https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Europe in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed Summer houses in Denmark are a hugely popular destination for those who want to vacation without going abroad. Can foreign nationals buy them in the same way as permanent homes? https://www.thelocal.com/20240212/can-foreigners-buy-a-summer-house-in-denmark Mon, 12 Feb 2024 17:10:17 +0100 can-foreigners-buy-a-summer-house-in-denmark Many people in Sweden have a summer house or 'sommarstuga' to escape to during their long holidays. Getting one of your own can be easier than you think – and can be surprisingly affordable, despite the increased cost of living. https://www.thelocal.com/20190625/guide-how-to-buy-the-swedish-summer-house-of-your-dreams-sommarstuga Tue, 25 Jun 2019 11:51:38 +0200 guide-how-to-buy-the-swedish-summer-house-of-your-dreams-sommarstuga Ever felt like spending your summers lounging around on your own island? Or have you always wanted to build a James Bond-style supervillain fort in the middle of the Stockholm archipelago? https://www.thelocal.com/20240828/how-to-buy-your-own-swedish-island Wed, 28 Aug 2024 11:25:07 +0200 how-to-buy-your-own-swedish-island Local officials on a French island are offering incentives of up to €10,000 to second-home owners who are willing to rent out their properties on a long-term lease, in order to try and overcome the housing shortage for locals. https://www.thelocal.com/20260129/french-island-offers-up-to-e10000-to-second-home-owners-who-rent-out-their-property Thu, 29 Jan 2026 16:55:44 +0100 french-island-offers-up-to-e10000-to-second-home-owners-who-rent-out-their-property Spain's capital has emerged as a coveted global luxury housing destination as Latin American and US investors fuel a real estate boom, seduced by competitive prices and high living standards. https://www.thelocal.com/20260123/oasis-of-stability-madrid-becomes-luxury-housing-haven-for-foreigners Fri, 23 Jan 2026 09:32:09 +0100 oasis-of-stability-madrid-becomes-luxury-housing-haven-for-foreigners Many foreigners who move to Spain are surprised by just how freezing Spanish winters can be, but they're equally shocked by how sometimes it's colder inside their homes than outdoors. https://www.thelocal.com/20211104/why-are-spanish-homes-so-cold Thu, 04 Nov 2021 09:42:59 +0100 why-are-spanish-homes-so-cold International buyers are involved in 62 percent of purchases of luxury properties in Spain, according to a recent report by real estate agency Lucas Fox. https://www.thelocal.com/20251201/foreigners-buy-over-60-of-luxury-homes-in-spain Mon, 01 Dec 2025 13:36:25 +0100 foreigners-buy-over-60-of-luxury-homes-in-spain Real estate prices are on the rise again, but some financial experts suggest that now is a good time to buy a home in Germany. So how much do you need to earn to purchase a house or apartment here? https://www.thelocal.com/20250819/how-much-do-you-need-to-earn-to-buy-a-home-in-germany Tue, 19 Aug 2025 19:00:34 +0200 how-much-do-you-need-to-earn-to-buy-a-home-in-germany Whether you plan to let your whole home or just a single room, make sure you’re aware of the rules around declaring the income to the German tax man. https://www.thelocal.com/20250602/what-germanys-tax-authorities-need-to-know-if-you-rent-out-your-home Mon, 02 Jun 2025 14:54:34 +0200 what-germanys-tax-authorities-need-to-know-if-you-rent-out-your-home Many property owners in France may be curious about earning some extra cash renting out their home - especially on platforms such as Airbnb - but it's important not to fall foul of local rules on registration and taxes. https://www.thelocal.com/20251009/what-you-need-to-know-about-legally-renting-out-a-french-second-home Thu, 09 Oct 2025 16:35:30 +0200 what-you-need-to-know-about-legally-renting-out-a-french-second-home Gibraltar's Chief Minister Fabián