Eastern Malta · Investment Guide
Investing in Żabbar
A large town behind the Three Cities, with family housing at prices well below the harbour front.
55New homes approved, Q1 2026
45Promise of sale, Jun 2026
39Final deeds of sale, Jun 2026
53Busiest month for sales, Oct 2024
The case
Why investors buy in Żabbar
Żabbar is one of the biggest towns in the south-east, sitting behind Cottonera with the Three Cities and the harbour a short drive away. It is residential almost throughout, built around a substantial parish core.
The market is domestic and busy. Volumes are high for a town of its kind, driven by local families moving within the area, and the stock is mostly terraced houses, maisonettes and apartments rather than anything ornamental.
Entry prices are among the lowest for a town of this size and position, which is the investment case. Proximity to the Cottonera regeneration is the upside worth watching.
Find me an investment in ŻabbarA few questions, then we do the looking.
The numbers
Market activity in Żabbar
Final deeds of sale
Completed sales in Żabbar have ranged from 23 to 53 a month since 2024. The past twelve months carried 419 in total, up from 400 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 56 a month. The past twelve months carried 497, up from 425 in the twelve months before that.
Source: National Statistics Office (Malta), residential property transactions.
The supply pipeline
How Żabbar compares
55 new dwellings were approved in Żabbar this quarter, 19th of the 68 localities the National Statistics Office reported. It is a real pipeline rather than a token one, and worth weighing against the demand side above.
Sliema
322
St Paul's Bay
171
Birkirkara
154
Mosta
149
Qormi
126
Msida
120
Marsaskala
112
Żabbar
55
Source: National Statistics Office (Malta), residential building permits, Q1 2026.
Rental demand
Where the tenants are
Żabbar holds 1.66% of all active residential rent contracts in Malta, the 18th-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%
Żabbar
1.66%
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 Żabbar
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 Żabbar
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 Żabbar, answered
Is Żabbar a good buy-to-let?
Yes, on price and volume: the local tenant base is broad and the entry cost is low. Żabbar accounts for 1.66% of Malta’s active residential rent contracts.
How active is the Żabbar property market?
Between January 2024 and June 2026 the National Statistics Office recorded 1017 final deeds of sale and 1147 promise of sale agreements in Żabbar, a monthly range of 23 to 53 completed sales. The busiest month in that window was Oct 2024, with 53.
Is much new build coming to Żabbar?
55 new dwellings were approved in Żabbar in the first quarter of 2026, 19th of the 68 localities the National Statistics Office reported. That is a genuine pipeline, so new stock is a factor here without dominating the market.
Can foreigners buy property in Żabbar?
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 Żabbar.
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.