Authored by the expert who managed and guided the team behind the Croatia Property Pack
Everything you need to know before buying real estate is included in our Croatia Property Pack
Should you buy property in Croatia right now, or is it smarter to wait?
We dig into the latest official data on Croatia housing prices, affordability metrics, and market signals to help you decide.
This blog post is updated regularly to reflect the most current information available on the Croatian real estate market.
And if you're planning to buy a property in this place, you may want to download our pack covering the real estate market in Croatia.
So, is now a good time?
Rather yes, but with conditions: Croatia in January 2026 is not cheap, yet it does not look like an imminent crash is coming either, so buying makes sense if you pick carefully and hold long enough.
The strongest signal is that only about 30% of recent purchases were financed with loans, which means the market is not built on shaky credit and forced selling is unlikely even if rates stay elevated.
Another strong signal is that the Croatian National Bank explicitly notes prices are rising faster than fundamentals suggest, which means downside risk exists if macro conditions worsen.
Other signals include tightening mortgage rules effective mid-2025, strong wage growth supporting demand, and a shift in policy pushing empty homes toward long-term rentals.
The best strategy is to buy a liquid property type like a one or two bedroom apartment in prime Zagreb neighborhoods (Donji Grad, Tresnjevka, Maksimir) or established coastal cities (Split, Dubrovnik, Zadar), plan to hold at least seven to ten years, and underwrite your budget with realistic rent expectations.
This is not financial or investment advice, we do not know your personal situation, and you should always do your own research before making any property decision.
Is it smart to buy now in Croatia, or should I wait as of 2026?
Do real estate prices look too high in Croatia as of 2026?
As of early 2026, property prices in Croatia appear stretched relative to local incomes, with the Croatian National Bank noting that price growth has outpaced what underlying economic fundamentals would support.
One clear on-the-ground signal is that transaction volumes in 2024 were still about 12% below 2021 levels even while prices kept climbing, which typically indicates buyers are becoming more selective and only paying up for the best properties.
Another supporting signal comes from the price-to-income ratio: a typical 60 square meter apartment at around 2,900 euros per square meter costs roughly 175,000 euros, which represents about nine to ten times the average Croatian net annual income, making it a stretch for single earners without significant savings.
You can also read our latest update regarding the housing prices in Croatia.
Does a property price drop look likely in Croatia as of 2026?
As of early 2026, the likelihood of a sharp national property price crash in Croatia is low, but a meaningful cooling with flat or slightly negative prices in some segments is plausible.
The plausible range for Croatia property prices over the next 12 months is roughly flat to up 5% in the base case, with a possible 5 to 10% decline in a downside scenario if macro conditions deteriorate significantly.
The single most important factor that would increase the odds of a price drop in Croatia is a broader European recession or a sharp tourism shock, since coastal and second-home demand is a key pillar of the market.
However, a severe recession looks unlikely right now given that wage growth remains solid and the euro area economy is expected to stabilize, so the base case remains slower growth rather than a crash.
Finally, please note that we cover the price trends for next year in our pack about the property market in Croatia.
Could property prices jump again in Croatia as of 2026?
As of early 2026, the likelihood of a renewed price surge in Croatia is medium, with another leg up possible in prime Zagreb and prime Adriatic locations, though likely slower and more selective than the post-2020 boom.
A plausible upside scenario for Croatia property prices over the next 12 months would be growth of 5 to 8%, concentrated in the most demanded neighborhoods where supply remains constrained.
The single biggest demand-side trigger that could drive Croatia property prices to jump again is a meaningful easing in euro area interest rates, since mortgage affordability is highly rate-sensitive and lower rates would immediately expand what buyers can afford to bid.
Please also note that we regularly publish and update real estate price forecasts for Croatia here.
Are we in a buyer or a seller market in Croatia as of 2026?
As of early 2026, the Croatia property market remains seller-leaning in prime areas like central Zagreb and the best Adriatic coastal neighborhoods, while more balanced conditions exist in inland and less touristic locations.