Picardo has warned that The Rock's new post-Brexit status will make it "a very attractive place" for Britons wanting to skirt Schengen's 90-day rule, adding that an influx of residents could push property prices up. https://www.thelocal.com/20250912/gibraltar-head-fears-influx-of-brits-moving-to-the-rock-to-avoid-90-day-rule Fri, 12 Sep 2025 12:49:11 +0200 gibraltar-head-fears-influx-of-brits-moving-to-the-rock-to-avoid-90-day-rule Thinking of purchasing your dream home in Germany? We look at how much you might have to earn to secure a high-end property - and where you can find a better deal. https://www.thelocal.com/20240807/how-much-do-you-need-to-earn-in-germany-to-buy-a-million-euro-home Wed, 07 Aug 2024 18:35:31 +0200 how-much-do-you-need-to-earn-in-germany-to-buy-a-million-euro-home A town in Brittany has passed a local decree banning the construction of second homes amid an increasing housing shortage for local people. https://www.thelocal.com/20250901/brittany-town-bans-second-homes-amid-housing-shortage Mon, 01 Sep 2025 12:11:36 +0200 brittany-town-bans-second-homes-amid-housing-shortage Spain's National High court has ruled against the Spanish government's MO of not letting people deduct expenses when declaring rental income if they own property in Spain, but don't reside in the EU. This sets a precedent for the planned 100 percent property tax. https://www.thelocal.com/20250822/spains-100-property-tax-for-foreigners-weakened-by-new-court-ruling Fri, 22 Aug 2025 14:00:31 +0200 spains-100-property-tax-for-foreigners-weakened-by-new-court-ruling Property tax bills are being sent out to French property owners, and many people will notice an increase - but if you think the price hike is too high - or you have been sent a bill in error - here's how you can challenge it. https://www.thelocal.com/20230905/how-to-challenge-your-french-property-tax-bill Tue, 05 Sep 2023 12:18:05 +0200 how-to-challenge-your-french-property-tax-bill Sweden’s housing market is famously difficult to break into, with first-hand rentals especially hard to come by. Or is it? One report reveals that while some areas have long queues, others have empty apartments ready to move into straight away. https://www.thelocal.com/20250513/where-is-it-easiest-to-get-a-first-hand-rental-apartment-in-sweden Tue, 13 May 2025 14:05:14 +0200 where-is-it-easiest-to-get-a-first-hand-rental-apartment-in-sweden Spaniards have 'property fever' currently; they're buying at record rates in part because they fear that if they wait any longer they won't be able to afford a home. So is it better to jump on the bandwagon and buy or wait for another moment? https://www.thelocal.com/20250715/should-i-buy-a-property-in-spain-now-before-it-gets-too-expensive Tue, 15 Jul 2025 18:26:10 +0200 should-i-buy-a-property-in-spain-now-before-it-gets-too-expensive Many experts predicted that Sweden's central bank, the Riksbank, would lower the key interest rate at its next meeting in August. Have higher-than-expected inflation rates changed that prediction? https://www.thelocal.com/20250711/how-likely-is-it-that-sweden-lowers-the-key-interest-rate-in-august Fri, 11 Jul 2025 15:21:12 +0200 how-likely-is-it-that-sweden-lowers-the-key-interest-rate-in-august For people from countries where fixed-rate mortgages are the norm, it can be surprising to discover that in Sweden they are a rarity. https://www.thelocal.com/20230808/explained-why-are-variable-rate-mortgages-so-popular-in-sweden Tue, 08 Aug 2023 16:29:10 +0200 explained-why-are-variable-rate-mortgages-so-popular-in-sweden The practice of selling homes for €1 to attract people to remote areas is widespread in Italy - in France it's less common, but they do exist if you know where to look. https://www.thelocal.com/20250704/where-can-i-find-frances-e1-homes Fri, 04 Jul 2025 16:21:01 +0200 where-can-i-find-frances-e1-homes