immoportal-ungarn.com · Western Hungary 2026

Market report · Property in Western Hungary

Western Hungary 2026: Border Locations on the Rise

22 September 2026René Unger, HUN 360 INGATLANReading time approx. 5 min

The Western Transdanubia region (Nyugat-Dunántúl), with Sopron, Szombathely, Kőszeg and Mosonmagyaróvár, is attracting more and more buyers from Austria and Germany. Prices per square metre are well below those in Burgenland, Vienna or southern Germany, and transport links to Austria are good. At the same time, the market has slowed after the 2025 boom.

Border towns and commuter corridors

The key towns on the Hungarian side are Sopron, Szombathely, Kőszeg and Mosonmagyaróvár. Many Hungarians commute to work in Burgenland or Vienna. The main routes are the S31 (Sopron–Eisenstadt), the M1/A4 (Győr–Vienna) and the M85 and M86 between Győr, Sopron and Szombathely. There are no official cross-border commuter statistics. For buyers, these links mean that Vienna or Eisenstadt can be reached day to day from many locations.

Supply and prices

Supply consists mainly of older detached houses and flats in new residential parks (lakópark), for example in Sopron and Hegyeshalom. In upmarket parts of Sopron and its surroundings, such as Ágfalva, houses cost around HUF 1.1–1.3 million/m². In Vas and Zala prices are lower at about HUF 0.8–1.0 million/m². In September 2026, around 280 houses in Sopron were listed on ingatlan.com.

According to KSH, home prices nationwide in Q1 2026 were 8.6% higher in nominal terms than a year earlier; in county seats such as Győr, Szombathely and Zalaegerszeg, the price per m² of second-hand flats rose by 15%. Preliminary data show the number of sales about 11% below the same quarter of the previous year. Over the long term, Hungarian price levels have roughly tripled since 2015, while in Austria they have largely stagnated since 2019.

Demand from Austria and Germany

Demand comes mainly from Austria. Buyers look for affordable second or retirement homes because Burgenland and Vienna are considerably more expensive. Buyers from Germany, mostly from Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, play a smaller role. Local agents estimate the share of Austrian buyers in Sopron at 30–50%.

• Selling first: Many buyers first have to sell their property in Germany or Austria, which lengthens the buying process.
• Financing: Loans from foreign banks for Hungarian property are often hard to obtain; a high equity share is usually required.
• Cost of living: Consumer prices and property taxes are well below Austrian levels.
• EU freedom of movement: Buyers from Germany and Austria need no acquisition permit. Anyone staying longer than 90 days registers their residence and receives a registration certificate.

Comparison with Bavaria and Upper Austria

Guide values; “–” = not available from the sources.

Outlook 2026/2027

After the 2025 boom, the market is cooling. According to the MNB, home prices fell 1.1% nationwide in Q2 2026 compared with the previous quarter, by 0.6% in towns and by 2.8% in villages (községek). Sales in the first half of the year were around 10% below the previous year; MBH analysts expect only 118,000–125,000 transactions in 2026, after around 147,000 in 2025. At the same time, the MNB estimates that prices at the end of 2025 were 22.5% above the level justified by fundamentals.

MBH still expects nationwide annual price growth of 8–13% for 2026. Annual rates like this, however, still include the strong increases from autumn 2025. For buyers today, the quarter-on-quarter trend is more meaningful. We therefore distinguish by location:

Own assessment by HUN 360 INGATLAN based on the MNB, KSH and MBH data cited; not a forecast by any institute. With inflation of 2–3% (MBH forecast), the range for rural locations means falling prices in real terms.

Risks

• Economy in Austria and Germany: WIFO expects Austrian growth of only 0.9% in 2026 and 1.1% in 2027, with unemployment at around 7.5%. Cross-border commuters' incomes and demand from Austrian buyers depend on this.
• Energy prices and geopolitical crises: The recent energy price shock caused by the Middle East conflict shows how quickly external events can dampen the economy and willingness to buy.
• Interest rates and exchange rate: The MNB has cut its base rate to 5.75%; further steps are uncertain. Forint–euro swings change prices for buyers from the euro area.
• More supply: Around 15,000 new homes are expected to be completed in 2026 and up to 20,000 in 2027. This increases competition for existing properties.
• Municipal by-laws: Under the Local Identity Act, individual municipalities can restrict newcomers.
• Resale: In rural areas, selling often takes a long time. Buyers should plan for a long holding period.