Property prices

Larnaca has overtaken everyone in the speed of issuing building permits in Cyprus. In July, the authorities processed more applications than received new ones: in category I, permission was given for 267 objects against 256 submitted, and construction for 420 objects with 339 applications.

This success is important because of the legacy of past years. When the new management system was adopted, the district inherited more than 4,000 old paper applications. By July 20…

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Direct bus from Lisbon to the Spanish Badajoz for 10 euros.

From September 11, a new daily line will connect the Portuguese capital with the city on the border. The vehicles will stop in Évora, Borbe and Elvas before moving abroad. There ar…

Bokinte in Panama is the front-runner and the Portuguese Algarve is content with second place. In the 2026 ranking from Live and Invest Overseas, the region lost only one place, but surpassed Puerto Vallarta and Crete.

The couple will need about $3,085 a month to live. House prices have jumped: Lugos and Albufeira are now not as cheap as they were a decade ago. But affordable medicine, climate an…

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Portuguese President Antonio Jose Šegra has signed a new law on migration. The decision came three days after the unanimous verdict of the Constitutional Court, which removed the stigma of unconstitutionality from the legislation.

Key changes concern the expulsion of parents of Portuguese citizens and the detention of children. Now the deportation of foreigners with children is possible only by the decision …

Cyprus may impose restrictions on Airbnb, but will get to the truth first. The EU proposes not to ban the short term completely, but to act where there is a proven shortage of housing.

Demand is growing: over the year, guest shades through platforms increased by almost 25%. At the same time, only about 1.7% of all houses are legally in the register. Auditors foun…

Rent in the Algarve costs €22 per square meter. It is one of the most expensive markets in Portugal, comparable to Madeira and almost equal to Porto. Lisbon wins over everyone: they ask for €27/m2. Inland prices fall to €8 in Guard. For 70 squares in the Algarve will have to pay about €1,540, and in the province - just €560 for the same area. Data from Imovirtual over the past three months confirms that location decides everything.

The figures are based on the declarations of owners and agents, not on actual contracts. This is an important nuance for investors and those planning to move to retirement.…

A year after the tragedy that killed sixteen people, the transport company Carris will reveal plans to restore the funicular in Lisbon. The incident occurred on September 3, 2025: a train derailed on a steep descent.

Given the new safety requirements and historical value of the route, engineers are looking for a balance between the reliability of the system and preserving the spirit of Lisbon. …

Inflation in Portugal is accelerating again. According to the National Institute of Statistics, the price increase for August was 3.3% against 3.0% in July.

Fuel prices have risen so much that the overall consumer price index has risen almost entirely under their influence. In August, the change in the indicator for energy resources re…

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The Algarve is building a new six hundred thousand euro kitchen for future chefs.

The mayor of San Bras d'Alportel announced the opening of a specialized training center. The project includes renovation and expansion of the culinary building of the school of Jos…

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Two new hotels in Portugal will open in a couple of years, but the exact addresses are being kept secret. Minor Hotels Group plans to grow its business by not building buildings from scratch, but by launching projects inside existing buildings in the north and center of the country.

One of the properties will be a five-star hotel under the Anantara brand - the return of the luxury brand after leaving Vilamour. The second hotel will be four stars, the brand has…

A direct flight from New York to the Azores will be launched in 2027. United Airlines will be the only U.S. carrier to link the U.S. to Terceira.

Regular service three times a week will begin on June 9. This will allow residents and tourists from North America to reach the island without connecting via Lisbon or Ponta delgid…

Ryanair named the top 3 destinations from Portugal this summer. Edinburgh, Trapani and Vienna became hits with passengers.

In Scotland, tourists fly from Faro, Lisbon, Funchal and Porto for the castle and lively atmosphere of the Royal Mil. Sikilian Trapani attracts sea views and gastronomy - the Portu…

Portugal's largest solar power plant in the Algarve is about to be sold. The capacity of the facility is 220 MW, but revenues fell due to low current prices and technical failures.

The owner was Welink Energy, which went into bankruptcy. Major creditors are demanding around 64 million euros. The contract company is seeking arbitration of 143 million euros for…

The market of expensive houses in the Algarve has not cooled down, but matured. Sales in the seven months of this year have nearly doubled: €200 million against €97 million a year earlier.

Buyers have become more discerning and are willing to pay a premium for ready-to-live housing without long repairs. The average check jumped from 2.2 to 3.7 million euros. Investme…

Will you buy a house in Cyprus if you have to save two years?

