Italy's luxury Lake Como housing and auto market post strong growth

Lake Como’s luxury real‑estate market is attracting more international high‑net‑worth buyers, expanding by 6.5% year‑on‑year and ranking 19th in the Prime International Residential Index for 2025. Buyers from the United States, Northern Europe and the Middle East are purchasing primary or semi‑permanent residences, driving prices of €5,000‑€7,000 per square metre in central Como and €10,000‑€30,000 per square metre for lake‑front properties, with transaction sizes commonly between €5‑10 million.

Across Europe, new‑car registrations rose 3.6% in May 2026, with Italy among the top growth markets. Italy posted a 7.6% increase in May and a 9.4% rise year‑to‑date, placing it ninth in the monthly ranking and eighth in the cumulative ranking. The broader European market grew 4.5% for the January‑May period, while smaller markets such as Malta and Estonia posted the highest percentage gains.