Residential rents in Greece increased by an average of 3.8% in 2026, while demand for affordable properties continued to exceed available supply, according to market data from RE/MAX Greece and Spitogatos.
Mortgage disbursements rose by 34.9% in the first eight months of the year, reaching €1.8 billion, as international buyers also increased their presence in the Greek property market.
The figures reveal significant differences between regions and price categories, with rental properties costing less than €600 per month attracting substantially more interest than higher-priced homes.
Rental prices increase across Greece, with more than 30 areas above €10 per sqm
According to RE/MAX Greece, which analysed rental transactions across its network in 124 locations, residential rents increased by 3.8% nationwide in 2026, with Attica recording a 4.3% rise, Thessaloniki 3% and the rest of Greece 4%.
More than 30 locations reported average rental prices of at least €10 per square metre, while Kolonaki in Athens, Thessaloniki’s Old Waterfront and Santorini recorded some of the highest levels, at €14 per sqm. However, rents remained unchanged in both Kolonaki and the Old Waterfront area.
The largest annual increases were recorded in Nea Iraklitsa, Kavala, at 16.7%, followed by Petralona in Athens at 15.6%, while Kypseli and Thermi in Thessaloniki registered increases of 14.3%.
Within Attica, the western suburbs recorded the strongest average increase, at 5.7%, although rents remained comparatively affordable at €7.4 per sqm, against €11.1 in the southern suburbs and €10.3 in the northern suburbs. Paros was among the areas reporting a decline, with average rents falling 8.3%.
Affordable rental homes attract more than 21 enquiries per listing
Data from property platform Spitogatos for the first eight months of 2026 highlights the imbalance between available properties and prospective tenants, particularly in the lower-priced rental segment.
In the northern suburbs of Athens, rental properties advertised for less than €600 per month generated an average of 21.1 leads and 281.7 property searches for every available home. For properties renting above €1,500, the level of demand relative to supply was as much as 42 times lower.
Elefsina, Marousi, Iraklio, Pallini and Chalandri were among the areas experiencing the strongest pressure on lower-priced rental accommodation. Similar conditions were recorded outside Attica, particularly in the Dodecanese, where properties renting for less than €600 attracted 22.4 leads and 196.4 searches per available listing.
In the residential sales market, buyer interest was concentrated on properties priced up to €250,000, while homes costing more than €550,000 faced considerably lower demand relative to available stock.
Mortgage lending reaches €1.8 billion, up 34.9%
Housing finance expanded significantly during the first eight months of 2026, with mortgage disbursements reaching €1.8 billion, an increase of 34.9% compared with the corresponding period of 2025, according to figures presented by IMS-FC.
Financing through the government’s Spiti Mou (My Home) housing programmes increased by 54.6%, supporting demand among eligible homebuyers. Despite the growth, mortgage financing remains less common in Greece than across Europe. Approximately 23% of Greek property transactions involve a mortgage loan, compared with a European average of 45%.
Foreign buyers account for 20.3% of housing demand
International demand has increased substantially since 2020, with Spitogatos reporting a 60.3% rise in interest from overseas property seekers. Foreign buyers now account for 20.3% of total demand recorded by the platform, with the United States, Germany and the United Kingdom representing the leading source markets.
Five of the ten most popular locations among international buyers are outside Athens and Thessaloniki: Halkidiki, the Cyclades, Kavala, Messinia and the Dodecanese. A separate analysis by holiday-home specialist Elxis, covering 2024–2026, found that 44% of prospective buyers contacting the company came from countries outside the EU.
Among non-EU buyers, 38% reported budgets exceeding €400,000, compared with 24% of prospective buyers from EU member states. British buyers showed a preference for the Ionian Islands, which accounted for 24% of their interest, while buyers from the United States and Canada favoured Crete, at 28%, and mainland Greece, at 25%.