Croatia does not publish a single months-of-inventory figure like some markets, but the signal from stable transaction counts alongside rising prices suggests effective supply is tight in desirable segments, which typically means sellers have more leverage in negotiations.
Similarly, there is no centralized Croatia-wide price reduction tracker, but the fact that transaction value kept rising even as volumes stayed below 2021 peaks suggests sellers of quality properties are not under pressure to discount, while buyers can find more room to negotiate in secondary locations or for properties with flaws.
We have made this infographic to give you a quick and clear snapshot of the property market in Croatia. It highlights key facts like rental prices, yields, and property costs both in city centers and outside, so you can easily compare opportunities. We’ve done some research and also included useful insights about the country’s economy, like GDP, population, and interest rates, to help you understand the bigger picture.
Are homes overpriced, or fairly priced in Croatia as of 2026?
Are homes overpriced versus rents or versus incomes in Croatia as of 2026?
As of early 2026, homes in Croatia appear overpriced versus both rents and incomes, particularly in Zagreb and coastal areas where purchase prices have risen faster than what rental yields or local wages would justify.
The price-to-rent ratio in Croatia is elevated: with gross rental yields often in the 3 to 5% range in prime locations, you would need roughly 20 to 30 years of rent to cover the purchase price, which is higher than what is typically considered balanced.
The price-to-income multiple in Croatia is also stretched, with a typical apartment costing about nine to ten times the average net annual income, compared to a more comfortable benchmark of around five to six times income for affordable markets.
Finally please note that you will have all the indicators you need in our property pack covering the real estate market in Croatia.
Are home prices above the long-term average in Croatia as of 2026?
As of early 2026, Croatia property prices are clearly above their long-term average, with the Croatian National Bank describing the market as still in an expansionary phase after years of strong growth.
The recent 12-month price change in Croatia has been around 8 to 10%, which is well above the pre-pandemic pace of roughly 5 to 7% annually and indicates the market is running hotter than its historical norm.
In inflation-adjusted terms, Croatia property prices have likely surpassed their prior cycle peak, though the strong wage growth of recent years means real affordability has not deteriorated quite as sharply as raw price growth might suggest.
Get fresh and reliable information about the market in Croatia
Don't base significant investment decisions on outdated data. Get updated and accurate information with our guide.
What local changes could move prices in Croatia as of 2026?
Are big infrastructure projects coming to Croatia as of 2026?
As of early 2026, there is no single mega-project set to transform Croatia property prices overnight, but ongoing EU-funded investments in transport, urban regeneration, and seismic reconstruction in the Zagreb area are gradually improving livability in specific neighborhoods.
These EU-funded upgrades do not follow a single timeline but roll out continuously, with areas like Novi Zagreb (Sredisce, Siget), Tresnjevka, and parts of the coast near improved transport links likely to benefit over the next two to five years as projects complete.
For the latest updates on the local projects, you can read our property market analysis about Croatia here.
Are zoning or building rules changing in Croatia as of 2026?
The most important rule change being implemented in Croatia is a policy shift to push the tax burden toward property ownership, specifically targeting vacant homes and short-term rentals to encourage long-term rental supply.
As of early 2026, the net effect of these zoning and tax rule changes is expected to modestly increase effective rental supply in high-demand areas, which could slow rent growth slightly but is unlikely to crash purchase prices since the goal is shifting use patterns rather than restricting ownership.
The areas most affected by these rule changes in Croatia are coastal cities with high concentrations of vacation rentals and empty second homes, such as Dubrovnik, Split, and Zadar, where landlords may face new incentives to convert short-term units to long-term rentals.
Are foreign-buyer or mortgage rules changing in Croatia as of 2026?
As of early 2026, the direction of rule changes in Croatia is toward tighter mortgage lending rather than new foreign-buyer restrictions, with the Croatian National Bank having implemented caps on debt-service-to-income ratios, loan-to-value limits, and loan maturities effective July 2025.
No major new foreign-buyer restrictions are currently being implemented in Croatia, though EU and EEA buyers continue to have easier access than non-EU buyers, who may face reciprocity and approval requirements especially for coastal property purchases.
