Published 06 Nov 2025
Lithuania is leading the EU in property price growth—and that’s not the only surprise. A quick roundup covering France’s fast-fashion pushback, Poland’s boom, Lithuania’s All Souls’ Day traditions, and a nature-surrounded Vilnius home for sale near the Green Lakes.
One of the things I like most about being resident in Lithuania is that very few people have ever heard of the place.
It’s totally under the radar, which means there’s virtually no crime, no mass tourism, no “antisocial behavior” in the streets and, of course, no mass stabbings.
It also means we fly under the radar in terms of opportunities in business and lifestyle.
I’m constantly given new information and statistics to support my decision to base a family and business here.
Of course, I love traveling through Europe, but often people ask me why we haven’t purchased a property in Italy yet, or when we’re going to get around to buying the place in France we’ve talked about for years.
The simple answer is, I’m a rather Jolly Capitalist. I follow the money, and the smart money is currently in the Baltics.
I was, however, surprised to learn recently that Lithuania topped the charts in terms of real estate growth in the last 10 years within the European Union.
Just looking out my window from the 32nd floor, I see cranes everywhere in the city — commercial and residential development racing ahead at a great rate of knots.
In answer to the questions about why we haven’t bought in Italy, France, or Spain yet — the proof is in the pudding.
Had we purchased my wee “dream château” in France 10 years ago when I first considered it, the value might have increased by a whopping 26% by now. In Italy, we could’ve secured 11%, or between 1 and 2% per annum in capital growth, while prices on everything else have doubled — and in the case of those two countries, taxes have increased around 20% in real value.
“I’m a rather Jolly Capitalist. I follow the money, and the smart money is currently in the Baltics.”If I were to be honest, Lithuania was initially intended as a bit of a stopover destination for us, to complete the rollout of a fintech startup I was involved in at the time, while we made our way south to end up where everyone else I knew from back home was heading. Italy, Spain, France or Portugal.I love visiting those countries, and will always spend a lot of time there, but the tax terrifies me, and in some locations the crime is virtually out of control. In my opinion, they do have serious structural and societal challenges ahead over the next couple of decades to regain their footing. Basically, now that I’m European, I realize I dodged a bit of a bullet in wanting to make one of those countries our homebase. For my family at least, it would’ve been a big mistake.Clearly, I’m not the only one who’s thinking that either — foreign capital is flooding in to the Baltics, the technology sector is booming, and the statistics speak for themselves, in this particular case, with a solid, steady 135% increase in capital value over the last nine years (and that was through the depths of the Covid crisis).Unlike other markets I’ve seen performing very well at times, like New Zealand or Australia, what I notice in the Baltic region is that the growth is fueled by highly educated, multilingual, respectful young Europeans entering the workforce and having the immediate ability to purchase their first home at the age of 22 or younger.This sponsors a vibrant, cultural inner-city apartment lifestyle while allowing mature families to purchase larger spaces on the outskirts of the city — still usually within 20 minutes of their workplace in the CBD.All of this bodes well for continued growth, in my opinion, as unlike the markets in Aus and NZ that I’ve watched over the years, the increase in residential real estate value in Lithuania’s case comes from sustained economic improvement, innovation, and foreign capital — not mass migration.
There are many things I love about the French, and a few things I don’t.
A deep sense of who they are, their cultural values, and a passion for life being just some of the things that draw me to the place, time and time again.
I must admit, it put a smile on my face, with a touch of pride, when I came across a story a day or two ago about the Chinese fast-fashion retailer Shein hitting a brick wall after opening their first physical store in Paris.
France, more than perhaps any first-world country on earth, goes to great lengths to look after its workers, provide a work-life balance, and add value to everything from raw food ingredients to textiles — which is why I guess so many companies in China copy them.
In this case, the company got it horribly wrong. They completely misread the audience by marketing what many people are referring to as a “child-like sex toy” as part of their online catalogue — of course, next to €3 T-shirts made by children paid with a bowl of rice.
As you can guess, I’m no friend to fast fashion. I detest the thought of my children walking around wrapped in polyester, made by, well, someone else’s children.
Wherever possible, as a family, we love to shop at recycled boutiques, quality retailers with proper fabrics, and, in my case, a very patient and accommodating tailor.
We don’t do this to be lefty liberals; I do it because it’s the right thing to do.
I would rather my kids wear a slightly tatty woollen jumper than a polyester sweatshirt bought for €20 at H&M, with the latest cartoon character emblazoned all over the damn thing. So, I’m proud to say I’m with the French on this one — and their passion for passion for wine, women, and song just quietly. 😉
The depths of my ignorance on all things European, and specifically the former Soviet Union, knew no bounds before I got to this part of the world.
When first telling my mother-in-law that we were moving the family from Bath, UK, to Estonia three or four years ago, she famously turned bright red, clenched her jaw, and walked off the Zoom call speechless.
