Bucharest's residential market recovered much of the ground lost after a weak start to 2026, ending the first half with apartment transactions down just 2% year-on-year, according to Colliers. Developers are also accelerating preparations for new projects, with the net floor area authorised for residential buildings in Bucharest increasing 3.6-fold in the first five months — the strongest pace in five years. Nationwide, however, apartment sales fell 9%, reflecting continued caution amid inflation, high financing costs and pressure on real incomes. Trends varied across regional cities: Cluj-Napoca recorded a 16% fall in transactions and Iași dropped 11%, while Timișoara posted a modest 3% increase.

Demand for residential property in Hungary continued to cool in June, with zenga.hu recording a 5% drop in interest in homes compared to May, and a 24% decline against last year's monthly average. Budapest saw the sharpest fall.

Develia sold 1,752 flats under development and preliminary agreements in the first half of 2026, up 3% from 1,699 a year earlier. The figure includes 13 units in joint venture projects. The company handed over 2,572 flats, 116% more than the 1,193 delivered in the same period last year.

Bucharest's residential market is showing signs of recovery as the first half of 2026 drew to a close. After a start to the year marked by adjustment, with apartment transactions falling 16.6% in the first three months compared to the same period in 2025, the second quarter brought a rebound in demand, confirmed by ANCPI data.

In May 2026, 8,892 residential property sales were completed nationwide in Hungary, while mortgage contracts for housing purposes reached €253 million, according to Duna House's monthly transaction estimate and mortgage forecast.

Some 634 apartments were sold in new developments in Bratislava during Q4 2025, confirming stable sales that were maintained throughout the year, according to CBRE data. At the end of the fourth quarter, 3,874 apartments were available on the market, representing a slight quarterly decrease but a 16% year-on-year increase.

The Otthon Start Program sparked a housing market boom in late summer and early autumn, but signs of overreaction are now visible on both buyer and seller sides.