Want to buy a holiday home in Sweden? Buying a house in Sweden is completely different from buying in the Netherlands and Belgium. Here are some points of interest.

Buying a second home in Sweden? These are important points to watch out for!

Location
Inform yourself about the location of the property. Make sure it is well located and that you don’t have to drive hours to the bakery or to the school. This sounds like ‘logical’ but distances are much longer in Sweden and, especially in winter, some roads are bad(er) or even completely closed.

White goods
When selling a house in Sweden, white goods (washing machine, fridge, cooker, dishwasher) are usually included, even if the appliances are in less than perfect condition.

Water supply
Most homes are connected to the municipal water supply, but in rural areas some have their own well and/or sewage system. Be sure to ask about this when you go to view a house.

Tips for viewing houses in Sweden

Found a house that appeals to you? Consider the following when you go to view it:

Decide in advance how much you can spend
Do you need to take out a mortgage loan for the house in Sweden? Inform in advance with some banks in the municipality/city where you want to live and/or buy your holiday home. That way, you will know the amount you have to spend. Moreover, in Sweden it is important to have personal contact with banks. As a foreigner, you can usually get a loan of up to 75 per cent of the selling price. Taking out a loan with a Belgian or Dutch bank is not recommended: they almost never give mortgages for foreign homes.

Buyers bid against each other
When several potential buyers are interested in a house, it is normal for them to bid against each other like at an auction. Keep in mind that the house will then usually be sold for a higher amount than the asking price. However, there are also houses that sell for a lower price, especially if they have been for sale for a long time.

Options are not possible
In Sweden, you cannot take an option on a property that appeals to you. If you need thinking time, don’t make it too long as there is a risk that another buyer might take the house.

Building inspection
Are you seriously interested in buying a house? If so, you should have it structurally inspected before purchase. You can hire a construction expert or ‘besiktningsman’ to do this. Ask him to look at the electricity and water pipes as well. Suppose there are defects, you can use this to get a lower price from the seller. The seller may have already had the house inspected. He (or the estate agent) will let you see the report. It is not mandatory to provide an additional inspection but you can consider it as a ‘second opinion’.

Deposit required
If you want to buy a house in Sweden, a verbal commitment is not legally valid. Nor is it enough to put your signature to the purchase contract. The sale is valid only after you have paid 10 per cent of the agreed purchase price. Get this in order quickly so that the house is not sold to someone else at the last minute. Tip: you can have resolutive conditions included in the sales contract, for example in case you don’t get the financing. This can also be useful if you have doubts about the condition of the house. It is best to discuss this with your estate agent.

Buying a holiday home in sweden: other costs

You have to pay 1.5 per cent of the purchase price (plus administration fees or ‘lagfart’) for registration in the land registry. The letter of pledge (‘pantbrev’) is another cost. You need it to take out a loan for the house. A pledge letter costs 2% of the amount to be borrowed (plus any administration fees). Finally, as a homeowner, you pay annual property tax. This amounts to 1% of the appraised value.

You see, buying a house in Sweden is not complicated but it does proceed differently from Belgium and the Netherlands. There are some different rules and you will have to deal with people with a different language and culture. Definitely take this into account if you want to buy a holiday home or second home in Sweden.

Want more in-depth information on buying a second home in Sweden? Then read the Country Dossier on Sweden! Also be sure to check out the current property offers with holiday homes in Sweden.