Cross-border housing trend: Romanians look to Hungary for cheaper property
![Cluj-Napoca Eastern Hungary property](https://contentf5.dailynewshungary.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Cluj-Napoca-Eastern-Hungary-property.jpg)
Following Romania’s entry into the Schengen Zone in January, Hungarian real estate near the border has seen a surge in interest from Romanian buyers. The removal of border controls has made it easier for Romanians to consider property purchases in Hungary, leading to renewed demand in a previously stagnant segment of the housing market.
According to ingatlan.com, inquiries from Romania about properties in Hungary’s border counties increased by 90% in the first three weeks of the year compared to the same period in 2023. The demand is largely driven by Romanians seeking more affordable housing options, as property prices in western Romania have risen significantly in recent years, Portfolio writes.
Romania’s high property prices drive interest in Hungary
In January, data from Romanian real estate site imobiliare.ro showed that property prices in Cluj-Napoca (Kolozsvár) averaged EUR 3,000 per square meter, while in Timișoara (Temesvár), the price stood at EUR 1,700 and in Oradea at EUR 1,600. Additionally, many Romanians receive their salaries in the local currency (leu) but must purchase properties in euros, making price fluctuations even more challenging. As a result, many homebuyers from cities like Cluj-Napoca (Kolozsvár), Oradea (Nagyvárad), Arad, and Carei (Nagykároly) are turning to Hungary, where they can find much lower prices while still commuting to Romania.
Property prices in Eastern Hungary
Among Romanian buyers, Debrecen is the most popular city, where average prices reached HUF 890,000 (EUR 2180) per square meter in January. Smaller towns in Hajdú-Bihar County, such as Biharkeresztes (under HUF 300,000/m², EUR 736) and Berettyóújfalu (over HUF 400,000/m², EUR 980), have also attracted significant interest, with inquiries tripling in Biharkeresztes. In Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg County, Mérk (HUF 115,000/m², EUR 282) and Csenger (HUF 184,000/m², EUR 450) are popular choices, while in Békés County, Battonya (HUF 112,000/m², EUR 275) and Gyula (HUF 427,000/m², EUR 1048) have seen rising demand.
Future outlook
Experts predict that the Schengen border opening will continue boosting the property market in Hungary’s eastern towns in the coming months. However, over time, price differences between the two countries may balance out, which could reduce Romanian interest in Hungarian properties. A similar trend was previously observed in northwestern Hungary, where Slovak buyers from Bratislava moved to nearby Hungarian villages for more affordable housing options, Portfolio concluded.
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