Top 20 Places to Invest in Europe
Article appeared in The Daily Telegraph
Budapest
The top 20 places to invest in Europe
Data courtesy of Global Property Guide
20. Paris, France
Good: Low rental costs, high yields in Paris, Global political powerhouse
Bad: pro-tenant rental market, moderate-to-high transaction costs
19. Helsinki, Finland
Good: low to moderate transaction costs, strong economy, moderate yields, tenant-neutral rental market
Bad: high rental income tax.
18. Prague, Czech Republic
Good: pro-landlord rental market. Moderate yields, low transaction costs
Bad: moderate to high rental income tax. Aliens can’t buy land directly
17. Sophia, Bulgaria
Good: pro-landlord rental market
Bad: yields not great, high transaction costs, moderate rental income tax, corruption and crime problems
16. Brussels, Belgium
Good: strong rental demand
Bad: moderate to high transaction costs, tiresome tenancy length limits, moderate to high taxes
15. Vienna, Austria
Good: stable political system, moderate transaction costs, moderate yields for new units
Bad: complicated pro-tenant system, moderate to high rental income taxes
14. Ljubljana, Slovenia
Good: Pro-landlord rental market, low transaction costs, strong post-transition economy
Bad: low to moderate yields in Ljublana, high rental income tax, minor issues with ownership
13. Bratislava, Slovakia
Good: Low to moderate rental income tax, very low transaction costs, tenant-neutral rental market
Bad: minor issues with property rights, low rental yields.
12 Bucharest, Romania
Good: low transaction costs, strong post-transition economy
Bad: low to moderate rental yields, high rental income tax, strong pro-tenant sentiments
11. Warsaw, Poland
Good: low transaction costs, strong post-transition economy
Bad: low to moderate rental yields, high rental income tax, strong pro-tenant sentiments
10. Chisinau, Moldova
Good: High yields, pro-landlord rental market
Bad: secessionist problems, high tax rates, purchases must be in cash, one of poorest economies in Europe
9. Riga, Latvia
Good: pro-landlord rental market, low effective rental income tax rates, low transaction costs, high GDP growth, recent correction in housing market has restored value
Bad: low to moderate yields, minor ownership restrictions on land
8. Rome, Italy
Good: Europe’s historical centre, strong tourist rental market
Bad: strongly pro-tenant laws, high round-trip transaction costs, high income taxes
7. Berlin, Germany
Good: low to moderate transaction costs, largest economy in Europe, high yields in Berlin
Bad: pro-tenant rental market, moderate rental income tax
6. Talinn, Estonia
Good: very low transaction costs, moderate yields in Tallinn, strong economic growth
Bad: high rental income tax, slightly pro-tenant market
5. Zagreb, Croatia
Good: Strong tourist rental market, moderate taxes
Bad: multiple foreign ownership limits, moderate to high transaction costs, vulnerable and unstable economy
4. Istanbul, Turkey
Good: Moderate costs, moderate to high yields, rapid economic growth, low-to moderate transaction costs
Bad: pro-tenant rental market, moderate to high income taxes
3. Amsterdam, Netherlands
Good: moderate yields in Amsterdam, strong economy, moderate transaction costs, moderate rental income taxes
Bad: pro-tenant rental market
2. Skopje, Macedonia
Good: high yields, pro-landlord rental market, low transaction costs, moderate income taxes
Bad: serious ownership restrictions, political and security concerns
1. Budapest, Hungary
Good yields, low to moderate transaction costs, pro-landlord law
Bad: minor ownership restrictions, moderate to high rental income taxes
