The Cypriot real estate market has experienced significant expansion from 2018 through mid-2026, overcoming pandemic related disruptions to establish record levels of market activity. The sustained growth continues to be driven by a strong local market combined with rising demand from international purchasers.
In 2018, total registered sales contracts stood at 9,242; by 2025, annual transactions reached 18,114, nearly double the baseline volume. This momentum persisted through the first half of 2026 (H1 2026), recording 10,007 sales agreements compared to 8,729 in H1 2025, representing a 14.6% year on year increase.
From Post-2018 Expansion to Pandemic Disruption
Following steady trading in 2018 and modest expansion in 2019 (10,366 sales), the market experienced a major downturn due to COVID 19 health protocols and global uncertainty:
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2020 Full Year Market Impact: Total sales contracts dropped 23.1% to 7,968 transactions.
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Foreign vs. Domestic Retrenchment: Overseas buyers registered a 33.4% decline, while domestic buyers saw a smaller 15.3% reduction.
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H1 2020 Trough: First-half transactions fell 41.2% year on year compared to H1 2019 as travel restrictions peaked.
Rapid Post-Pandemic Rebound (2021–2023)
Recovery began swiftly in 2021 as total sales climbed 29.9% to 10,347 transactions. Growth accelerated further in 2022:
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2022 Surge: Overall transactions expanded 29.6% to 13,409 sales contracts.
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International Capital Drives Acceleration: Sales to foreign buyers jumped 60.6% in 2022, led by non-EU (third country) buyers, whose purchases surged by 82.4%.
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2023 Continuation: Total market activity grew to 15,567 transactions. A 46% increase in non-EU purchasers offset a temporary decline in buyers from EU member states.
Comparative Eight-Year Market Growth
The table below outlines the structural shift in total sales documents and buyer composition between 2018, the 2025 peak, and mid-2026 performance:
| Period | Total Sales Contracts | Domestic Buyer Sales | Foreign Buyer Sales | EU Buyers | Non-EU Buyers |
| Full Year 2018 | 9,242 | 4,875 | 4,367 | Unspecified | Unspecified |
| Full Year 2025 | 18,114 | 10,859 | 7,255 | Increased | Increased |
| H1 2018 (Baseline) | 4,470 | Unspecified | Unspecified | Unspecified | Unspecified |
| H1 2025 | 8,729 | Unspecified | Unspecified | Unspecified | Unspecified |
| H1 2026 | 10,007 (+14.6%) | 5,856 (+9.6%) | 4,151 (+22.5%) | +28.5% YoY | +19.6% YoY |
Brief Consolidation and Recent Acceleration (2024–2026)
In 2024, international transactions experienced a brief 9.7% contraction. However, consistent strength in domestic purchases (+1.5% overall) carried total market transactions to a new record of 15,797 contracts.
Broad-based demand returned in 2025, pushing transactions up by 14.7% to a historic high of 18,114. Domestic transactions expanded 13.5%, while foreign sales rose 16.5% with growth across both EU and non-EU demographics.
The positive performance has carried directly into 2026:
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H1 2026 Overview: Total sales reached 10,007 documents.
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Segment Breakdown: Domestic buyers accounted for 5,856 sales (+9.6%), while foreign buyers accounted for 4,151 sales (+22.5%).
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Foreign Demographic Split: Purchases by EU nationals increased 28.5%, while third country buyer transactions grew 19.6%.
A direct comparison highlights the scale of the market’s evolution: first half transactions expanded from 4,470 in 2018 to 10,007 in 2026, demonstrating that both local end users and foreign investors are operating at activity levels far exceeding pre-pandemic baselines.
Source Notice: Stockwatch.com.cy