An independent resource for finding a home in Budapest
Finding a home in a new city is much easier when someone explains how it works, clearly and in English. That is what Hona is for. The name comes from hon, the old Hungarian word for home, which you still hear in otthon. We live here, we have bought and renovated homes here, and we would like your move to go well. We are independent, we sell no listings and take no commissions, so every guide is written with you, the reader, in mind.
What we do
We write plain-English guides to renting and buying in Budapest: how the districts work and what they cost, how leases and deposits really work, the buying process for foreigners, and every fee in one place. Every figure is sourced and dated. When the rules change, we update the guide and note when we last checked.
What we believe
Finding a home in Budapest should feel exciting, not confusing. We write for the reader, whether you are renting, buying, or selling, and nobody pays us to steer you. We would rather show you how deposits work, what a fair price looks like, and what to plan for than push you toward anything. Any paid help we offer is openly priced and clearly labeled, with no hidden commissions. We show our sources so you can check everything yourself.
Who is behind it
Hona is run by a Dutch-Hungarian couple who live in Budapest. About ten years ago we started buying and renovating homes here, first for ourselves, then for friends and family, and eventually for other expats who kept asking the same questions. The guides draw on that experience, deals and renovations included, not on research alone. Budapest is home for us, and we would love it to feel like home for you too.
We keep our figures sourced, our guides dated, and our corrections public, so you can always check the facts for yourself.
How we stay independent
Nobody pays us to recommend a particular landlord, agent, or platform. In the future we plan to offer paid, openly priced help ourselves for readers who want hands-on help through a deal; when that launches it will be clearly labeled. Anything that could ever earn us a fee is disclosed plainly, near the recommendation and on a standing page: how we make money.
Start with the guides, then join the community
The guides answer the big questions. The community answers the specific ones.