Rising property prices in Slovenia have long been nothing new. In the first quarter of 2026, prices increased by another 9.3% year-on-year. But prices are not the only factor that deserves attention now: Slovenia has begun changing one of the factors that has constrained the development of the market for years – the time required to obtain building permits.

Prices Are Rising, but the Market Is Not Uniform

According to the latest data from SURS, residential property prices in Slovenia were 9.3% higher in the first quarter of 2026 than a year earlier, and increased by a further 3.0% compared with the previous quarter.

But this average figure conceals very different results.

For example, prices of existing apartments in Ljubljana increased by 6.3% year-on-year, while in Maribor they rose by 17.5%. At the same time, prices in Ljubljana fell slightly, by 0.3%, during the first quarter, whereas in Maribor they increased by another 5.5%.

There is also a difference between new and existing housing: prices of existing apartments increased by 10.7% year-on-year, while prices of new apartments rose by 6.2%.

Therefore, when we talk about growth in Slovenia’s real estate market, it is important to understand which part of the market we are referring to.

At the same time, the market’s ability to create new housing supply may become increasingly important alongside demand.

Why Building Permits Matter

Slovenia is trying to address one of the long-standing problems in property development – lengthy procedures for obtaining building permits. The government has set a goal of ensuring that permits are issued within 60 days after an application has been deemed complete. At the same time, the practice concerning the participation of neighbouring landowners is being changed: they are no longer intended to be automatically included in the procedure where there are no relevant legal grounds for their participation.

For developers, this is an important change.

The cost of a project is not only the cost of land and construction. Time also costs money. A project that spends years going through approval procedures carries a completely different level of risk. During that time, prices, construction costs, buyer preferences or even the type of product the market needs may change.

Time Is a Cost of the Project

At ALTUM CAPITAL, we have quite often seen situations where international investors decided not to enter a project precisely because the timeframe for obtaining a building permit was unclear. Imagine that an investor has purchased a plot of land and is waiting two years for the permit: a hypothetical €3 million remains tied up for that entire period and generates no return for the investor.

If these changes actually work in practice, the market could change in ways that go beyond prices alone.

What Could Change in the Market?

If obtaining permits becomes faster, will we see more new projects? More competition between them? More housing supply? Shorter development timelines? Or will strong demand simply absorb the additional supply?

We do not know the answer yet.

But this is precisely what is worth watching in Slovenia now: not only where prices are heading, but also how the market itself is changing.

Why Buyers Choose ALTUM CAPITAL

ALTUM CAPITAL operates across Slovenia’s main regions, helping international buyers find properties that match their investment objectives, lifestyle and long-term plans. We combine official statistics, practical experience in real estate transactions and independent market analysis so that our clients can make decisions based on objective information.

Whether you are looking for a permanent home or an investment property in Slovenia, the specialists at ALTUM CAPITAL can help you find the right solution and guide you through every stage of the transaction.

This article has been specially prepared for the ALTUM CAPITAL real estate agency website.

Sources:
Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia (SURS);
Government of the Republic of Slovenia.