The most impactful mortgage rule change already in effect is the combination of stricter DSTI caps, lower maximum LTV ratios, and shorter maximum loan terms, which together reduce the maximum amount financed buyers can bid and will likely cool demand from highly leveraged purchasers.
You can also read our latest update about mortgage and interest rates in Croatia.
We did some research and made this infographic to help you quickly compare rental yields of the major cities in Croatia versus those in neighboring countries. It provides a clear view of how this country positions itself as a real estate investment destination, which might interest you if you’re planning to invest there.
Will it be easy to find tenants in Croatia as of 2026?
Is the renter pool growing faster than new supply in Croatia as of 2026?
As of early 2026, the balance between renter demand and new rental supply in Croatia is roughly even at the national level, but renter pools are growing faster than supply in specific high-demand areas like Zagreb and major coastal work hubs.
The clearest signal of renter demand growth in Croatia comes from urban job creation and foreign worker inflows, particularly in services, construction, and tourism, which have been boosting rental demand in bigger cities.
On the supply side, construction activity in Croatia has been strong with substantial dwelling completions in 2024, but new supply does not always land in the exact neighborhoods or formats where renters want to live, keeping prime areas tight.
Are days-on-market for rentals falling in Croatia as of 2026?
As of early 2026, there is no official nationwide days-on-market series for Croatian rentals, but rising rents and tight conditions in prime neighborhoods suggest correctly priced apartments are finding tenants quickly, typically within one to three weeks in liquid locations.
The difference in leasing speed between the best areas like central Zagreb, Split center, or Dubrovnik Lapad and weaker locations can be significant, with prime one and two bedroom apartments renting in days while larger homes or poorly located units may sit for months.
One common reason days-on-market falls in Croatia is seasonal demand spikes, particularly in coastal cities where the pre-summer period sees intense competition for long-term rentals from workers arriving for the tourist season.
Are vacancies dropping in the best areas of Croatia as of 2026?
As of early 2026, effective vacancy in the best-performing rental areas of Croatia, such as Zagreb neighborhoods like Donji Grad, Tresnjevka, and Maksimir, and coastal cities like Split (Bacvice, Meje) and Dubrovnik (Lapad), appears to be staying low as long-term rental demand outpaces the supply actually available for year-round tenants.
Croatia can have a large stock of "empty" homes on paper while still having tight long-term rental vacancies, because many units are held for short-term tourism use or as seasonal second homes rather than being available for permanent residents.
One practical sign for landlords that the best areas in Croatia are tightening first is when you start receiving multiple inquiries within hours of listing a reasonably priced apartment, and prospective tenants offer to sign immediately without negotiating on price.
By the way, we've written a blog article detailing what are the current rent levels in Croatia.
Buying real estate in Croatia can be risky
An increasing number of foreign investors are showing interest. However, 90% of them will make mistakes. Avoid the pitfalls with our comprehensive guide.
Am I buying into a tightening market in Croatia as of 2026?
Is for-sale inventory shrinking in Croatia as of 2026?
As of early 2026, it is difficult to estimate exact for-sale inventory changes in Croatia because the market lacks a centralized MLS-style listing database, but the combination of stable transaction counts and rising prices suggests available inventory in desirable segments is not abundant.
Croatia does not publish a standard months-of-supply metric, but the market signal of prices rising even while transaction volumes remain below 2021 levels is consistent with tight effective inventory in the most demanded neighborhoods, which would typically indicate less than six months of supply in those areas.
One likely reason inventory feels tight in Croatia is that many existing owners locked in favorable pre-2022 financing conditions and have little incentive to sell and rebuy at higher rates, reducing the normal turnover of resale homes.
Are homes selling faster in Croatia as of 2026?
As of early 2026, there is no single official median days-on-market statistic for Croatia, but quality homes in prime locations like central Zagreb or desirable coastal areas appear to be selling within a few weeks when priced correctly, while overpriced or flawed properties take significantly longer.
