Malta Featured in New European Housing Trend Report

The 2022 RE/MAX European Housing Trend report offered fresh insights into Malta’s property market. Thanks to this research, Malta was listed in the top five European countries where people look to move abroad, to relocate to a coastal or rural area, or where property investment may motivate a future move.   

About the 2022 RE/MAX European Housing report

Composed by PIABO PR, on behalf of RE/MAX Europe, the 2022 RE/MAX European Housing report compiles a number of survey responses from participants in Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, England, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey and Wales.

Aged between 18 and 65, respondents completed the online survey throughout August 2022, answering questions related to the local and European property market.

Key highlights from the report

The European Housing Trend report highlights that 25 per cent of Europeans are actively considering buying a residential property abroad, with a 23 per cent net increase of people who intend to buy property in Europe compared to 12 months before. Connectivity and the environment are also key concerns of respondents.

Malta’s trend results

Dedicating a page to Malta’s results, the report shares that 53.9 per cent of the local population own their own homes and that more Maltese are open to moving abroad than in any other European country, with 40 per cent actively considering migration. For those considering buying or moving abroad, 11 per cent select Italy and 8 per cent point to England as their preferred destination. Those aged 26 to 45 are most actively considering an international move, with 65 per cent seeking a better lifestyle and 58 per cent having better access to work.

Ownership of residential property in Malta

Rates of residential property ownership in Malta are low by European standards, particularly compared with Italy, according to the report. Those that do not currently own residential property are more likely to consider moving away from Malta: 48 per cent of non-property owners were thinking about moving abroad compared with 33 per cent of homeowners.

More respondents hoped to move to the countryside than a town in Malta, naming a slower pace of life and increased privacy as their top reasons to explore the property in more rural areas, although they also highlighted access to work and healthcare as urban incentives. Good connectivity is also essential to 49 per cent of participants – 4.9 per cent higher than the EU average.

Property investment and relocation

Malta came first in the top five countries where a future move is motivated by a desire to invest in property, with 26.2 per cent of respondents across Europe selecting it – 11.6 per cent higher than the rest of the EU and followed by Croatia, Bulgaria, Portugal and Spain.

The island also features in the top five countries where people are looking to move abroad, taking second place with 40 per cent after Turkey and before Romania, Slovenia and Switzerland. Finally, Malta ranked fourth in the top five countries where people are looking to relocate to a coastal or rural area with 27.8 per cent, after Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania and ahead of England.

A word from RE/MAX Malta’s CEO

“The 2022 RE/MAX Europe Housing Trend Report offers tangible insights into the international trends that impact Malta’s property market, and the sentiments towards it of customers near and far,” says RE/MAX Malta CEO, Jeffrey Buttigieg. 

“One of the report’s key takeaways is that, despite the rising cost of living across Europe, research shows that this may generate rather than reduce activity in the residential property market. 

As an industry, we must be ready to meet this demand. As nobody in the world sells more real estate than RE/MAX, it is important that we take steps to understand the forces that shape the property markets of both Malta and Europe and use this valuable customer feedback to help plan the way forward.”