction of restrictions for buyers of secondary housing.
President Marga Proence called the idea untenable. The national PP party supports the region's position, arguing that the housing shortage should be addressed through construction…
Read →Greece simplifies the transfer of old industrial and commercial buildings to residential apartments.
Conversion is limited to the current volume of the building: adding floors or expanding the area is prohibited.
Read →More than €105 million is pouring into social housing in the Algarve.
Lisbon is not yet involved, but the region is actively funding affordable housing from the European Regional Development Fund.
Read →Istanbul, Antalya or Portugal – is it more profitable to invest?
The money does not go to the treasury of the city, but directly to wine farmers.
Read →From October 3, Catalonia will have to obtain another document when selling or renting real estate: a certificate of…
The new law requires the absence of hazardous material in all housing and commercial transactions.
Read →In the Ribeira district of Porto, life is always boiling on the banks of the Douro River.
The main attraction is the bridge Dom Luis I.
Read →Report links George Clooney to a Lisbon penthouse
A report says George Clooney bought a penthouse in Lisbon's Infinity Tower for €5.5 million, but the ownership claim remains unconfirmed.
Read →By the end of the year, new parking regulations will be in place in Porto.
The current situation is changing: priority will be given to homeowners, and guest areas will be reduced.
Read →Istanbul scares away, and the Portuguese Algarve is turned into the "California of Europe"?
Apartment areas range from 465 to 557 square meters, each plot has its own swimming pool.
Read →More than half of Portugal’s municipalities have come under new housing pressures.
The European Commission in Brussels has created a special mechanism to combat the crisis in the real estate sector.
Read →The EU may ban the British from buying second homes.
Citizens of the UK and other non-EU member states will be at risk.
Read →The EES system was due to go into effect on September 6, but Portugal and eight other countries decided to postpone the…
Flight companies, including Ryanair, had to ask for an extension of the grace period.
Read →Istanbul or Fareh?
The transfer of the commercial berth to the municipality will allow to launch a comprehensive project: a river port for 500 yachts, scientific housing and a tourist cluster.
Read →Price in ads is just the beginning.
The largest expenses are expected when buying from private individuals: the registration tax is 9%, plus 50 euros for a mortgage and cadastre.
Read →Ibiza imposes major penalty over unlicensed tourist rental
Authorities in Ibiza have imposed an initial fine of €793,000 on the owner of a house used as tourist accommodation without a licence.
Read →The European Commission intends to give cities the right to limit the short-term rental of housing.
Now tourism and rent are inflating prices, pushing people out of the centers of popular resorts.
Read →Greek hoteliers are demanding a government VAT discount of up to 6.5% and tighter controls on short-term rentals.
The Federation of Greek Hoteliers (HHF) has sent Premier Kyriak Mitsotakis a five-point letter.
Read →A property auction in Greece starts at a symbolic €1,000, but may end at €1.247.000.
The Tax Service (AADE) announced the autumn bidding for long-debtors.
Read →Greece imposes strict regulations on hotels and Airbnb.
In congested areas where the pressure is maximum, the construction of new hotels is now only possible on sites of at least 16 acres.
Read →Artificial intelligence invented non-existent laws in Italy.
Authorities often don't know the answers better than a bot.
Read →House prices in the EU have risen by 60% and rents have risen by 20% over the past decade.
The European Commission is preparing a law: the city authorities will be able to limit short-term rentals in areas with a shortage of housing.
Read →The three-hour queue at passport control in Rome and Milan is not a myth.
Italy is asking the European Commission to extend the exemptions, with Brussels promising aid by the end of the year.
Read →U.S.
EU rules require local branches to be opened, but many US financial giants find customer service in Italy too expensive for a tiny share of the business.
Read →From September 1, Portugal will change the rules for stateless people.
Applications are submitted free of charge and are treated as an urgent matter for six months to nine months.
Read →Portuguese President Antonio Jose Šegra has signed a new law on migration.
Key changes concern the expulsion of parents of Portuguese citizens and the detention of children.
Read →Algarve nursery plans night and weekend childcare
AIPAR is building the Salta-Pocinhas nursery in Conceição de Faro, with plans to welcome children in 2027.
