While this trend is most pronounced in the capital, similar patterns are emerging across Hungary. As a result, activity has slowed in previously dynamic market segments typically driven by young buyers.

The 2025 data indicates a dramatic shift in the activity of younger purchasers, a development that could reshape housing demand and broader residential trends in the long term.

The decline is especially sharp in the 20–30 age group: while they accounted for 17% of all Budapest property buyers in 2024, that share nearly halved to just 9% in 2025.

“The presence of younger buyers in the real estate market is more than just a statistic—it’s an important indicator of the market’s health,” said Péter Szegő, PR and market analyst at Duna House.

“Their withdrawal signals not only a missing demographic but may also reflect a troubling societal shift alongside the broader market stagnation. Rising property prices and high interest rates, coupled with inflation, make it harder for young people to gather the necessary down payment or qualify for loans. Securing independent housing is becoming increasingly difficult.”
 

This shift has also impacted demand for smaller apartments. In 2024, 10% of buyers opted to downsize; in 2025, that figure dropped to just 5%. Compact and more affordable homes, such as studio apartments, are especially popular with first-time buyers — typically younger people.

Their absence from the market has translated into falling demand for these housing types, possibly indicating that even the smallest units are increasingly out of financial reach for entry-level buyers.

Fewer Young Adults Moving Out

A similar trend is evident in generational separation—situations where young adults leave the family home. In 2024, 8% of all transactions were related to this kind of life change; by 2025, that figure had fallen to 3%.

This, too, appears to be driven by economic constraints. “This trend is closely linked to the shrinking number of young buyers,” said Szegő. “If young people aren’t entering the market and purchasing homes of their own, the process of generational separation is inevitably delayed.”

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