It’s mid-August, and in Budapest we’re still wiping away the sweat after the hottest summer on record. Yet, while I’m watering the plants and dodging tiny flying gnats, my thoughts are already turning to radiators, bills, and boiler checks. Such is life here: autumn...
If you live in Budapest, you might not know that the gas pipes in Budapest are an unexpectedly serious concern in the city’s classic apartments - especially those built at the end of the 19th century. Over the past three years, my whole family has been impacted by...
It’s early August, and across Europe, holidaymakers are settling into summer mode. Here in the Balaton Highlands, where we have a winehouse that doubles as a peaceful retreat from city life, I’m feeling especially lucky. Not just for the sunsets, the slower pace, or...
I’m writing this from the terrace of our little winehouse, with a fan working double-time and my laptop precariously balanced between coffee and sunscreen. It’s another scorcher in the Balaton Highlands, but a cool front is (thankfully) on its way. I’m heading back to...
Splitting my time between Budapest’s buzzing streets and the laid-back wine hills of Lake Balaton, I’ve seen firsthand how Hungary’s property market can feel like a moving target - especially if you’re a first time buyer. The government’s new Otthon Start loan scheme...
Identity Protection Law update. As of 1 July, Hungary’s Településvédelmi törvény is officially in force - in theory, at least. On paper, more than 3,100 local councils now have the green light to decide who buys, who stays, and what it might cost them. In practice?...
Waterfront Holiday Homes in Hungary: When we bought our house in the Balaton Highlands, it wasn’t exactly a calculated investment. More of a wild flirtation with a view and apple trees. It had good bones, a solid roof, indoor plumbing and electricity, but my husband...
When Hungary’s Identity Protection Law Alsóörs discussion hit the headlines today, most of us watching property trends knew this moment was coming. Hungary passed the Identity Protection Law months ago, and now Alsóörs - a prime Balaton town - is set to become its...
When we bought our countryside cottage, I expected the usual homeowner chores: clean the gutters, trim the trees, keep the spiders out of the wine glasses. I knew ragweed from Canada, but I didn’t expect that in Hungary, you could actually be fined just for having it...
It’s Monday, and I’m still running on the quiet rhythm of a perfect Sunday. Andrew and I spent the weekend in the countryside, specifically Badacsony, which delivered its usual mix of volcanic hills, lake views, and just the right amount of wine. Back at my desk now,...
I’m Anikó Woods, a Canadian-Hungarian who’s been knee-deep in life here since 2017 - bureaucracy, culture, and everything in between.
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