Buying Real Estate in 2026: VAT Changes for New Developments

The morning sun hits the cranes over the Ellinikon project in Athens with a clinical, unforgiving brightness. For the better part of a decade, this site—the largest urban regeneration project in Europe—has been a symbol of Greece’s phoenix-like ascent from the debt crisis. But for the cohort of international investors and high-net-worth expats gathered at the marketing suite, the conversation isn’t about the Mediterranean views or the starchitect-designed villas. It is about the calendar.

As 2025 draws to a close, a significant fiscal grace period is expiring. Since 2019, Greece has maintained a suspension of the 24% Value Added Tax (VAT) on new building permits. That suspension, a primary driver of the Athenian "construction fever," is currently scheduled to sunset on December 31, 2025. For an expat eyeing a €2 million penthouse in 2026, the difference between a deal signed now and a deal signed then isn’t just a matter of interest rates—it is a potential €480,000 tax liability that did not exist twelve months prior.

This is the new reality of global real estate. The era of "easy entry" through tax holidays and low-barrier residency is being replaced by a sophisticated, revenue-hungry regulatory landscape. From the Mediterranean coast to the glittering high-rises of the Persian Gulf, the fiscal architecture of 2026 is being rewritten. For the mobile professional, the "where" of buying property is now secondary to the "when" and the "how."

The Hard Numbers: 2026 Projections

The shift in VAT and property-related levies across major expat hubs is not happening in a vacuum. It is a calculated response by governments to cool overheated domestic markets while replenishing coffers after years of aggressive stimulus. In markets like Spain, Portugal, and Greece, the projected increases in transaction costs for 2026 are expected to outpace organic capital appreciation in the short term.

According to the Hellenic Statistical Authority and recent IMF fiscal outlooks, the reintroduction of VAT on new developments in Greece—should the current suspension not be extended again—will create a two-tier market. New builds will carry a 24% VAT, while "second-hand" homes (those with permits issued before 2006 or already lived in) remain subject only to a 3% transfer tax.

Table 1: Comparative Acquisition Costs (New Build vs. Resale) – 2026 Forecast

*Portugal’s rates vary by region and property type; 2026 projections suggest a tightening of exemptions for high-end developments. **While Dubai maintains 0% VAT on residential sales, discussions regarding increased "Land Department Fees" or a modest transaction levy are part of the 2026-2030 fiscal roadmap to diversify non-oil revenue.

Housing Market Outlook: The Cost of Living Component

Real estate acquisition is only the entry price. The operational cost of maintaining a secondary or primary residence in these hubs is projected to rise through 2026, driven largely by the EU’s Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD). By 2026, many jurisdictions will mandate "Green Levies" on properties that do not meet specific EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) ratings.

Table 2: Projected Monthly Carrying Costs (Luxury 2-Bedroom Apartment)

Note: Figures include utilities, community fees, property tax installments, and basic maintenance.

The Regulatory Landscape: Navigating the 2026 Shift

The most profound changes for 2026 are found in the fine print of residency-by-investment programs, which are increasingly decoupling from real estate.

The "End of the Golden Visa" Ripple Effect

Spain’s legislative push to eliminate the €500,000 real estate path for its "Golden Visa" is expected to be fully codified and operational by the 2026 tax year. This has triggered a "front-loading" of demand in 2025, which analysts forecast will lead to a localized price correction in late 2026. For the expat, the strategy shifts from "buying for a visa" to "buying for value."

In Greece, the 2024/2025 hikes—which raised the minimum investment to €800,000 in prime areas like Attica and the islands—will have their first full year of market impact in 2026. Data from the Ministry of Migration suggests a 30% pivot toward "Industrial-to-Residential" conversions, which currently retain a lower €250,000 entry point. However, these conversions are themselves under scrutiny for 2026 VAT adjustments, as they are technically "new" units entering the market.

Tax Residence and the "Beckham Law" Evolution

Spain’s Special Expats' Tax Regime (the "Beckham Law") remains a draw, but 2026 forecasts suggest a tightening of the wealth tax exemptions. While the law allows for a flat 24% rate on Spanish-sourced income, the exemption for foreign-held real estate assets is increasingly being challenged by regional governments in Catalonia and Valencia.