Read →Parking of electric scooters can block access to wheelchairs and a stalker.
The city council has decided to start developing new rules for micromobility.
Read →€480 a year of savings is the real effect of expanding travel in Portugal.
The Ministry of Infrastructure confirmed the details of the European Mobility Weekly.
Read →More than 80 municipalities in Portugal are now under the red flag: the risk of wildfires is at its highest.
The Ocean and Atmospheric Institute assesses hazards in five levels from low to maximum.
Read →Italy turned the earthquake zone into the largest construction site in Europe.
The climate also dictates its conditions: the heat caused electricity demand to rise by 10%, and tariffs rose by almost 19%.
Read →Portugal's Golden Visa no longer accepts property purchases
Buying property has not qualified as an investment route for Portugal's Golden Visa since 2023.
Read →Slower property sales do not solve Portugal's housing affordability problem
Portugal's property market is becoming more selective, with buyers taking longer to compare options and the pace of transactions slowing.
Read →The Court markets apartments in Carvoeiro
The Court development in Carvoeiro, Algarve, is marketed as a 104-apartment project with studios, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units.
Read →Banks from the UK and the US will soon stop serving customers in Italy.
Many foreigners keep accounts in their home country for taxes, property rentals or pension payments.
Read →Italy has allowed citizenship to be restored to those who lost it to a foreign-born parent.
Italy's Supreme Court ruled that children of dual citizens do not lose Italian citizenship, even if the parent later became a foreigner.
Read →There is a gallery in the Algarve where prices are below 65 euros and art is more important than sales.
Instead of pathetic exhibitions, there is a living life of artists: one of the galleries works as a workshop with a sunny courtyard, and the owner hides a huge repository with…
Read →Passengers on trains and planes in Italy have been bracing for new challenges since early September.
Mass strikes will resume when the summer ban on the protest, which was in effect until the 5th, ends.
Read →A surprising trend is taking hold of Portugal’s property market, with today’s buyers looking for energy-efficient homes…
A technical document (Energy Category) is mandatory for the sale or rental of housing.
Read →In the Portuguese heat, they fell asleep under hurricanes, and now apartment owners are forced to apply for one…
“If one house has 100 apartments, it will cost hundreds of insurance,” he says.
Read →A beautiful story about the return of an old Algaz luxury hotel!
Court buildings are now used as guest rooms or buffet rooms, and the isotope cabinet is reclassified as a reading area.
Read →Alenteo continues to cement its status as one of Portugal’s premium housing markets, attracting wealthy buyers from…
Active development is maintained thanks to limited stock, strict planning regulations and sustained international interest.
Read →Portugal's golden visa is closed, but money from the Persian Gulf is pouring more than before.
Three years ago, the Portuguese government rewrote residency by investment rules.
Read →90% of Catalonia’s population lives in rent-controlled zones – and this is just the beginning of a war between…
The regional government is preparing a new law that will allow municipalities to prohibit the purchase of apartments not for personal residence.
Read →Buying a home in Italy can save you 7,000 euros – and that’s just the beginning.
We are talking about agevolazioni prima casa, a tax deduction for the first home.
Read →Taxes on buying property in Italy eat up 10-15% of the price - but there's a way to save half.
It all depends on who's selling.
Read →A pre-contract in Italy is not just a piece of paper, but a legally binding document that can cost you money if you…
When you buy a property in Italy, there is an intermediate stage between the offer to buy and the final notarial deed – the so-called compromesso.
Read →EU sues 17 countries for failing to comply with new single work permit law
The European Commission requires Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, France, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia…
Read →Cyprus court confirms: outstanding service charges cannot block property transfer
Debts for common building expenses accumulate over years on Cyprus, but this will not prevent you from obtaining ownership rights to a property.
Read →Portugal tightens foreign investment screening ahead of EU-wide rules
Portugal is preparing for new foreign investment controls that will directly affect those planning to invest in property and business in the country.
Read →Italy considers stripping citizenship from naturalised citizens over minor offences
Parliament is debating two bills that would allow the state to revoke citizenship from naturalised Italians convicted of serious crimes—murder, human trafficking, sexual violence.