Year-over-year, the pattern in Croatia suggests selling times are stable for good properties but lengthening for anything that is overpriced, poorly maintained, or in a less desirable location, as buyers have become more selective in an elevated-rate environment.
Are new listings slowing down in Croatia as of 2026?
As of early 2026, we cannot confidently estimate exact year-over-year changes in new for-sale listings in Croatia due to the lack of centralized listing data, but building permit and completion trends suggest new stock continues to enter the market at a healthy pace nationally.
The seasonal pattern for new listings in Croatia typically sees more activity in spring and early summer, with a slowdown around the peak tourist season and year-end holidays, and the current January period would normally be on the quieter side.
One plausible reason new resale listings may be slower than normal is that existing homeowners with low fixed-rate mortgages are reluctant to sell and rebuy at today's higher rates, keeping turnover below historical norms.
Is new construction failing to keep up in Croatia as of 2026?
As of early 2026, new construction in Croatia is strong at the national level with substantial completions in 2024, but supply still appears to be failing to keep up in the exact locations and formats people want most, such as well-located city apartments and year-round coastal homes.
The recent trend in Croatia shows healthy building permit issuance and dwelling completions, but this new supply is distributed across the country and does not always match where demand is concentrated, particularly in the most walkable urban neighborhoods and established coastal towns.
The single biggest bottleneck limiting new construction where it matters most in Croatia is land availability and permitting complexity in already-built-up urban areas, which pushes development to peripheral locations that are less attractive to end users.
We made this infographic to show you how property prices in Croatia compare to other big cities across the region. It breaks down the average price per square meter in city centers, so you can see how cities stack up. It’s an easy way to spot where you might get the best value for your money. We hope you like it.
Will it be easy to sell later in Croatia as of 2026?
Is resale liquidity strong enough in Croatia as of 2026?
As of early 2026, resale liquidity in Croatia is strong in prime locations like central Zagreb (Donji Grad, Maksimir, Tresnjevka), Split (Bacvice, Meje), and Dubrovnik (Lapad), where correctly priced properties typically find buyers within a few weeks to a couple of months.
While Croatia lacks an official median days-on-market statistic, quality apartments in liquid neighborhoods appear to sell in roughly 30 to 60 days when priced realistically, which is consistent with healthy liquidity, though outliers can take much longer.
The property characteristic that most improves resale liquidity in Croatia is location within an established, amenity-rich neighborhood with good transport links, as buyers consistently prioritize walkability, proximity to jobs, and access to services over raw square footage or finishes.
Is selling time getting longer in Croatia as of 2026?
As of early 2026, selling time in Croatia appears to be getting modestly longer for average and below-average properties compared to the 2021 to 2022 peak, while well-located quality homes continue to sell at a similar pace as before.
The realistic range for time-to-sell in Croatia spans from as little as two to four weeks for a competitively priced apartment in prime Zagreb or Split, to three months or more for overpriced homes, properties needing work, or units in less desirable locations.
One clear reason selling time can lengthen in Croatia is affordability pressure: as prices have risen faster than incomes, the pool of qualified buyers has shrunk, meaning sellers who price above what the remaining buyers can afford will wait longer to transact.
Is it realistic to exit with profit in Croatia as of 2026?
As of early 2026, the likelihood of exiting with a profit in Croatia is medium for buyers entering now, depending heavily on holding period, purchase price discipline, and location choice.
The estimated minimum holding period in Croatia that most often makes exiting with profit realistic is around five to seven years, though holding seven to ten years significantly improves odds by allowing time to absorb transaction costs and ride out any near-term price volatility.
Total round-trip transaction costs in Croatia, including purchase taxes, notary fees, agency commissions, and selling costs, typically run in the range of 6 to 10% of the property value, which in euros for a 200,000 euro apartment would be roughly 12,000 to 20,000 euros.
The factor that most increases profit odds in Croatia is buying in a genuinely liquid neighborhood where both end-user and rental demand are deep, such as central Zagreb, Split waterfront areas, or established Dubrovnik residential zones, because these locations hold value even in downturns and attract buyers when you exit.
