Buying property in Sweden as a foreigner: Complete UK guide (2026)

Planning to relocate to Sweden from the UK? Perhaps you’re starting a business in Stockholm, working in Gothenburg or retiring in Malmö. You might even be looking for a holiday home or investment property in the country.

But can foreigners buy property in Sweden, and how is the process different to the UK? Read on for everything you need to know, in our practical guide to buying property in Sweden as a foreigner. This includes what to expect as a buyer, the latest on Swedish property prices, tips on starting your property hunt and the pitfalls to avoid.

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Can UK foreigners buy property in Sweden?

Yes, foreign expats can buy property in Sweden.

There are no rules stipulating that you have to be a Swedish citizen or live there to buy a house or apartment in the country.¹ However, you might potentially need Swedish residency documents in order to apply for a mortgage from a Swedish bank.

The most important thing you’ll need is a personal identification number (personnummer) from the Swedish Tax Agency.¹ This is required for all legal transactions in the country, including property purchases.

If you don’t have this - or aren’t eligible for it - you can apply to Skatteverket (Swedish Tax Agency) for a samordningsnummer (coordination number) instead.¹

You’ll also need to open a Swedish bank account.

Can you buy real estate and get residency?

No, unfortunately you can’t automatically get or apply for permanent residency in Sweden just by investing in property.

Unlike some other countries, Sweden doesn’t have a ‘Golden Visa’ scheme which enables this.

What’s the real estate market like in Sweden?

The Sweden property market is in a rather fragile position at the moment, with only minimal price growth and subdued construction activity.

However, there are signs of improvement on the horizon, as prices grew 0.85% in Q4 2025 compared to the same period a year earlier.²

Major bank Swedbank also predicts that prices could start to pick up in the second half of 2026.²

Is property a good investment in Sweden?

Weighing up whether Sweden is a good place to buy property abroad? Here are some pros and cons to consider.

Pros:

• No restrictions on foreigners buying property or land
• Potential for long-term value appreciation, as the market is recovering and prices are increasing. Persistent housing shortages and stabilising interest rates could also support growth.
• Favourable tax environment, with low property taxes, no inheritance and no wealth tax

Cons:

• No route to residency via a Golden Visa programme
• Limits on rental potential - as the Swedish rental market is highly regulated and rent levels controlled
• Mortgage conditions may be stricter and harder to meet for foreign applicants, and you may need a larger deposit.

How much are the property prices?

So, how much is property in Sweden? This is an essential thing to know as you set your budget and start your search.

The average (median) property price in Sweden is around 3,070,000 SEK - or 45,355 SEK per sqm for an apartment or 31,310 SEK per sqm for a house.³

If you're wondering where to buy a home, here are the average property prices per square metre for apartments in major Swedish cities:⁴

However, it very much depends on exactly what and where you buy, along with other factors.

Where is the cheapest place to buy property in Sweden?

If you’re property hunting on a budget, some of the cheapest regions of Sweden include:

• Vasternorrland County
• Vastmanland County
• Örebro County
• Östergötland County.

Best places to buy property in Sweden

The best place to buy property in Sweden all depends on why you’re buying.

If you’re looking to live in Sweden as an expat, a major city like Stockholm, Gothenburg or Malmö will offer all you could want in terms of lifestyle, culture, job opportunities, amenities and connections to the rest of Europe and the UK. However, these cities are likely to have the most expensive property prices and highest cost of living.

The university city of Uppsala could be a good spot for rental potential, while areas such as Norrbotten, Västra Götaland, Värmland and Västerbotten are affordable places to buy a Swedish holiday home.

Wanting to retire abroad? All of Sweden’s major cities have retiree expat communities, but you might also want to consider the beautiful green city of Växjö or the culture-rich city of Linkoping which offers easy access to the countryside.

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How to search for a property in Sweden

If you’re new to the Swedish property market, it could be worth using a specialist real estate agent to help you find the right property.

They’ll have knowledge of the local market, as well as speaking the language and being able to guide you through the buying process. This service is likely to come with a fee, however.

