News about Real estate

Portugal’s capital has been ranked among the least affordable housing markets in Europe: property prices there are nearly 19 times higher than the average annual household income. By this measure, Lisbon has surpassed Paris and London, trailing only Split, Croatia.

The city government has provided clarification on the procedure for paying property tax for this year. The deadline for payment is June 30, 2026.

Thailand’s ultra-luxury hotels are becoming one of the most sought-after safe-haven assets in Asia. Investors are snapping up rare hotel properties just as aggressively as they are premium real estate in global financial centers.

While shopping malls are losing customers, investors across Europe are betting on a simpler format—retail parks on the outskirts of cities. Of the 34 billion euros invested in European retail in 2025, retail parks accounted for 41% of the total. By comparison, shopping streets attracted 34%, while shopping malls accounted for just 25%.

Local authorities and the National Technical Inspection Inspectorate will stop using stamps on construction documents. Since specialists already use electronic signatures, paper stamps are simply being phased out as unnecessary. The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the corresponding resolution.

Spain, Italy, and France are the European countries where public opposition to mass tourism is most pronounced. This is according to a new study by the digital platform JB.com, which analyzes protest activity and the burden on the population.

According to calculations by Vyacheslav Ionita, an expert at the IDIS Viitorul Institute, apartment prices in Chisinau—when measured in terms of gold—have remained unchanged for many years: an average apartment with an area of 70 m² has always cost, and still costs, approximately 1 kg of gold.

Housing costs remain the largest expense for European households, but rent prices vary significantly—from the relatively affordable capitals of the Balkans to record-high prices in Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

The government has approved a mechanism for determining the degree of completion of construction projects for tax purposes.

The average price of residential real estate in Turkey has exceeded 5 million Turkish lira (about $109,000) for the first time, but high inflation continues to offset price increases and is putting pressure on the market.

On June 19, the Public Property Agency (PPA) announced that it would put state-owned properties—the Zarea Hotel, the Shtints Publishing House, and the Lumina Publishing and Printing Company—up for auction by vote.

Capital gains realized on the sale of a primary residence will be exempt from income tax only if the amount does not exceed 1 million lei. If the limit is exceeded, the amount will be subject to income tax at a rate of 15%.

Europeans buy their first home at an average age of 31.3, but the age gap between countries ranges from 28 in Malta to 34.7 in Switzerland and Greece. This is according to data from the RE/MAX European Housing Trend Report, provided by Euronews Business.

At current prices, it’s impossible for an average family to buy a home with a mortgage. Renting is also out of the question, especially if VAT is included in the rent.

The Moldovan Real Estate Agencies Association has expressed concern over certain proposed changes in the draft tax policy for 2027, which could directly affect people who are selling, buying, or renting housing.

This year is shaping up to be a challenging one for the construction and real estate markets. Data for the first quarter of 2026 confirms this negative trend: investment in residential real estate is declining, despite continued high demand for housing.

The housing market in Moldova is losing momentum. Following the construction boom of 2021, the number of new properties being completed has dropped by a factor of four, falling to its lowest level in decades. This was stated by Vyacheslav Ionita, an economic policy expert at IDIS Viitorul.

Authorities in the capital of the United Arab Emirates have imposed a moratorium on rent increases, effectively setting a zero growth rate for rent when renewing leases. The decision is already being called “extremely rare” for the global real estate market and is being linked to mounting pressure on tenants.

Zurich has become the most expensive city in Europe in terms of housing costs, with the average price of apartments reaching €18,229 per square meter. This price is more than double that of Paris.

Liliana Iaconi, Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Public Administration and Regional Development, proposes abolishing the mandatory minimum property tax rate for individuals, so that local public authorities can adjust tax rates based on the economic realities of their communities.