The new BestBrokers calculation shows the harsh reality: an average apartment of 108 square meters costs 305,296 euros. A standard 20% deposit would take away almost all of an empl…

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82% of transactions in LاجOS are made by foreigners without a mortgage. The market is resilient to crises.

The price per square meter rose nearly 9% for the year and reached €4,449. Investors buy apartments and villas for rents of up to 6%. In winter, the city does not sleep: remoters, …

For €600,000 in downtown Algarve, you pay for thirty years of marketing. In the east, the same money will buy more space as the transport infrastructure catches up.

Since the end of 2024, the A22 highway has become free, and the modernization of the railway will reduce the price gap over the next 5-7 years. Buyers from the expensive districts …

€600,000 allocated for tracks and interchanges. In Aruda dos Viños, the construction of the bypass highway is being completed.

Completed in 2024, part of the roundabout cost €670,000. Now the infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists near Green Rotas Park is being reported. The new road will unload downt…

Italian beaches in August turned into noisy hangouts, not a relaxation zone. The Local Italy editor's family is already dreaming of moving to Crete.

Locals complain of endless crowds, cigarette smoke and loud music under domed umbrellas in private clubs. Even where the entrance costs only 6 euros, rest turns into a test of pati…

In Europe, housing and energy are one problem, not two. By June 2026, property prices had skyrocketed for almost a decade, but nearly 10% of EU citizens were forced to spend more than 40% of their income on rent, mortgages and lighting.

Professor Michael Janoscia sees this as a crisis of the whole. As part of the PREFIGURE project, researchers examined 16 initiatives, from cooperatives in Karlsruhe to renovating 4…

In the summer of 2027, Transavia will open a direct flight from Brussels to Ponta Delgada in the Azores. Tickets will start selling from September 16. This is the company’s third route from the Belgian capital to the Portuguese cities, after Faro and Porto.

Belgium is an important market for the low-cost airline, which is increasing its presence: now four aircraft are based in Brussels. In the summer of 2026, 16 airlines with connecti…

€21.6 million investment in a train instead of a hotel. In Portugal, the Valverde Train project is launched: the old coupes of the 1970s will be restored and turned into a suite with night flights.

EU support totalled €9.8 million. The train will run through little-known areas, offering gastronomy and the traditions of local communities. The plan is to create 35 jobs by 2029.…

Rent a room in Portugal rose to 527 euros per month. The shortage of housing forces owners to raise prices, and the options in the market are becoming less and less.

In some cities, it is extremely difficult to find affordable housing: the supply is shrinking too quickly. Investors should pay attention to this problem when planning to enter the…

Italy is emptying in August, and prices on the Padua coast soar. Tourists flee from the crowds and heat - someone chooses the mountains of South Tyrol, where they speak German, and locals return to work.

The editor of the publication spent his vacation not by the sea, but in the Alps of the Dolomites region. There, 70% of the population speaks fluent German, and thermal springs and…

More than 80 municipalities in Portugal are now under the red flag: the risk of wildfires is at its highest. Weather conditions in the central and northern parts of the country, as well as in the Alentejo and Algarve, pose a threat to entire regions.

The Ocean and Atmospheric Institute assesses hazards in five levels from low to maximum. The forecast affects temperature, humidity, wind speed and precipitation per day. The risks…

In the Algarve, tourists pay more than just for accommodation. Seven municipalities have a separate night fee.

Amounts and terms vary depending on the location. For example, Albufeira charges 2 euros per person per night for those over 13. You will have to pay a maximum of seven consecutive…

+35% for the quarter. In Cyprus, the number of building permits issued soared to almost 3,000 units, and the cost of projects rose by 46%. Experts see this as a good reason for investors.

The problem is that there are not enough workers. Business leaders warn that without visa facilitation and hiring automation, construction will slow. Materials and energy prices ar…

Portugal soared: over the year, the country grew in the ranking of world sites for data centers by 23%. This is already the top 10 most dynamic markets on the planet, although the total capacity is still modest than giants like the United States or China.

The demand is growing against the background of artificial intelligence. Scandinavia attracts investors with cheap green electricity and cool servers. But Portugal is not far behin…

Italy turned the earthquake zone into the largest construction site in Europe. In ten years, 15,000 properties have been restored, but 8,750 families are still living in emergency housing or resettled.