When choosing an agent, make sure they’re licensed and registered with the Swedish Estate Agents Inspectorate (Fastighetsmäklarinspektionen or FMI).

You can also start the search online yourself, using one of these Swedish property websites and portals:

• Hemnet.se
• Booli.se
• Svenskfast.se
• Lansfast.se
• HSB.se

What to check before you buy

Here’s a quick list of important things to check before you buy property in Sweden:

• Whether the property is a freehold house (äganderätt) or a tenant-owner's apartment (bostadsrätt).
• It’s crucial to verify the legal and registry status of the property before entering into any legal agreement - your solicitor will need to carry out a detailed registry check
• If you’re buying land - that it has clear boundaries, proper registration and the right to build. Planning restrictions can affect any construction or renovation plans you may have.

You may also want to have a building survey carried out. While not mandatory, this could help to flag up any structural or other issues which could be expensive to fix.

How to buy property in Sweden as a foreigner - a step-by-step guide

Now, let’s run through the typical process of buying property in Sweden for foreigners:

1. Get your finances in order

Before you do anything, it’s crucial to get your finances in order. You need to set your budget, get mortgage pre-approval (Lånelöfte) and define exactly what you’re looking for.

You’ll also need to get your Swedish tax number and apply for your Swedish bank account.

2. Find a property and arrange viewings

Now it’s time to start searching for your dream home. You can use online property portals and/or local estate agents to find properties.

In Sweden, most viewings will be in an ‘open house’ format, rather than personal viewings. This is where all interested people are invited by the estate agent to come to the property to look around and ask questions - without needing a fixed appointment time.

3. Place your bid

At open house viewings in Sweden, it’s common for interested parties to place bids on the spot, or submit them to the estate agent shortly after. You may find out if your bid has been successful by SMS.

While this bidding process can be intensely competitive, it’s worth bearing in mind that bids are not legally binding. So, you can withdraw if you find a better property or change your mind.

4. Appoint a solicitor

If your bid is successful, you’ll move onto the legal stages of purchasing the property - and at this point you may want to appoint your own property lawyer.

They will check over and translate all documents and contracts, as well as carrying out due diligence on the transaction.

A good place to start when finding a solicitor is this list of English-speaking property solicitors on the UK Government website.

5. Sign the purchase agreement and pay the deposit

After a successful bid, you’ll find that the purchase process is really quick - sometimes taking as little as a few weeks.

The purchase agreement (köpekontrakt)will be signed by both parties, and you’ll arrange a transfer to pay the deposit. This is usually around 10% of the sale price.⁵

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At this stage, you might want to contact your mortgage provider to finalise the financing for your purchase.

6. Get a survey

This is your chance to bring in a professional surveyor to check over the property, making sure that its structurally sound and flagging up any potential problems.

7. Finalise the purchase and pay the remaining balance

If you’re happy with the results of the survey, you’ll transfer the remaining balance to the seller.

The seller will issue a bill of sale - this is known as a kapebrev. The details of the sale will then be submitted to the Land Registration Authority.

And apart from settling stamp duty and other fees/taxes (which we’ll look at shortly) this is the purchase complete. You’ll get the keys to your new home, and can settle into your new life in Sweden.

How long does it take to buy a property?

Buying property in Sweden is a quick process, which on average takes around 4 to 8 weeks.¹

However, it can take longer if mortgage approval doesn’t come through quickly, or if there are complex title issues to resolve.

Fees and costs of buying property in Sweden

Here are the main fees and taxes for buying property in Sweden, which you’ll need to factor into your budget:⁵

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Taxes and fees for owning property

Once you’ve bought your Swedish property and paid all those initial costs, you’ll also have some ongoing fees and taxes to cover as a property owner.

This includes annual property tax, which is 0.75% of the tax assessment value, capped at SEK 10,074 per year for 2025.⁷

Owners of apartments (bostadsrätt) don’t pay this, but they do have to pay monthly fees of around 3,000 to 5,000 SEK instead.⁷

If you rent out the property, you may also pay personal income tax as a landlord.

