Real Estate as an Investment: Its Appeal Remains Strong

At today’s conference “Investavimas 2026. Nekilnojamasis turtas” (“Investment 2026: Real Estate”), investment experts, professional investors, economists, and legal professionals gathered to discuss the topic. More than 30 speakers analyzed real estate (RE) investments from various perspectives. The conference was broadcast on the vz.lt portal.

The event was organized by “Verslo žinios” together with partners “Profitus,” “Omberg Group,” “Walless,” “Baltic Sotheby's International Realty,” and “Demus.”

During the conference, participants discussed expectations forming in the real estate market and its individual segments, reviewed changes in RE financing and refinancing, and examined the most common legal mistakes that can be very costly. RE investors, owners, and landlords received advice on what to pay attention to in the coming years. Discussions also covered how real estate investments compare to other asset classes and what opportunities and risks RE developers foresee in 2026.

“Today, our focus is on real estate as an investment—an asset class whose appeal in our country has not faded. Trends confirm this: last year, real estate transactions increased by 16%, and expectations suggest that RE prices may rise by another 10–15% next year. But will this apply to all segments? We will discuss all of this with experts, practitioners, lawyers, and economists,” said the event moderator Viktorija Orkinė, a professional investor and real estate expert.

A virtual investment game called IN also launched today, where anyone can participate for free to test their skills and gain safe investment experience. By investing virtual euros, participants will compete for real prizes worth up to €30,000.

Favorable Conditions – But Caution Is Key

“In the world, everyone has jobs, and there is a sea of money. The real estate market absorbs all that money—it is essentially the largest market in the world; neither stocks nor bonds can match it,” says Marius Dubnikovas, Head of Investments at “Orion Securities.”

According to him, real estate as an investment in Lithuania has excellent prospects in the coming years: since 2019, Lithuania has led developed countries in income growth, ranks fifth globally in tax attractiveness, and young people under 30 in Lithuania are among the most optimistic about the future. Combined with Lithuanians’ strong affinity for real estate, it becomes clear that this asset class has little reason to decline.

Prof. Dr. Evaldas Klimas, partner and lawyer at “Walless,” spoke practically about where RE investors, owners, and landlords should focus to avoid costly issues later.

“There are many real legal nuances to consider. A city’s vision for development plays a crucial role. When assessing a plot’s potential, it is ideal to have a detailed territorial plan—the newer, the better. It is important to check whether the area is protected or part of cultural heritage, whether there is greenery that must be preserved, or if the plot falls within protection zones. Is the land privately owned? For example, in Vilnius, there is a large amount of state-owned land, which means additional fees and possible complications. Also, when purchasing a property with existing tenants, this is not always automatically an added value—it is highly recommended to carefully analyze contractual obligations,” explained the legal expert.

“We care not only about façade color and architectural expression, as developers sometimes think, but also about the city’s economic vitality, community integration, and overall development. One of our priorities is polycentric development—avoiding the concentration of all activities in the city center,” said Laura Kairienė, Chief Architect of Vilnius.

New Trends in the Real Estate Market

In the second part of the event, investment experts and practitioners shared insights, lessons learned, and advice. Real estate was compared with other asset classes, and discussions included real estate crowdfunding from both investor and developer perspectives. Participants also explored the opportunities and risks RE developers foresee in 2026 and what luxury property buyers are looking for. Additionally, the first open-ended residential real estate fund in the Baltic States was introduced.

“We see a clear trend—crowdfunding is becoming the first choice for many RE developers when planning project capital structures. It allows for faster project launches, more efficient cash flow management, and the ability to attract investors who may invest as little as €100 or €1,000,” said Miglė Grybinienė, Head of Marketing at “Profitus,” during a discussion on real estate crowdfunding.

When discussing investment opportunities and risks, speakers emphasized the importance of a sustainable approach and avoiding emotionally driven purchases, which are particularly tempting in the current environment.

Lukas Geležauskas, Development and Investment Director at “Omberg Group,” stressed that discipline and professional risk assessment are essential today.

“The residential apartment market is close to its peak. With strong demand, it is dangerous to make decisions driven by short-term enthusiasm. Decisions made on the supply side today pay off later, so discipline and professional risk evaluation are crucial. In practice, this means thorough project preparation, realistic timelines, and well-managed permitting and execution risks. From a developer’s perspective, I believe that in some cases expectations and pricing are distorted—therefore, sustainable decisions today serve as protection for tomorrow,” he said.

A distinct segment of the residential market is luxury real estate. What criteria are used to evaluate such properties, and do they play a role in investment markets?

“High-end real estate has always been a means of preserving capital. Unlike many other investments, it has tangible value and a prestige component—it is an asset you can use while it simultaneously grows your capital. Scarcity is key in this segment—the best locations and projects are rare,” said Robertas Karalius, luxury real estate expert at “Baltic Sotheby’s International Realty.”

The conference also introduced a market innovation: the first open-ended residential real estate fund in the Baltic States.

“Until now, investing in housing typically meant investing in a single property—bearing the risk of one asset, managing it independently, and having limited flexibility. Our goal is to change this logic: the investor participates in a diversified residential real estate portfolio, where ownership is separated from daily management, and decisions are made professionally,” said Mindaugas Liaudanskas, head of “Demus,” the company introducing the fund, which allows investing in housing as a portfolio instrument rather than a single purchase.