The climate also dictates its conditions: the heat caused electricity demand to rise by 10%, and tariffs rose by almost 19%. Hydropower plants work worse at temperatures above 36 d…

Portugal will introduce financial support for students who do not find housing in dormitories. If you receive a scholarship and live outside your region, the state will cover part of the lease even without a formal contract with the owner. It is enough to apply for an attempt to settle in the university fund.

Benefits vary by city: about 161 euros in Lisbon, 419 in Porto and 338 in Covale. This will help reduce deductions due to the inability to pay for private housing or lack of space …

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Portugal wants to reduce the notice period for eviction to three years. It's now five years old, but authorities plan to simplify the process for owners for major repairs.

The government proposes to assess the scale of work not by bureaucracy, but through cost statistics. If tenants are required to move out, compensation will increase: at least two y…

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Portugal no longer lives solely on tourists. Previously, success was measured simply: the more guests, the better. Now reality is changing. The increase in the number of visitors does not guarantee profitability.

Average guest checks are declining and competition requires new approaches. Experts believe that the next step is smart data management and artificial intelligence. Technology can …

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A visa for Italy costs up to 269 euros, but the price varies depending on the duration of the trip. For tours up to five days, the amount is fixed, and for long trips above 20 days - 206.58 euros per person.

Citizens of many countries, including Russia, need Schengen. The only exceptions are holders of valid residence permits from the EU: then nationality is not taken into account. For…

The heat in Portugal is record high and air conditioners are eating electricity. Genous expert Simon Bones warns: Simple solutions don't work.

The best option is heat pumps with a warm floor and solar panels. They generate energy during the day when it is hot and store it in batteries for night use. This reduces costs and…

Registration with AIRE in Italy costs up to €1,000 per year. Italians abroad are fined if they do not submit data to the consulate on time.

The AIRE system collects personal information from citizens of an old country living abroad. Fines are accrued each year of delay, but a maximum of five years. Without registration…

Banks from the UK and the US will soon stop serving customers in Italy. The new EU rules require them to open branches within the Union or operate through subsidiaries.

Many foreigners keep accounts in their home country for taxes, property rentals or pension payments. If the bank considers the costs unjustified, it will simply close the account w…

36.2 billion euros is how much tourism in Portugal earned in 2025. This is almost 12% of the country's GDP.

The sector continues to grow: the contribution to value added increased by 5.5% compared to last year. But there's a nuance. Despite high incomes, the role of tourism as an engine …

€4.35 million. This is the price of an apartment on the most expensive street in Portugal.

Portal Idealista made a rating of expensive locations. The leader is Rua das Faias in Cascais. The second place is held by Rua das Violetas of the same village. Three closes the el…

There is a gallery in the Algarve where prices are below 65 euros and art is more important than sales. The author of The Portugal News has revealed the secret of success in Portumasu.

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 work…

Portugal ranked eighth in the world ranking of quality of life for expats. The InterNations rating assessed the living conditions of those targeted abroad by the end of 2026, comparing data with 31 countries.

Spain and Greece often win the race, but Lisbon does a great job. Foreign residents are happy with the climate, security and affordable housing prices. Investments in this country …

The Portuguese Algarve invites you to plunge into the style of the 50s for a dinner based on the musical Grease. It's not just a show from the stage, it's an immersion right at your desk. Educators and actors will dance and sing around guests, conveying the atmosphere of the legendary comedy.

The evening will be part of a unique event programme at Vale do Lobo, where food, entertainment and mood come together in one place. Forget about boring banquets for the sake of vi…

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The form of a club in Portugal can become a residential project. The secondary building, owned by the previous Gremio da Lavoerra Agrarian Cooperative, was sold for €5.8 million to foreign investment funds from Spain. The new owner plans to rebuild the building into living quarters.

The cost of the building index is more than 6000 square meters in the city center, next to the river. The sale of real estate can lead to a new investment project of buildings in t…

Opening at Tunes station Cozinha da Tia Fatinha is a place that instantly feels warm and welcoming. The restaurant is run by a cute couple, Fatima and Vitor, who have created a space where traditional Portuguese cuisine, hospitality and individual details mature naturally.

Before opening her restaurant, Fatima worked as a cook for several years. But cooking is not her only passion. She also loves decorating and bouquets of flowers, which you will not…

The last minute pushed borrowers crowding before a microloan scheme in Cyprus to 4,269. This is almost the same as all applications in six months. The Ministry of Finance extended the deadline for submitting documents for another two months until September 30.

