Gozo · Investment Guide
Investing in Għarb
Western Gozo at its most traditional: an unspoilt village near Ta’ Pinu, surrounded by farmland and cliffs.
7New homes approved, Q1 2026
5Promise of sale, Jun 2026
6Final deeds of sale, Jun 2026
16Busiest month for sales, Apr 2024
The case
Why investors buy in Għarb
Għarb is in the far west of Gozo, near the Ta’ Pinu basilica, with farmland and cliffs around it. It is among the most traditional villages on the island and has largely escaped the building that changed the centre.
Property here is farmhouses and village houses, much of it bought and restored as a second home. The appeal is the setting and the character of the buildings rather than convenience.
It is remote by Gozitan standards, which is a long way by Maltese ones, and the market is correspondingly small and seasonal. This is a place to buy something specific and hold it.
Find me an investment in GħarbA few questions, then we do the looking.
The numbers
Market activity in Għarb
Final deeds of sale
Completed sales in Għarb have ranged from 1 to 16 a month since 2024. The past twelve months carried 64 in total, up from 52 in the twelve months before that.
Promise of sale agreements
Promise of sale agreements, the deals in progress ahead of a deed, have ranged from 1 to 10 a month. The past twelve months carried 70, up from 45 in the twelve months before that.
Source: National Statistics Office (Malta), residential property transactions.
The supply pipeline
How Għarb compares
7 new dwellings were approved in Għarb this quarter, 56th of the 68 localities the National Statistics Office reported. That is among the smallest pipelines in the country, so almost everything that sells here is existing stock.
Sliema
322
St Paul's Bay
171
Birkirkara
154
Mosta
149
Qormi
126
Msida
120
Marsaskala
112
Għarb
7
Source: National Statistics Office (Malta), residential building permits, Q1 2026.
Rental demand
Where the tenants are
Għarb holds 0.27% of all active residential rent contracts in Malta, the 54th-highest of any locality, a small share, so the rental market here is thin next to the towns that dominate it.
St Paul's Bay
13.76%
Sliema
6.96%
Msida
6.03%
Marsaskala
4.46%
St Julian's
4.4%
Birkirkara
4.25%
Gżira
4.17%
Għarb
0.27%
Source: Housing Authority (Malta), Malta Rent Calculator, H1 2026. Reconstructed from the published tool's own chart, not a downloadable table - see data/README.md.
Run the numbers
What it costs to buy in Għarb
Enter a price and see the deposit, stamp duty and notary costs a Maltese purchase actually carries.
€
25%
The regulatory minimum for this buyer type is 20% - adjust the slider to match your own lender's terms.
Deposit€75,00025%
Stamp duty€15,0005% of the price
Notary fees€3,000-€10,500
Monthly repayment€1,07430-yr term at 4%
Cash to complete€93,000 -€100,500
Open the full finance calculator →Indicative figures based on standard Malta rates and a 30-year term at 4% - not a mortgage offer or financial advice. For income-based affordability, joint applicants and a shareable scenario, use the full finance calculator.
Buy-to-let
Investment-grade homes in Għarb
Homes on the market now that suit a rental or resale strategy.
Costs & incentives
Tax, costs and residency
The rules and schemes that shape the return on a Maltese property investment.
Rental income tax
Rental income can be taxed at a flat 15% final withholding rate in Malta, a simple and competitive regime for landlords.
Residency by investment
Buying or leasing property can form part of Malta’s residency routes for non-EU investors, alongside the other requirements.
Short-let licensing
Short-term holiday letting is possible but licensed and regulated. Long-let is the simpler route for most investors.
Good to know
Investing in Għarb, answered
Is Għarb a good buy-to-let?
Seasonally, as a holiday-let market: year-round demand this far west is limited. Għarb accounts for 0.27% of Malta’s active residential rent contracts.
How active is the Għarb property market?
Between January 2024 and June 2026 the National Statistics Office recorded 181 final deeds of sale and 147 promise of sale agreements in Għarb, a monthly range of 1 to 16 completed sales. The busiest month in that window was Apr 2024, with 16.
Is much new build coming to Għarb?
7 new dwellings were approved in Għarb in the first quarter of 2026, 56th of the 68 localities the National Statistics Office reported. Very little new build is approved here, so almost everything on the market is existing stock.
Can foreigners buy property in Għarb?
Yes. Non-residents can buy in Malta, usually through an Acquisition of Immovable Property permit, though many apartments in designated areas are exempt and Special Designated Areas carry no restriction at all. We can confirm the position for any specific property in Għarb.
What are the total costs of buying?
As a rule of thumb, budget around 5% stamp duty plus notary fees, searches and any agency or legal fees. Off-plan and first-time purchases may qualify for reduced duty, so check the grants and schemes for the reliefs that currently apply. The calculator above works the figures through for a given price.