Decree No.7 of 1996 (I.18.) of the Government on the acquisition of real estate by foreign nationals.

Foreign legal or natural persons may acquire the ownership of real estates, other than arable land or protected natural area, after obtaining the permit of the responsible public administration office of Budapest or the county. The permit has to be issued if the acquisition of ownership by foreign persons does not hurt the local government's or other public interest, and if the buyer does comply with certain requisites. The issuance of a permit may be refused if Hungarian persons are not treated equally, in this regard, to local people in the country of origin of the buyer.