Chara Papakyriaku, a public relations specialist at Kedipsa, said that about 4,269 applications had been filed since the scheme was launched in December 2023. This exceeds the figu…

Despite an increase in the number of registered Irish citizens in Algaswa almost tripled since 2012, the area is turning into a place to live year-round. According to the Portugal Migration and Asylum Integration Agency (AIMA), the number of Irish nationals increased from 452 to about a thousand between 2012 and 2023 in Algazwa. In Portugal, the total number of registered Irish citizens rose from 838 to 5,450 over the same period.

The speed of identification between Ireland and southern Portugal contributes to the growth of the Irish community. The cities of Dublin and Farao are well supplied with regular di…

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A surprising trend is taking hold of Portugal’s property market, with today’s buyers looking for energy-efficient homes that deliver environmental benefits and economic benefits. New investors from Scandinavia, Germany and the Benelux are bringing their strict requirements for a sustainable lifestyle to the market. These aspects are now considered not just a pleasant addition, but also a critical indicator of property quality.

A technical document (Energy Category) is mandatory for the sale or rental of housing. It measures building performance from A+ (high energy efficiency) to F (low level). This ensu…

Our property of the week offers a unique modern villa with sea views and a swimming pool in the Luz area. The location is ideal for permanent residence, recreation or investment.

This two-storey house combines modernity, practicality and high-quality materials, making it an ideal choice for both a permanent living area and a holiday home. On the ground floo…

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A holiday at the luxurious Westin Salgados Beach Resort in Algaveba gives you the chance to feel like you’re on top of a plate. This hotel is not just a hotel, but also a complete complex, which is designed to provide the perfect combination of health, comfort and relaxation. In total, there are six key principles of well-being: sleep, nutrition, activity, emotions, work and rest.

It should be noted that the hotel offers an individual approach to each guest, providing full access to restaurants and services. In particular, there are two restaurants: Marluso …

In the Portuguese region of Alentege, wine production will increase by 20% compared to last year, reaching 108 million liters. It will be a high quality wine, according to Luís Sequeira, chairman of the CVRA regional winemaking committee. Production may increase by 20% compared to last year and approach the average over the past five years, said the Chairman of the Committee.

The vineyards have just started cleaning. According to the head of CVRA, there are all conditions for high quality and supply of products in demand. “Our forecast will depend on th…

In the Portuguese heat, they fell asleep under hurricanes, and now apartment owners are forced to apply for one insurance cover for the entire building. Vitor Armaliy, vice president of the Association for Condomium Management (APEGAC), proposes that the government introduce a single insurance for all apartments, instead of many separate contracts.

“If one house has 100 apartments, it will cost hundreds of insurance,” he says. He believes that a single insurance program can simplify the payment process and ensure uniformity i…

L’Epicure in San Miguel in Portugal offers nightlife and music, combining bar culture with live performances. It stands next to the Micellanes Wall on Avenida Roberto Ivens. The cuisine of the restaurant is known for its cozy interior, creative menus, friendly staff and constant live musicians. Here you can spend the evening not only because of a chic night, but also thanks to an excellent selection of cocktails and wines.

Who would have seen that many locals consider this place not only a bar, but also a small cultural space to maintain the music scene in Ponta Delgata.…

A beautiful story about the return of an old Algaz luxury hotel! Located outside the Villa Nova de Casel, the former family farm has been converted into a boutique hotel with a bush building and lands around it. This story is unusual in that more than half of its area remained unchanged!

Court buildings are now used as guest rooms or buffet rooms, and the isotope cabinet is reclassified as a reading area. Each of the 9 guest rooms has spacious loggias with its own …

Alenteo continues to cement its status as one of Portugal’s premium housing markets, attracting wealthy buyers from around the world. While Portuguese buyers remain active, the main demand continues to come from overseas markets – mainly from Northern Europe, the US and Brazil.

Active development is maintained thanks to limited stock, strict planning regulations and sustained international interest. Buyers are increasingly viewing Alenteo as a long-term i…

Paphos has taken the leading position in new house prices in Cyprus for the first half of this year, standing out from the rest of the region with €1.149 billion in sales of 3,594 units. This level is highlighted by the high cost of a mid-range and median home - €319,618 and €232,500 respectively.