She was so angry that I would drag her grandchildren to a crumbling, former Soviet “shithole” that she was lost for words.
It’s an ignorance and an attitude I’ve come across from time to time over the last few years when I explain to people that we live a blessed life in Lithuania!
What I haven’t really explored yet is Poland. But I’m going to.
Honestly, I still have the view of Poland not dissimilar to my mother-in-law’s view of Estonia at the time.
I watch a lot of the History Channel, and frankly, Poland has for many years ranked slightly below Siberia on the list of places I wanted to hang out.
“A growth rate of almost 3% in gross domestic product for 2024 put Poland ahead of the overall EU rate of 1%, topping even those of the bloc’s two largest economies, France and Germany. France recorded a rate of 1.2%; Germany suffered a -0.2% contraction.”Ironically, I can drive to Poland in under two hours from where I’m writing this column. I simply haven’t bothered.Perhaps I need to pull my head out of my backside and stop being so racist.I’m told the capital is breathtaking — a modern Paris without the migrants and crime. It has all the good shops, at a fraction of the prices of France and Germany. Apparently, the people are very happy, the government is strict but fair, and, as it turns out, the economy is booming — and has been for many years.Latest reports suggest that Poland is emerging as one of the leading economies in Europe and may soon actually take the top spot.
You’ve seen nothing until you’ve seen an entire cemetery — thousands and thousands of graves — lit by candlelight for days before and after 2 November, All Saints’ Day.
Traditionally, it was believed that souls come to visit the earth on this day, and a special meal used to be left for them.
A popular religious holiday in Lithuania, the Day of the Souls (Vėlinės) on November 2nd, and All Saints’ Day on November 1st, shine (pun intended — sorry) like a beacon in an otherwise overly commercial world.
Families travel all over the country to gather in their hometowns or villages, prepare food, and visit the cemetery — often where generations of the same family are buried. They share stories of their ancestors, remember good times and hard times. It connects them to the past and, I think, makes them very grateful for the present and hopeful for the future.
I suspect there’s a shot or two of vodka or schnapps involved in the celebrations, but it is very much a somber affair.
Nothing like the gaudy, costume-wearing, polyester-wrapped, candy-stuffed children of many Western cultures, who think Halloween is all about throwing eggs at people’s houses while begging for free sweets — or at least that’s my view of it.
“‘I love the Lithuanian connection to nature, family and the ancestors who protected both for future generations.”Halloween’s never been a thing in our family or our culture, really — just one of the many Americanisms that have crept in over the last couple of decades.When we first arrived here, I was bewildered for days about all these candles that started appearing around the city, concentrated in graveyards.It wasn’t until the following year that it was explained to me what this was all about. I’ve yet to really celebrate the day myself, as my ancestors are scattered to the far winds. I must admit though, on this most recent Day of the Souls, I did light a candle at home in remembrance — possibly for the first time — of the people who have contributed their DNA to make me who I am today.I can’t go back so far as to say definitively who they all were, but I’m sure Napoleon and Genghis Khan featured in there somewhere. And I suspect there’s a little bit of Benny Hill, a dash of Churchill, and more than one or two boot polishers.Whoever they are, I think I’m going to spend a little bit more time acknowledging their journey next year — with the help of my new Lithuanian friends and some of that schnapps.
FOR SALE:
Price: 75 000 Eur
CHARMING HOME SURROUNDED BY NATURE NEAR THE GREEN LAKES
Nestled in a beautiful natural setting near the Green Lakes (Žalieji Ežerai), this 103 sq.m home with a 6-are (600 sq.m) plot offers the perfect balance of comfort, tranquility, and convenience – just 25 minutes from Vilnius city center.
The house includes a basement with a sauna, wood storage, and a shower with a boiler, and is being sold fully furnished. The property has a well-kept garden, a gazebo, and is located in a peaceful neighborhood.
PROPERTY DETAILS
SURROUNDINGS
Website for the sales listing –
We think we’ve found another little stunner!
Less than 25 minutes from Vilnius, where pine trees line the road and the city noise fades into birdsong and sauna steam — this Green Lakes hideaway is the real deal. A 103 sq.m home with a sauna, fruit trees, a gazebo, and a full basement — all fully furnished and ready to go.
Someone in London just paid €60K to tile their terrace… this place has a whole house, a garden, and peace of mind for under €90K. Take the win, I’d say.
It’s a lovely bolthole — safe, surrounded by nature, and perfect as a family home or a lock-and-leave retreat. All this just half an hour from one of Europe’s fastest-growing tech hubs, where you can enjoy Vilnius life at its best: clean, safe, secure, and (let’s be honest) wonderfully low-tax.
So why not come see it for yourself? Pack a thermos, breathe in that pine-scented calm, and picture yourself soaking in the sauna while the city folk sit in traffic.
And if you’re from down under or across the pond — you’ll fit right in. There’s a growing crew out here already, living their best European life with space, sunshine, and more than enough sauna heat to share.
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