Why investors are turning to Hungary’s Golden Visa program – Gránit AM CEO reveals the key factors

Hungary’s Golden Visa program is attracting international investors from around the world with its mix of stability, transparency, and growth potential. In an exclusive interview with Daily News Hungary, Álmos Mikesy, CEO of Gránit Asset Management (AM), explains how the company’s Gravitas Hungary Real Estate Fund transforms this opportunity into a secure, EU-regulated investment pathway for global clients.  

Hungary’s Golden Visa program with Gránit

Daily News Hungary (DNH): Hungary’s Golden Visa program has recently garnered significant attention. How does Gránit Asset Management, particularly your Gravitas Hungary Real Estate Fund, position itself within the evolving landscape?

Álmos Mikesy: Hungary’s Golden Visa Program is more than just a residence opportunity. It is both a gateway to Europe and an attractive investment channel into a stable, well-performing market. Beyond the freedom of movement within the Schengen Area, it offers long-term potential for business, lifestyle, and wealth investment.

Within this landscape, our role is to provide investors with a secure, transparent, and institutionally backed investment vehicle. With over 15 years of real estate expertise, including the management of Hungary’s third-largest real estate investment fund, Gránit Asset Management is among the country’s most experienced and trusted players. 

The Gravitas Hungary Real Estate Fund builds on this track record, combining institutional strength, regulatory oversight, and a strong commitment to investor protection to offer a reliable and future-proof solution for those seeking both residency and investment opportunities in Hungary.

DNH: What makes the Hungarian and, more broadly, the CEE real estate market attractive for international investors, especially those from Asia, at this moment? 

Mikesy: CEE real estate combines above-average yields with EU-level security. While prime residential yields in Western Europe often fall below 3%, in Budapest they are typically 4–6%, supported by strong rental demand and demographic trends. Prices have risen steadily over the past decade — more than 200% growth in Budapest — yet remain well below Vienna or Prague, offering further convergence potential.

With more than a decade of experience across Hungary, Romania, and Serbia, we know which segments offer long-term value, and today, Budapest residential real estate stands out. It combines the advantages of a growing regional hub with the stability and investor protection that come from being part of the European Union. This mix of regional expertise and EU-regulated security makes Hungary a sound choice for international investors.

DNH: Gránit AM emphasises its “Real Estate Specialist Asset Manager” identity. Could you elaborate on what this means in practice and how it benefits your investors?

Mikesy: Unlike many generalist asset managers, our business is built on direct real estate expertise. We manage properties in-house — from acquisition to asset and facility management — which means that even small operational improvements translate into measurable additional returns for investors.

At the same time, our scope is not limited to property. We combine our real estate know-how with traditional portfolio management and money-market expertise, ensuring liquidity, diversification, and professional risk management. This integrated approach helps us deliver stable, above-benchmark returns over time.

DNH: A Gránit AM delegation recently visited China on a business trip this summer, presenting the Gravitas Hungary Fund and broader local market opportunities at various business meetings. What kind of reception, market landscape, and overall sentiment did your colleagues experience? 

Mikesy: We experienced a high level of curiosity and engagement from Chinese investors. Many of them are familiar with Golden Visa programs globally but are now seeking alternatives that offer stability, clear legal frameworks, and real economic backing.

Given the challenges faced by the Chinese property market in recent years, Hungary’s offering stood out as refreshingly different: strong demand for housing, steady rental yields, and a transparent, EU-regulated environment.

The Gravitas Fund was received positively because it combines these fundamentals with the Golden Visa opportunity. Investors appreciated both the security of a regulated fund structure and the fact that Gránit Asset Management is an established, bank-backed institution.

DNH: For potential investors considering the Golden Visa route, what exactly does the Hungarian program offer, and why should they choose Hungary over other available options globally?

Mikesy: That’s a very important question, because investors today are comparing a wide range of global residency-by-investment programs. Hungary’s Golden Visa stands out as one of the most accessible and flexible options. With a €250,000 entry threshold, investors and their families receive a renewable EU residence permit with no minimum stay requirement. The investment goes into a regulated residential real estate fund, professionally managed and redeemable with potential returns after five years, offering both security and upside rather than a one-off contribution.

What makes Hungary truly competitive is the broader investment case behind the program. Real estate values in Central and Eastern Europe continue to converge with Western Europe, creating long-term growth potential beyond the visa itself. Many of our clients, especially from Asia, seek not only residency but also access to the EU education system, a base for cross-border business. The stable environment with one of Europe’s lowest corporate tax rates at 9 percent make Hungary a strategic and economically attractive alternative to programs in Portugal, Malta, or Greece.

DNH: For those interested in the Gravitas Hungary Real Estate Fund and the Hungarian Golden Visa Program, where can they find more information about the fund, the application process, and whom should they contact for personalised guidance?

Mikesy: All essential information about the Gravitas Hungary Real Estate Fund, including its investment policy, performance and key partners, is available on the English section of our website on the dedicated Golden Visa subpage. For personalised guidance, investors are welcome to reach out directly through the contact form available there.

That’s a very important question, as we are dealing with an international market here, and Hungary is present on it with a competitive product – this is certainly not some isolated, non-transparent scheme. 

When it comes to the investment itself, our message is clear: the Hungarian Golden Visa is a residential real estate-based investment program. You should approach Gránit Asset Management and the official distributors of the fund for all official fund documentation. We believe this focus is key, as we are transparently committed to the residential real estate sector in Hungary and the broader CEE region; this conviction is reflected not just in the Gravitas Fund but across our portfolios. We are seeing the European convergence process unfold, which means CEE asset prices are continuously catching up to those in Western Europe, driving up apartment values in Hungary.

Regarding our competitive advantage over programs in Portugal, Malta, or Greece, our targeted Far-Eastern clients – who view the €250,000 as significant wealth – are primarily seeking more than just a visa; they want to know what they gain economically. Besides access to the EU school system, many intend to establish a company and pursue economic activity between Europe and China, and our 9% corporate tax rate is an incredibly strong, competitive fundamental condition for them. They want to place their trust in a reliable partner within a stable market.

DNH: What is your outlook for the Hungarian real estate market and the overall investment climate in the coming years, particularly with the Golden Visa program in full swing?

Mikesy: We see the Golden Visa program adding steady, long-term capital inflows into the residential real estate market, which will support development and rental demand. However, Hungary remains attractively priced compared to Western Europe, so we do not expect a disruptive surge — rather, a healthy, stabilising effect.

For Gránit Asset Management, our strategy is to leverage our experience and scale to grow Gravitas into a flagship product for international investors. At the same time, we remain committed to our broader real estate and financial market activities, ensuring that all our clients — domestic and international — benefit from our integrated expertise.

Learn more about how to apply and what makes the program unique here: Hungary’s Golden Visa Program