Southern Malta · Investment Guide
Investing in Żebbuġ
A large southern village with a substantial core of houses of character and prices below the centre of the island.
58New homes approved, Q1 2026
18Promise of sale, Jun 2026
26Final deeds of sale, Jun 2026
34Busiest month for sales, May 2026
The case
Why investors buy in Żebbuġ
Ħaż-Żebbuġ is one of the larger southern villages, with a historic core of townhouses and houses of character around its square. It has grown outward without losing that centre.
The character stock is the draw. Buyers who want a property with age and features but cannot meet Mdina or Rabat prices tend to end up looking here, and restoration projects come up regularly.
Letting demand is local and modest, so the case is usually restoration and resale rather than income. Anyone taking on a period property here should budget properly for the work and check what is permitted before committing.
Find me an investment in ŻebbuġA few questions, then we do the looking.
The numbers
Market activity in Żebbuġ
Final deeds of sale
Completed sales in Żebbuġ have ranged from 14 to 34 a month since 2024. The past twelve months carried 308 in total, up from 253 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 12 to 35 a month. The past twelve months carried 318, up from 294 in the twelve months before that.
Source: National Statistics Office (Malta), residential property transactions.
The supply pipeline
How Żebbuġ compares
58 new dwellings were approved in Żebbuġ this quarter, 16th 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
Żebbuġ
58
Source: National Statistics Office (Malta), residential building permits, Q1 2026.
Rental demand
Where the tenants are
Żebbuġ holds 1.58% of all active residential rent contracts in Malta, the 19th-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%
Żebbuġ
1.58%
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 Żebbuġ
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 Żebbuġ
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 Żebbuġ, answered
Is Żebbuġ a good buy-to-let?
Less than in the harbour towns: this is a restoration and resale market more than a lettings one. Żebbuġ accounts for 1.58% of Malta’s active residential rent contracts.
How active is the Żebbuġ property market?
Between January 2024 and June 2026 the National Statistics Office recorded 681 final deeds of sale and 724 promise of sale agreements in Żebbuġ, a monthly range of 14 to 34 completed sales. The busiest month in that window was May 2026, with 34.
Is much new build coming to Żebbuġ?
58 new dwellings were approved in Żebbuġ in the first quarter of 2026, 16th 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 Żebbuġ?
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 Żebbuġ.
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.