Budapest is the capital city of Hungary and the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial and transportation centre. In 2007 Budapest had 1,696,128 inhabitants with an official agglomeration of 2,451,418 , down from a mid-1980s peak of 2.1 million. Budapest became a single city occupying both banks of the river Danube (Hungarians call it the Duna river) with the amalgamation on 17 November 1873 of right-bank (west) Buda and Óbuda (Old Buda) together with Pest on the left (east) bank.
Widely regarded as one of the most beautiful cities in the world, Budapest is considered an important Central European hub for business, culture and tourism. Its World Heritage Sites include the banks of the Danube, the Buda Castle Quarter, Andrássy Avenue and the Millennium Underground railway, the first on the European continent. Budapest attracts over 20 million visitors a year, making it one of the top destinations in Europe. The city ranks 74th on Mercer Consulting's 'World's Top 100 Most Livable Cities' list
Property prices are low.
- Property Prices are still low relative to other Central European cities and a lot lower than the rest of Western Europe. With prices from 1,250 e/m2, Budapest offers really exciting investment opportunities
- It is widely expected that properties in key areas around the city will double in value over the next 5-7 years
Active Property Market.
- The property market is very active as it is estimated that over 4,000 foreigners and over 12,000 locals will purchase property in Budapest this year with the local market steadily increasing each year
- There is now a greater choice of quality developments being built around the city compared to 2-3 years ago
- Because of it being the capital, Budapest is a real property market, not affected by a growth-bubble like some tourist-driven markets but dominated by local transactions
Local Mortgages.
- Mortgages are available to foreigner investors. The loan-to value ratio can be up to 70% of the purchase price
EU Funding & Growth .
- 29 billion EUR of EU funding will be invested in Hungary over the next 7 years
- EU Regulations are changing all sectors (Banking, Education, Government, Property)
- Budapest offers an extremely safe property investment due to a strict legal system
- Huge amounts of Foreign Direct Investments are made in Hungary each year, 70% of which in Budapest (Multinationals and institutional investors)
- Hungary will soon adopt the Euro, most likely in 2012
- Huge Local Purchase Power - Equity Stock
- Of the 10 countries having joined the EU on 1 May 2004, Hungary has proved to be by far the most dynamic, with one of the most stable and wealthy economies in Central Eastern Europe.
- Budapest generates 60% of Hungary’s GDP
Regeneration.
- A scarcity of good quality new-build housing in the city centre (where much of the residential accommodation is in need of renovation) has resulted in a captive rental market driven by increasingly affluent Budapestians and foreign corporate tenants
- There is a severe shortage of suitable building plots in the city, which makes the demand much higher than the supply