For the 2026 buyer, this means a "Spanish holding company" structure, once a standard tax-avoidance tool, may carry more regulatory overhead than it is worth. The Ministry of Finance’s 2026 roadmap includes enhanced digital reporting requirements for beneficial owners of real estate, making anonymity—and tax opacity—all but impossible.

Local "On the Ground" Insight: The Post-Short-Term Era

Beyond the tax tables, the 2026 market is being shaped by a cultural and legislative backlash against short-term rentals (STRs). In cities like Barcelona and Lisbon, the "new development" you buy in 2026 may come with a deed restriction that explicitly bans Airbnb-style rentals in perpetuity.

A nuance often missed by foreign buyers is the "Horizontal Property Law" in Southern Europe. By 2026, it is estimated that over 60% of luxury residential buildings in Madrid and Athens will have voted to ban short-term rentals within their communities. For an expat professional who intends to use the property only six months a year, the inability to offset costs via STRs changes the ROI calculus significantly.

Furthermore, the "15-minute city" urban planning initiatives in Europe are moving from theory to enforcement. In 2026, expect higher "Circulation Taxes" for non-resident vehicles in city centers and significant "Noise Levies" for construction projects. If you are buying a new build in a gentrifying neighborhood, your 2026 tax bill will likely include a "Social Infrastructure Contribution" (SIC)—a one-time levy used to fund local schools and parks, often hidden in the closing costs of new developments.

The UAE: A Shift Toward Institutionalism

The Middle East presents a different 2026 trajectory. Dubai and Abu Dhabi are transitioning from "wild west" growth to institutional stability. The introduction of Corporate Tax in the UAE (9% for income over 375,000 AED) has prompted a professionalization of the real estate sector.

By 2026, the UAE is projected to implement a unified "Residential Rental Index" with stricter enforcement, limiting how much landlords can hike rents on their portfolios. For the expat buyer, this means the 8-10% net yields of 2022 are likely to compress to a more mature 5-6% by 2026. VAT on "commercial-to-residential" conversions is also a high-stakes topic for the 2026 Federal Tax Authority (FTA) agenda, as the region looks to repurpose excess office space into luxury lofts.

The 2026 Actionable Outlook

For the professional expat, 2026 is the year of the "Audit over the Instinct." The window for impulsive, tax-advantaged real estate acquisition is narrowing. Strategic positioning for the next 24 months requires a three-pronged approach.

1. The VAT Hedge: Contractual Timing

If you are eyeing the Greek market, the priority is "Permit Verification." Ensure any new development purchase involves a building permit issued prior to the 2026 VAT reintroduction. Contracts should include a "Fiscal Change Clause" that stipulates who bears the burden if the VAT suspension is not extended. In many cases, developers are willing to split this potential liability to secure pre-construction financing.

2. The Entity Selection

The 100% ownership model is under fire from wealth tax initiatives across the EU. However, 2026 will see the rise of "Family Wealth Foundations" (particularly in jurisdictions like the Netherlands or Luxembourg) being used to hold Southern European real estate. While the setup costs are higher, the protection against shifting municipal wealth taxes in Spain or Portugal is significant. Consult with a cross-border tax specialist specifically on "Pillar Two" global minimum tax implications, which may trickle down to personal real estate holdings by 2026.

3. Energy as Equity

In 2026, a property’s "Green Credentials" will be as liquid as its location. With the EU’s carbon pricing mechanisms likely to influence residential energy costs by 2026/2027, buying a "cheap" new build with a Grade C energy rating is a long-term liability. The price delta between Grade A and Grade C properties is forecasted to widen by 15% in 2026. Prioritize developments with integrated solar, greywater recycling, and high-spec insulation. These are no longer "eco-friendly" perks; they are "tax-shielded" assets.

The landscape of 2026 demands a departure from the "lifestyle purchase" mindset of the 2010s. Real estate has returned to its roots as a complex, highly regulated asset class where the most significant gains are made in the nuances of the tax code, not the beauty of the floor plan. The cranes in Athens are still moving, but the smart money is already looking at the ledger.