Foreign citizens accounted for 4% of all home buyers in Hungary in 2025, but their presence was significantly higher in parts of western Hungary and central Budapest, according to data from the National Tax and Customs Administration published by the National Bank of Hungary.
German citizens were the largest foreign buyer group nationwide, accounting for 1.1 percentage points of all home purchases. Romanian and Slovak citizens represented 0.6 and 0.5 percentage points, respectively, while Dutch and Chinese buyers each accounted for 0.3 percentage points and Austrians for 0.2 percentage points.
Foreign buyers reach 11.3% in Somogy and Zala
The highest concentrations outside Budapest were recorded in Somogy and Zala counties, where foreign citizens accounted for 11.3% of home buyers in 2025. More than two-thirds of foreign purchases in both counties were made by German citizens. Dutch, Austrian and Swiss buyers were also present in these markets.
Foreigners account for 13.2% of buyers in inner Pest
Foreign citizens represented 5.5% of home buyers in Budapest in 2025. Their activity was heavily concentrated in the inner Pest districts. More than half of all foreign purchases in the capital took place in Districts V, VI, VII, VIII and IX, where international buyers accounted for 13.2% of all housing transactions.
Chinese citizens alone represented 3.5 percentage points of purchases in these districts, while Vietnamese buyers accounted for 0.8 percentage points. Israeli buyers represented another 0.8 percentage points, followed by Turkish citizens at 0.7, Russians at 0.6 and French buyers at 0.5 percentage points.
Around 150,000 homes expected to have changed hands
The latest KSH data show that nearly 147,000 housing transactions have already been registered for 2025. As reporting is not yet complete, the statistical office expects the final number to reach around 150,000 transactions.
The MNB uses a slightly different estimate, calculating that private individuals completed around 152,000 housing transactions in 2025, 3% more than in 2024. Based on the KSH estimate, around 6,000 Hungarian home purchases in 2025 would have involved foreign buyers if the nationwide 4% share is applied to total transactions.
