It’s 19 December, and Budapest has slipped into that familiar pre-Christmas state where everyone seems to be doing three errands at once. Andrew and I are trying to wrap things up before the pace slows. Christmas Eve will be at my mother’s, as it always is, and...
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...
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...
After months of speculation, leaked proposals, and heated debates, Hungary’s controversial Local Identity Protection Act – also known as the Településvédelem Törvény – is no longer just a political talking point. On 13 May 2025, the final draft of...