Budapest is the capital of Hungary, its biggest city and home to about 17% of the population. It measures 525 square kms in total, which is five times bigger than Paris. There are many advantages to having a pied-a-terre here in the heart of Europe: not only is it a historical city built on natural hot water springs, but it’s also close to some excellent ski slopes and beach resorts.
Key Facts
House prices gained 10% year-on-year by Q4 2015.
50% of foreign buyers in Hungary choose Budapest.
The Danube separates the city into three main parts: Buda, Obuda and Pest.
The “Castle District” and “Highlands” are the most expensive areas.
Budapest was officially created in 1873 by uniting several small towns.
In 2013, the local real estate market bottomed out as a delayed result of the 2008 crisis, but it had already bounced back by 2014 with prices gaining as much as 20% over the year. The market is now on the up-and-up with authorities delivering four times more construction permits in 2015, compared to the previous year. By the end of last year, sales volumes had increased by 25% and experts now expect the market to finally reach pre-crisis levels in 2016. About 50% of foreign citizens buying property in Hungary choose apartments in Budapest.
Hungary makes top 5 European countries to buy property in 2016
Budapest is divided into 23 districts (kerület) and the Danube separates the city into three main historical parts: Pest on the East Bank, Buda and Obuda on the West Bank. This guide focuses on the six districts of Buda, the most pleasant part of the city.
Top Districts to Invest
District I: “Castle District”
Good for: history lovers
Average price: €1,725 square metre
Most tourists start off in District I, Budapest’s Old city, aptly named “Castle District”, after the old Buda castle (Budai Vár). This area is home to the capital’s main landmarks: the Royal Palace (Királyi Palota), the National Gallery (Magyar Nemzeti Galéria), the House of Hungarian Wines (Magyar Borok Háza), Fisherman’s Bastion (Halászbástya), the History of Budapest Museum (Budapesti Történeti Múzeum), the National Széchényi Library (Országos Széchényi Könyvtár), Matthias Church (Mátyás templom). Out of all these locations, the Royal Palace and Fisherman’s Bastion are the most popular points of interest. The best baths in Budapest, Gellert (Gellért Fürdő) and Rudas (Rudas Gyógyfürdő és Uszoda), are also in District I.
District II: central suburb for the elite
Good for: families and high-net worth buyers
Average price: €1,650 square metre
District II is popular among wealthy foreign citizens and most of the embassies and international schools are located here. The main draw of the district is the many woods, forests and parks. It takes 30 minutes to drive to the centre, giving inhabitants plenty of privacy. Rose Hill (Rózsadomb) is the most prestigious part and has a wide choice of houses and villas with land and gardens for sale.
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