Overview of Key International Real Estate News (23.04 – 29.04)

In Russia, mortgage regulations are changing sharply, while Italy is increasing taxes for investors. Dubai is developing new initiatives to attract buyers who lost interest after the conflict in the Middle East. Meanwhile, Spain is already seeing the effects of rental market regulation, with prices declining.

New mortgage rules in Russia may block up to 35% of applications

Banks in Russia are tightening mortgage lending standards, now considering only officially confirmed income when assessing borrowers. Experts forecast a rejection rate increase of up to 35%. Self-employed applicants and those with partially undeclared income are most at risk. The mortgage market may slow down significantly, with housing demand also expected to decline.

Luxury property prices worldwide rose by 32% in 2025

The strongest growth was recorded in Dubai and Seoul, where premium property prices increased significantly faster than the global average. In several cities across the US and Europe, price dynamics were much weaker, with growth in some areas nearly stagnating.

Italy closes a tax loophole for investors

Italian authorities are discussing a shift from a preferential 21% tax rate to a flat rate of around 26% on rental income and parts of real estate investment returns. This would most strongly affect short-term rental profitability in tourist cities.

Rental prices in Barcelona fell by 2.7% year-on-year

The average rent in Barcelona dropped to €1,160.99 per month, down 2.7% annually. However, a quarterly increase of 0.7% was recorded. In Catalonia, average rent decreased from €884.19 to €876.83.

Dubai integrates real estate and residency into one system

Dubai plans to link property purchases with residency permits through a unified digital system, aiming to simplify procedures and speed up the process for investors.

Serbia’s real estate market reaches record turnover

In 2025, total real estate transactions in Serbia reached an all-time high of around €2.4 billion, up 9% from 2024. The number of deals also increased, with apartments remaining the main driver, accounting for more than half of total turnover. Mortgages are gradually returning to the market, supporting demand in the residential segment.

Tbilisi housing market in 2026: slowing price growth and yields

In Q1, housing market turnover in Tbilisi rose to $941 million (+24%), with transactions reaching 10,723 (+19%). However, price growth is slowing, and in March prices fell to $1,011 per sq. m (−5% year-on-year). The share of secondary housing is rising to 86%, while rents and yields in this segment are gradually declining.

The International Investment catalogue features properties under international hotel management.

Property selection