Eastern Malta · Investment Guide
Investing in Paola
A dense harbour-side town at the centre of the south, with a large square, good connections and low entry prices.
52New homes approved, Q1 2026
16Promise of sale, Jun 2026
24Final deeds of sale, Jun 2026
31Busiest month for sales, Apr 2026
The case
Why investors buy in Paola
Paola sits at the top of the Grand Harbour’s southern side, a busy town built around one of the largest squares in Malta. The Hypogeum lies beneath its streets, and the town is a hub for buses and traffic across the south.
The market is domestic and affordable, with a mix of older terraced housing and apartment blocks. Its position, walking distance from Cottonera and a short drive from Valletta, is the strongest thing about it.
Parts of the town are tired and the streets vary considerably, so the specific address matters more here than the town average does. For a buyer prepared to look carefully, prices are low for how central this is.
Find me an investment in PaolaA few questions, then we do the looking.
The numbers
Market activity in Paola
Final deeds of sale
Completed sales in Paola have ranged from 12 to 31 a month since 2024. The past twelve months carried 279 in total, up from 228 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 15 to 44 a month. The past twelve months carried 388, up from 305 in the twelve months before that.
Source: National Statistics Office (Malta), residential property transactions.
The supply pipeline
How Paola compares
52 new dwellings were approved in Paola this quarter, 21st of the 68 localities the National Statistics Office reported. That is a modest pipeline: most of what sells here will be existing stock rather than new build.
Sliema
322
St Paul's Bay
171
Birkirkara
154
Mosta
149
Qormi
126
Msida
120
Marsaskala
112
Paola
52
Source: National Statistics Office (Malta), residential building permits, Q1 2026.
Rental demand
Where the tenants are
Paola holds 1.37% of all active residential rent contracts in Malta, the 22nd-highest of any locality, a moderate share, and a tenant pool that is real without being among the largest.
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%
Paola
1.37%
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 Paola
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 Paola
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 Paola, answered
Is Paola a good buy-to-let?
Yes, on price and position, to a broad local tenant base. Paola accounts for 1.37% of Malta’s active residential rent contracts.
How active is the Paola property market?
Between January 2024 and June 2026 the National Statistics Office recorded 610 final deeds of sale and 867 promise of sale agreements in Paola, a monthly range of 12 to 31 completed sales. The busiest month in that window was Apr 2026, with 31.
Is much new build coming to Paola?
52 new dwellings were approved in Paola in the first quarter of 2026, 21st of the 68 localities the National Statistics Office reported. New build is a modest part of this market, so most of what trades here is existing stock.
Can foreigners buy property in Paola?
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 Paola.
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.