Loans and mortgages for non-residents

Banks in Sweden do offer mortgage loans to foreigners, but the terms, rates and eligibility requirements may be different than those for local buyers.

Some banks may even give you a mortgage if you’re not living in the country - Swedbank, SEB, Nordea and Handelsbanken are some options to try.

It’s also important to note that in Sweden, you usually can’t borrow more than 85% of the property value. And for foreigners without strong ties to Sweden, this may drop down to around 60% to 80%.¹ This means you’ll need a larger deposit.

Risks and pitfalls of buying property in Sweden

One of the main things to watch out for when buying property abroad are scams.

To avoid these, it’s strongly recommended to work with qualified and credible professionals such as real estate agents and solicitors.

Ideally, you should also check for membership of a professional body when working with any property experts, brokers or agents - and make sure they’re not linked to the seller or estate agent.

Sweden is generally considered a safe place for property transactions, and its property market is well-regulated.

But there are still some potential pitfalls and risks you should look out for, including the following:

• Buying an apartment that is part of a housing cooperative (Bostadsrättsförening). You need to understand that you’re buying the right to use the apartment, rather than owning it outright. You also need to research the financial health of the cooperative, as this can affect everything from maintenance fees to required contributions towards repairs and renovations.
• Property tax (Fastighetsskatt) increases. Taxes are calculated based on the value of the property. But properties that haven’t been assessed for a long time could suddenly be subject to a substantial increase in tax, which could happen just after you buy your new home.
• Right of Public Access rules for Swedish holiday homes. If you buy a holiday home, you need to look into the local right of public access laws (rättighetsbegränsningar), designed to allow people to roam freely in nature. This could mean that people have the right to walk, ski or even camp temporarily on your newly purchased land.

Moving into your Sweden property

Before you can get the keys to your new home, you’ll have a final few tasks to check off your list.

Insurance

It’s strongly recommended to take out a buildings insurance policy starting from your completion date. In fact, you might find it's a mandatory condition of your mortgage offer.

Setting up utilities

If you know when your completion date will be, it makes sense to get some essentials set up in advance of your move to Sweden.

A prime example is utilities, such as heating, power and water. Get these sorted as early as you can, and the moving process should be a little smoother.

Energy efficiency renovations

If you’ve bought an older Swedish property, you might want to make some energy efficiency improvements to it. For example, improving the insulation, upgrading the windows or installing a modern, more efficient heating system.

Key takeaways

• Foreigners can legally buy property or land in Sweden without citizenship or residency, though you must obtain a personnummer (personal ID number) or a samordningsnummer (coordination number) from the Swedish Tax Agency for the transaction.
• You must distinguish between freehold houses (äganderätt) and tenant-owner apartments (bostadsrätt); in a housing cooperative (apartment), you are buying the right to use the unit rather than owning the physical structure outright.
• The buying process is exceptionally fast, typically taking 4 to 8 weeks, and features an open-house bidding system where bids are made via SMS and are not legally binding until the purchase agreement is signed.
• Swedish banks offer mortgages to foreigners, but you may be required to provide residency documents, and the maximum loan-to-value (LTV) is capped at 85% (often lower for non-residents).
• Closing costs include a 1.5% stamp duty on the title registration and a 2% stamp duty on any new mortgage deeds, alongside legal fees that typically range between 10,000 and 30,000 SEK.
• While property taxes are low (capped at approximately 10,074 SEK per year), apartment owners must pay monthly cooperative fees that usually range from 3,000 to 5,000 SEK.

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Sources used:

1. Investropa - Buying and owning a property as a foreigner in Sweden (2026)
2. Global Property Guide - Sweden's Residential Property Market Analysis 2026
3. Investropa - What are housing prices like in Sweden right now? (2026)
4. Numbeo - Prices by City
5. Residaro - Buying a House in Sweden - Your Complete Expat Guide
6. Investropa - The full list of property taxes, costs and fees in Sweden (2026)
7. Investropa - What are the hidden costs of buying in Sweden?

Sources last checked 30-Mar-2026