For comparison, Limassol sold 2,977 apartments and houses at €810.6 million, while Nicosia raised €435 million due to 1,063 deals. At the same time, even if we consider only houses…

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Portugal is growing three times faster than the EU: property prices jumped by 17.9%

While the European market is sluggishly moving forward (the average growth in the EU is only 5%), Portuguese real estate is going up. According to Property Market-Index, the median…

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. The main change: direct purchase of real estate no longer gives a residence permit. The foreign pr…

Foreigners get a mortgage in Portugal more often than they think – here’s what you need to know.

Portuguese banks willingly finance the purchase of real estate for foreigners, but the terms depend on status. If you are a tax resident of Portugal with a NIF, the process is simi…

For 46,800 euros, you can buy a 100-square house in Portugal - that's just where it is.

The Portuguese portal idealista analyzed the prices of real estate in all municipalities of the country. The result is unexpected: while in Lisbon and on the coast, prices bite, in…

37 hectares of a Portuguese island with a working fish farm go under the hammer for 750 thousand euros

It's not just a piece of land in the middle of a lagoon. A whole functioning business is put up for auction: salt ponds, oyster farms, fishing areas, residential buildings, a pier …

Selling an apartment in Spain is now twice as long as a year ago. If before the house left in 2-3 weeks, now wait 6-9 weeks.

In the real estate market of Spain there was a turning point. According to the Federation of Associations of Realtors (FAI), sales fell by 7.3% in May from a year earlier, the shar…

90% of Catalonia’s population lives in rent-controlled zones – and this is just the beginning of a war between politicians and investors.

The regional government is preparing a new law that will allow municipalities to prohibit the purchase of apartments not for personal residence. The idea sounds noble: fighting spe…

Spain will lead in the growth of house prices in Europe at least until 2028, according to the rating agency Standard & Poor’s.

According to their calculations, Spanish prices will rise by 9.1% this year, then by 7.4% in 2027 and 6.2% in 2028. This is the fastest growth rate among European countries. The re…

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. On real estate worth 100,000 euros, the tax falls from 9% to 2%. At expensive facilities, the savi…

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. If an individual pays registration tax (from 2% to 9% depending on status). If the developer - VAT from 4% to 22%. But here’s the main thing: taxes…

A pre-contract in Italy is not just a piece of paper, but a legally binding document that can cost you money if you don’t get it right.

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. It is a mutual obligation: neithe…

Beyond Lisbon and Porto: Portugal's Silver Coast offers investors what others overlook

Portugal is far more than Lisbon and Porto. The Silver Coast, an hour's drive from the capital, presents opportunities that most investors miss. This is a region with ideal climate…

Nicosia costs three times less than Paris—and the gap is widening

Cyprus's capital remains one of Europe's most affordable property markets. A one-bedroom apartment averages €145,000, a two-bedroom €205,000, and a three-bedroom €280,000. By compa…

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. A Cypriot court has confirmed that …

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. The European Union is tighteni…

Portugal scraps rental price ceiling in sweeping market reform

The government has enacted a major overhaul of the rental market. The headline change: abolition of the 2% cap on rent increases when renewing a lease. This restriction had been in…

Portugal's property market: an extra bedroom costs €100,000

Portugal's new-build market is pricing in a steep premium for additional space. According to data from Imovirtual, upgrading from a three-bedroom apartment to a four-bedroom proper…

Cyprus sets record with 10,007 property transactions in first half of 2026

Cyprus has established a new benchmark, with 10,007 property sales contracts concluded in the first half of 2026. This represents a 14.6 per cent increase year-on-year and marks th…

German automotive crisis poses threat to Spanish property market

Volkswagen is considering laying off 100,000 employees and closing four factories in Germany. The entire sector is struggling with weak demand, Chinese competition in electric vehi…

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. Unspoilt coastline around Comporta and Melides, historic to…

Portugal's property market loses momentum as sales growth slows to 10.5%

Portugal's residential property market delivered mixed signals in 2025. Transaction volumes rose by 10.5%, a respectable performance that placed the country in the EU's top ten for…

Lamda Development posts €17.7m loss as Hellinikon investment intensifies

Greece's largest developer, Lamda Development, reported a loss of €17.7 million in the first quarter of 2026, driven by substantial capital deployment in the Hellinikon project, th…

Second homes account for 60% of transactions in Algarve's premium districts

In Quinta do Lago and Vale do Lobo, foreign buyers—accounting for 80% of purchasers—pay in excess of €13,000 per square metre and typically settle in cash, eschewing mortgages. Vil…

