Għarb, Gozo: Houses, Farmhouses and Villas for Sale

Għarb is a village of around 1,000 people, centred on the Visitation parish church, with views toward the Ta' Pinu basilica nearby, a major pilgrimage site. The surrounding area includes countryside with terraces, the cliffs at Dwejra (Azure Window collapsed in 2017, but the inland sea and the Fungus Rock remain), and quiet bays. Gozo has slower life, strong community ties and a ferry link to Malta from Mġarr that takes about 25 minutes.

Many residents commute by ferry for work on Malta, others work in tourism or remotely. The island has a hospital in Victoria. Compare Sliema, St Julian's and Mosta on the main island for a city lifestyle.

EU nationals can buy property in Malta; non-EU nationals normally need an AIP permit unless in a designated zone. Gozo has lower thresholds and incentives in some cases, so ask your notary. A promise of sale (konvenju) is signed with a 10% deposit, and the notary completes title searches.

Approximate costs (verify locally): stamp duty of around 5%, with reduced rates for some Gozo transfers, notary fees, and agent commission of 3% to 5% plus VAT. Farmhouses may be subject to planning rules for outside development zones. Read our Malta consultation guide, financing page and Malta overview.

Annual costs include utilities, maintenance of limestone walls and roofs, pool upkeep and local taxes. Gozo's tourism season is long, and holiday rentals of farmhouses with pools are popular with visitors seeking quiet. Short-term rental requires a licence from the Malta Tourism Authority, and rules change, so confirm the position before you buy. Winter is quiet, and many owners combine holiday use with long-term lets. Gozo's population is small, so resale depends on foreign and Maltese buyers looking for a lifestyle property.

Many Gozitan farmhouses lie outside development zones (ODZ), where extension and conversion rights are limited. Verify the planning permit history and whether a pool or extension is legal. Restoration of old stone houses is popular, but costs depend on the condition of limestone walls, roofs and damp. Buyers should hire a periti (architect) to inspect before paying a deposit.