Tunis Sees Uptick in First-Home Buyer Activity as Entry Prices Hold Firm

First-home buyer activity in Tunis climbed by 13% last quarter, according to the latest figures from the Attijari Bank mortgage unit, with buyers concentrating on apartment deals in Ariana and the expanding western edge of El Menzah. The trend marks the highest level of activity seen since mid-2024, breathing new life into a property sector that had slowed during the run-up to Ramadan.

This renewed demand comes as Tunisia moves deeper into summer, a season notorious for both heat and heightened living costs. The confluence of solidifying property values and a reprieve from 2025’s tightening credit conditions has made now a crucial window for aspiring owners seeking their first foothold in the capital’s real estate market. Household budgets remain under pressure, but several lenders have made modest adjustments to down payment requirements, drawing in buyers previously sidelined by financial constraints.

West El Menzah and Ariana in the Spotlight

Local agents say the majority of new buyers are young couples and professionals targeting entry-level apartments close to key traffic arteries, particularly around Avenue Habib Bourguiba in Ariana and Route X near El Menzah 6. Shemsi Immobilier, a respected agency with offices near the Bassatine complex, confirms that listings under 300,000 TND are seeing the highest inquiry rates. “There’s an obvious cluster of interest in Ariana’s newest blocks, where public transport to Tunis Centre is reliable and private English-language schools like Ecole Internationale de Carthage aren’t far off,” said one local manager.

According to property platform Tayara, two-bedroom apartments in the Cité Ennasr 2 precinct are typically listed between 260,000 and 330,000 TND, while similar properties in the more central El Menzah 6 area hover around 315,000 TND. By contrast, upscale options in Les Berges du Lac or La Marsa remain out of reach for most first-home aspirants, with entry points well above 500,000 TND. However, a new promotional scheme rolled out by Amen Banque in June is offering low-rate mortgages for apartments valued below 350,000 TND, with application numbers doubling since Ramadan.

Steady Prices, But Higher Barriers for Some

Data released this week from the Tunisian Professional Association of Banks shows that the average loan-to-value ratio approved for first-time buyers has eased slightly, to 81% as of June 2026, compared to 78% in late 2025. This has reduced average upfront cash requirements by around 12,000 TND on a mid-range starter apartment. Nonetheless, agents say many properties in the capital’s northwestern corridor are attracting up to eight offers apiece, with bidding competition reported on newly listed units in El Mourouj and Ettahrir.

Despite the uptick in buyer interest, overall prices in the most sought-after first-home segments have remained largely static since late 2025, rising just 1.4% on an annualised basis according to the latest National Housing Survey. This stability, at least for now, offers a degree of predictability for buyers jumping into the market after years of double-digit growth in Tunis property values. The market has clearly bifurcated: steady entry-level stock under 350,000 TND, and ongoing escalation in luxury brackets above 600,000 TND, particularly near the La Goulette and Carthage coastline.

Prospective buyers hoping for major price declines in the short term are unlikely to find them. Mortgage brokers say that any softening is restricted to second-hand apartments in older blocks far from the TGM light rail or major roads. For those ready to act, local nonprofits such as Espoir Logement are running weekly workshops at youth community centres in Ariana to help buyers navigate paperwork and state incentives. With both demand and application pipelines on the rise, Tunis’s first-home hopefuls appear more motivated than at any time since before the pandemic shock.