Here’s how to get your dream house in Hungary with a major discount
Dreaming of a house in Hungary for next to nothing? In one lakeside village, young couples can now secure a home at a fraction of the cost.
Fighting housing shortages
As HírBalaton reports, in the picturesque village of Köveskál, near Tapolca and Lake Balaton, local authorities are tackling housing shortages and depopulation through innovative schemes that make acquiring a house in Hungary more accessible. The village has secured HUF 24.1 million (EUR 59,877) in government funding to renovate a derelict municipal property into a 115-square-metre service flat.
Construction is underway and scheduled for completion by October 2026. The refurbished property may soon become home to a key public service professional, perhaps a doctor or kindergarten teacher, thanks to an initiative offering 60–80% state-funded grants for building or restoring service housing across 28 municipalities in the Balaton resort region.
Village losing its population
Köveskál’s challenges reflect broader issues in rural Hungary, where high property prices and limited employment drive young people away. The village has lost 50 residents in a decade, with few new families settling permanently despite the area’s natural beauty. Most homes are snapped up as holiday retreats, leading to a decline in community life.
To counter this, the local government devised a bold land programme, offering heavily discounted plots to young couples under strict conditions: they must build a home with full utilities within four years, commit to at least two children, and remain residents for 15 years.
House in Hungary with a discount?
This scheme to get a house in Hungary for almost free is not without precedent. Köveskál’s mayor, Szabolcs Győrffy, explained that the discounted land programme took two decades to implement, requiring land purchases and incorporation into municipal boundaries.
Yet, it’s beginning to bear fruit. Out of eleven plots offered at a 90% discount, five now have owners, showing promising signs of reversing the population decline. The hope is that this initiative will rejuvenate the village and support essential services like schools and healthcare.
Italy’s one-euro houses
The concept echoes Italy’s now-famous one-euro house schemes, where towns offer abandoned properties at symbolic prices to attract new residents and revitalise depopulated areas.
While the Italian model often requires buyers to invest heavily in renovations, Köveskál’s approach includes state support, specific residency and family commitments, making it arguably more structured and socially focused. For many, it’s a more realistic way to start a new life and own a house in Hungary without facing overwhelming costs.
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