Cyprus issues 44% more building permits as construction pipeline accelerates

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 …

Cypriot construction costs rising at 4.7% annually, outpacing sector growth

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 …

Cyprus builds at record pace, but prices soar beyond young buyers' reach

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.…

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. The drive targets primarily owners renting residential units to tourist…

Portugal cuts VAT on apartment repairs to 6% without municipal approval requirement

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 …

Dutch buyers outpace all rivals in Spanish property market

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 c…

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. The scenario sounds familiar: in March, a similar decree (8/2026) introduced a two-y…

Foreign buyers account for nearly half of ultra-luxury property sales in Spain, concentrated in five key locations

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)…

Portugal records steepest house-price growth in EU at 17.8% year-on-year

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 quarte…

Cyprus rental rates climb steadily as property prices outpace eurozone average

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 stea…

Cyprus property price growth moderates as market finds equilibrium

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…

British buyers storm Funchal as Americans eye Porto: foreign demand reshapes Portugal's property map

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 doub…

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. February storms inflicted significant…

Cyprus records €6.5bn in real-estate investment as Mediterranean market accelerates

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 ha…

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. Limassol led the charge, recording 2537 contracts—an…

Former British military base in Limassol transformed into residential district with yields up to 8%

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 …

Pink gentrification transforms Portugal's LGBTI+ neighbourhoods into luxury real estate

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 …

Cyprus construction costs hit record high in 2025

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, mea…

Foreign buyers purchase nearly 100,000 homes annually in Spain, hitting record high

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 acros…

Portuguese property price growth slows to 17.8% as transaction volumes decline

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: …

Limassol apartments are appreciating, not depreciating—here's why

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…

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. The key provision allows relocating residents to import …

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 …

Foreigners see potential in Portugal that locals overlook

A paradox that has persisted for several years: whilst Portuguese residents criticise their country, international investors, technology companies and funds are pouring hundreds of…

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. The legislation extends p…

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. Property owners who paid registration fees are de…

Athens new-build prices slow as buyers shift to period properties

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 al…

Off-plan purchases become the norm in Portugal's overheated housing market

According to idealista, unfinished projects are attracting more enquiries than completed apartments. This trend is particularly pronounced in Lisbon, Cascais, Porto and the Algarve…

British families save £13,000 annually by moving to Spain—but not through property prices

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, o…

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. Residents fear noise, lorry traffic…

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. Growth was minimal, rising just 1% year-on-year. However, foreign buyers have set a new record, accoun…

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' A…

Historic Keranis tobacco factory in Piraeus to be transformed into mixed-use residential complex

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 reside…

Italy's IMU property tax: who pays and how much

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 cover…

Portuguese house prices more than double in 157 municipalities over eight years

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…

Italian IMU late-payment penalty reaches 25% of tax bill

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 ta…

Cyprus construction boom: building permits surge 49% in first two months of 2026

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,…

Greece launches mass audit of 6,000 property transactions in hunt for hidden money sources

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 f…

Greek islands see record 55% summer price surge across Europe

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 pri…

€800m Crete resort project advances to final approval stage

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 Mi…

Three-quarters of Greek homes sold in 2025 are over 20 years old as new-build supply dries up

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 cen…

Foreign buyers lose appetite for Spanish property as demand falls 17.6% year-on-year

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 26,97…

ECB rate rise traps Spanish property buyers as mortgage costs surge

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…

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. For decades, the narrative centred on Lisbon and Por…

Palermo surges 26% as Italian property market awakens from decade-long slumber

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…

Brussels pushes Portugal to raise property tax—here's why investors should pay attention

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 st…

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. As of May 2026, the agency has accumulated so many…

Portugal's housing shortage spurs wave of new construction firms

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 …

Ultra-wealthy investors view luxury property as capital preservation, not lifestyle

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 pr…

American appetite for Italian property wanes as new buyers emerge

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 …

Milan Olympics 2026 shines spotlight on Italian Alps as lifestyle destination

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 Lomba…

Atri in Abruzzo emerges as foreign buyers' favourite, up 61% year-on-year

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…

Tiny Dolomites village outpaces famous resort as foreign buyers' top choice

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'…

Building material costs surge 10% in two months as Cyprus construction market adapts

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…

Spanish property market loses momentum as Q1 sales fall 8% year-on-year

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 fre…

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. The…

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. Italy faces a mounting crisis as tourist lettings have displaced locals from t…