Get the full checklist for your due diligence in Croatia
Don't repeat the same mistakes others have made before you. Make sure everything is in order before signing your sales contract.
What sources have we used to write this blog article?
Whether it's in our blog articles or the market analyses included in our property pack about Croatia, we always rely on the strongest methodology we can … and we don't throw out numbers at random.
We also aim to be fully transparent, so below we've listed the authoritative sources we used, and explained how we used them and the methods behind our estimates.
| Source | Why It Is Authoritative | How We Used It |
|---|---|---|
| Croatian National Bank (HNB) Financial Stability | It is the central bank directly tracking housing prices, transactions, and financial risks in Croatia. | We used it for the overall market cycle assessment, transaction volume trends, and risk framing. We also relied on it for the loan-financing share that suggests crash risk is limited. |
| Croatian Bureau of Statistics (DZS) Dwelling Prices | It is the official statistics agency publishing primary price data in euros per square meter. | We used it to anchor Croatia-wide price levels rather than relying on asking prices. We also used it to calculate affordability ratios against wages. |
| Croatian Bureau of Statistics (DZS) Earnings | It is the official wage dataset needed to judge affordability versus incomes. | We used it to estimate price-to-income pressure using official earnings figures. We also used it to explain why demand held up through strong wage growth. |
| Eurostat House Price Index | Eurostat is the EU official statistical office with harmonized housing price methodology. | We used it to benchmark Croatia versus euro area and EU trends. We also used it to frame whether Croatia is running hotter than peers. |
| ECB Data Portal Bank Interest Rates | It is the official euro area interest rate dataset, the key driver of mortgage affordability. | We used it to ground the rate environment for Croatian borrowers. We also used it to explain what waiting for lower rates could realistically mean. |
| HNB Macroprudential Diagnostics No. 26 | It is the regulator's official note on tightening lending rules that directly affect demand. | We used it to judge whether credit growth will be capped, reducing bubble risk. We also used it to explain who may be pushed out of the market in 2026. |
| Croatian Bureau of Statistics (DZS) Building Permits | It is the official supply pipeline signal collected from permitting authorities. | We used it to assess whether new supply is ramping up or stalling. We also used it to judge whether shortages are structural or temporary. |
| Croatian Bureau of Statistics (DZS) Completed Dwellings | It is official data on what actually got built, not just planned. | We used it to see whether supply is arriving fast enough to relieve price pressure. We also used it as a check against the permits pipeline. |
| Eurostat House Prices and Rents | It is an official Eurostat synthesis of price and rent movements across Europe. | We used it to compare rent inflation versus house price inflation in Croatia. We also used it to frame tenant demand conditions in the EU context. |
| Eurostat Housing in Europe 2025 | It is a curated Eurostat publication based on EU-SILC showing housing stress metrics. | We used it to explain affordability stress beyond prices. We also used it to highlight Croatia's relatively low housing cost overburden rate. |
| Reuters Croatia Property Tax Reporting | Reuters is a major wire service clearly attributing policy intent to government officials. | We used it to explain the policy direction pushing empty homes into use. We also used it as context for supply that exists on paper but not in the rental market. |
| EY Summary of Tax Reform | EY is a major professional services firm summarizing enacted legislation. | We used it to confirm that policy and tax changes are real and enacted. We used it to explain which behaviors government is trying to incentivize. |
| Croatian Ministry of Interior Statistics | It is the official portal for residence and foreigner statistics affecting the renter pool. | We used it as the authoritative base for migration and foreign worker pressure on rental demand. We cross-checked press reports against official releases. |
| BIS Residential Property Price Statistics | BIS aggregates central bank grade housing price series for cross-country comparison. | We used it to sanity check the direction and magnitude of Croatia's cycle against global trends. We used it as a second reference for boom comparisons. |
We created this infographic to give you a simple idea of how much it costs to buy property in different parts of Croatia. As you can see, it breaks down price ranges and property types for popular cities in the country. We hope this makes it easier to explore your options and understand the market.