Read →Portugal scraps rental price ceiling in sweeping market reform
The government has enacted a major overhaul of the rental market.
Read →Alentejo emerges as Europe's answer to the Hamptons
The region, two hours from Lisbon, has transformed from quiet rural backwater into a magnet for international investors.
Read →Nearly half of American buyers of Portugal's golden visa cite risk diversification as their motive
Nearly half of Americans purchasing Portugal's golden visa describe themselves as investors diversifying their risk exposure.
Read →Greece launches mass inspections of Airbnb properties with fines up to €20,000 for breaches
The country has begun its first wave of inspections, checking 1,500 properties against new safety standards.
Read →Greece relaxes rules allowing property sales despite tax arrears
Athens is introducing new regulations that give owners greater flexibility.
Read →Spain prepares third housing law overhaul in months via emergency decree
The Spanish government plans to approve a new housing package in July through Royal Decree-law.
Read →Portugal set to reject citizenship revocation law despite parliamentary backing
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.
Read →30,000 cases remain stuck in Portuguese immigration system
Portugal has nearly completed processing one million migrant regularisation cases, but the final stretch is proving protracted.
Read →Portuguese golden visa investments triple outflows despite citizenship law changes
Despite amendments to citizenship legislation, Portugal's golden visa continues to attract foreign investors.
Read →Portugal suspends tax relief programme for 2026 as budget constraints bite
The government has abandoned plans for a further reduction in personal income tax in the second half of the year, citing budgetary exhaustion.
Read →Portuguese eco-resort project frozen as authorities tighten planning rules
Vale Paraiso Eco-Resort, a 53-hectare development on the Castelo do Bode reservoir, has stalled after attracting millions of euros from foreign investors.
Read →Invel investment fund closes €400m fundraising, exceeding target by nearly a third
The investment fund Invel has closed fundraising at €400 million—nearly a third above its original target.
Read →Cyprus and Greece reshape investment landscape for property buyers
Property sales in Cyprus surged 11.9% in the first five months of 2026, with 8043 transactions compared to 7185 a year earlier.
Read →1,260 foreign investors lodge complaint over Portuguese citizenship law changes
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.
Read →Greece eases import rules for relocating residents, waiving customs duties and VAT
Greece's tax authority (AADE) has issued new regulations for those planning to relocate to Greece or return to the country.
Read →Greece tightens short-term rental rules as owners rush to secure permits before July deadline
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…
Read →Catalonia's price controls on seasonal rentals threaten to destabilise the entire rental market
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.
Read →Spain's Supreme Court voids short-term rental registry as property owners demand refunds
Spain's Supreme Court has annulled the national register for short-term lettings, but a battle over reimbursement is now underway.
Read →Greece unveils decade-long housing strategy with four key reforms
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…
Read →Waste-sorting facility dispute on Costa Blanca exposes risks for Spanish property investors
In Moraira, residents are locked in legal proceedings with local authorities over plans to build a waste-sorting facility in a residential area.
Read →Foreign buyers now account for one in four Barcelona property sales, hitting record high
Last year, Barcelona's property market saw 15,960 apartments and houses sold.
Read →Spanish property: when rental becomes a years-long nightmare
Neil purchased a house near Barcelona in 2005 for €289,000 at the peak of the Spanish property boom.
Read →Spain may double waiting period for permanent residency status
The Vox party has proposed extending the residency requirement from five to ten years for foreign nationals seeking long-term residence permits.
Read →Cyprus faces building safety crisis as authorities delay property management reform
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'…
Read →€800m Crete resort project advances to final approval stage
Elounda Hills on Crete has entered the final stages of regulatory approval.
Read →Portugal's quiet revolution: how tech is reshaping the investment map beyond Lisbon and Porto
Portugal is undergoing a subtle but significant shift in economic geography—and the implications for investors are substantial.
Read →Portuguese Immigration Service AIMA Overwhelmed: What Expats Need to Know
Portugal's immigration authority AIMA is drowning in thousands of cases—and if you're planning a move, this directly affects you.
Read →Portuguese property inheritance: why planning cannot wait
Portuguese real estate is often more than an investment—it represents a life project.
Read →Spain's Supreme Court voids short-term rental registry; property owners seek refunds
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.