Florence nearly triples short-term rental ban as housing crisis deepens

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 exte…

Cyprus prepares largest tourism project in years, with completion targeted for 2029

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 villa…

Turkish coastal property appreciates 20–25% annually as market enters rational phase in 2026

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…

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. Madrid saw a 7.8 per cent increase, Alicante 8.3 per cent, and Málaga 5.2 per cent. The pattern i…

Earthquakes, taxes and connectivity: choosing your region in Italy

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 a…

Turkey prepares tax overhaul for foreign investors—Fethiye poised to benefit most

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…

Portugal leads Europe in house price growth at 16.3% in 2025

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%)…

Cyprus building collapse exposes systemic management crisis

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 managin…

One in four property buyers in Portugal is a foreigner

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: si…

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. Catalonia has taken this approach to extremes. Local politicians …

Cyprus's paradox: record construction volumes mask acute rental shortage

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 struggl…

Portuguese property prices surge 16.5% year-on-year to record high

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 …

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. The prohibition now extends to nine residential districts beyond t…

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. Located in the Alentejo region, Troia offers 15 kilometres of w…

Commercial property prices in Portugal surge at record pace

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 …

Spain struggles to contain housing crisis as prices surge 13% annually and residents face displacement

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…

1,500 Italian apartments under €50,000 now at auction

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 di…

Italian property auctions: how to secure homes at 25% discount

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 ha…

Sicily's €1 property scheme draws 110,000 applications for 15 homes

Italian municipalities are aggressively disposing of abandoned buildings through symbolic pricing. The mechanism is straightforward: local authorities identify the owner of a semi-…

Nine years waiting for a residency card — and Portugal was still worth it

Americans are relocating to Portugal in large numbers, despite the administrative ordeal. The country welcomes 30 million tourists annually, with North Americans representing one o…

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 2026…

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. A paradox has emerged: despite weakening demand, pric…

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. Yet this masks a deeper problem: property prices are rising while supply is falling. The cau…

British buyers retreat from Spanish property market to decade-low levels

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 jus…

Spanish court strikes down national short-term rental registry, clearing way for 111,000 blocked apartments to return to Airbnb and Booking

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 licen…

€197.7m in top property deals as Cyprus land market surges in Q1 2026

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. Limas…

Cyprus construction permits surge 77% year-on-year in January

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 t…

Cyprus as a safe haven: the reality beyond the headlines

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 …

Turkish investors accelerate Greek property acquisitions despite 2025 slowdown

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 …

Greece launches housing renovation subsidy scheme covering up to 95% of costs

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 effic…

Nearly 200 family hotels seek new owners in Greek mountains

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 volatili…

Athens extends ban on new short-term rental registrations until end of 2026

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 displa…

Turkish property prices fall in real terms despite nominal gains

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 …

Israeli developer plans resort conversion of abandoned Cypriot village near Limassol

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 wi…

Cyprus property prices outpace EU average despite low household spending on housing

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 l…

Madrid apartment listings surge 17% as prices climb to €6,000 per square metre

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 n…

Turkish commercial property surges 31% annually in nominal terms, but stagnates in real terms

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 infl…

Championship golf course to reshape Dalaman–Fethiye property market

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 Dal…

Turkish citizenship for $400,000: how the investment scheme works

$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…

Portugal overvalued by 35%, warns European Commission as Spain offers better value

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 s…

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. This has transformed Fethiye's rental market: demand has surged, land prices have c…

Three villages divide Fethiye's property market—each suited to different buyers

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 tow…

Spain's property market surges 12.9% annually, second only to Portugal in Europe

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 compa…

Foreign buyers slow their Spanish property purchases for third consecutive quarter

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 …

Barcelona's rent controls backfire as supply collapses and real prices soar

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 u…

Spain's ban on tourist lettings backfires as long-term rental stock falls by 26,000 homes

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 se…

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. The decline stems entirely from high-profile rhetoric from Prime Minist…

Americans rise to top of Spanish property market in decade-long ascent

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 i…

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. Everything appeared ideal: a reputable developer, an experienced lawyer, …

Cyprus property sales surge 15% in April despite regional uncertainty

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 eve…

Cyprus undergoes quiet revolution as foreign buyers shift from investment to relocation

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 i…

Cyprus property tax remains absent despite decade-old abolition

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 cent…