Read →Italian cities crack down on short-term rentals as tourism displaces residents
Venice's population has fallen below 48,000, while Florence residents no longer recognise their city.
Read →Florence nearly triples short-term rental ban as housing crisis deepens
Florence has nearly tripled its restricted zone for short-term tourist lettings.
Read →Barcelona reveals how policy distorts housing statistics
In May, rental prices across Spain rose by 4 per cent to a record 15.1 €/m²/month.
Read →British residents in Italy risk border delays over single document requirement
For those who relocated to Italy before Brexit: the carta di soggiorno is no longer merely advisable—it has become a practical necessity.
Read →Cyprus building collapse exposes systemic management crisis
Two people died in a building collapse in Limassol—a wake-up call that cannot be ignored.
Read →Spain's housing crisis response risks driving investors away, warns analysts
Spain is tackling its housing crisis through measures that risk confusing and deterring investors from the market.
Read →Portugal issues nearly 6,000 work visas in months, double the previous year's total
The government has launched a new regulated migration protocol, with results exceeding expectations.
Read →Florence triples short-term rental ban zone, becoming Italy's first city to take such action
Until May 2025, tourist apartments were banned only within the UNESCO heritage zone, affecting 35,600 properties.
Read →Troia Peninsula: Portugal's understated alternative to the Algarve
An hour's drive from Lisbon, the Troia Peninsula operates by a different logic entirely from the Algarve or Cascais.
Read →First-time buyers can purchase Italian property without relocating
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.
Read →1,500 Italian apartments under €50,000 now at auction
Italy's property auction market is expanding for good reason—genuine savings are available.
Read →Italian property auctions: how to secure homes at 25% discount
Italian real estate at auction is not a gamble but a carefully structured process.
Read →Sicily's €1 property scheme draws 110,000 applications for 15 homes
Italian municipalities are aggressively disposing of abandoned buildings through symbolic pricing.
Read →Remote work becomes a ticket to Europe as digital nomad visas proliferate
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…
Read →Spanish property market loses momentum as sales fall 2.6% in Q1 2026
Spain's real-estate market is decelerating for the first time in years, with sales dropping 2.6% in the first quarter of 2026.
Read →IMF identifies housing crisis as Spain's economic Achilles heel, warns against price controls and regulatory volatility
Spain is growing faster than other eurozone countries—GDP is forecast at +2.1% in 2026.
Read →Spanish court strikes down national short-term rental registry, clearing way for 111,000 blocked apartments to return to…
The saga began in July 2025 when the Spanish government launched a mandatory registration system for tourist lettings (NRA).
Read →Greece to streamline eviction procedures from May 2026, guaranteeing tenants six months' notice
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.
Read →Athens extends ban on new short-term rental registrations until end of 2026
Greek authorities have opted against hastening liberalisation.
Read →Cyprus halts revocation of simplified-scheme building permits pending full review
Cyprus's Technical Chamber has demanded a halt to certificate revocations until a comprehensive audit is completed.
Read →Turkish citizenship for $400,000: how the investment scheme works
$400,000 and a Turkish passport in your pocket.
Read →Fethiye rental villas deliver up to £41,500 annual profit for owners
Since the pandemic, tourists have shifted en masse from hotels to private villas and apartments.
Read →Buyer pays, seller withholds keys: Turkey's most common property dispute
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.
Read →Spain's ban on tourist lettings backfires as long-term rental stock falls by 26,000 homes
A curious paradox has emerged in 2025.
Read →Spain's tough talk on foreign buyers is working—but missing the real problem
Property purchases by non-EU foreign buyers fell 17% in 2025, despite the absence of any formal legislation.
Read →Off-plan purchases in Spain remain a minefield for investors, even in 2026
An English couple, both in their fifties, decided to build a seaside villa in Tarragona before retirement.
Read →Cyprus tax reform reshapes land-for-development property exchanges
A tax reform came into effect on Cyprus on 1 January that directly affects property exchange schemes.
Read →Tens of thousands of Cyprus property buyers still waiting for deeds despite full payment
Tens of thousands of buyers in Cyprus have yet to receive title deeds despite having paid in full for apartments and houses.
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