Property in Sweden: buying and support
Stockholm, Gothenburg, the coast: a market with no restrictions for foreigners — no permits, no minimum sum, no requirement to live there.
Why Sweden
No restrictions by citizenship
Sweden does not restrict property purchases by foreigners: there is no residency or citizenship requirement.
A transparent, reliable registry
High market transparency and a reliable title registry reduce the legal risk of the deal.
No obligation to live in it
The owner is not required to live in the property bought — it can be used as a second home.
Honestly, about bostadsrätt: it's a share, not the unit
Most Swedish flats are structured as a share in a housing association (bostadsrätt), not ownership of the unit itself — the purchase needs the board's approval, which can be refused, and subletting is often restricted.
Honestly, about the tax: it's capped
The municipal property fee has an upper cap, so it does not scale proportionally for expensive homes, and stamp duty on purchase applies only to houses with land — not to co-operative flats (bostadsrätt).
Smaller budget — we'll source it
Tell us the amount and the goal, and we'll come back with options from developers and partners that are not in the catalogue.
Send a requestHow the purchase works
- 1
We map your goal
Goal, budget and property type — a house with land (fastighet) or a co-operative flat (bostadsrätt).
- 2
We check the property in the registry
For a house — in the land registry (Lantmäteriet); for a co-op flat — the housing association's bylaws and finances.
- 3
We get board approval (for a bostadsrätt)
Buying a share in a housing association requires the board's approval — it can refuse, so we request it ahead of time.
- 4
We check financing
Swedish banks lend to non-residents only on a limited basis — we confirm real terms for your specific profile.
- 5
Purchase contract
We sign the contract; for a house, a preliminary contract with a deposit is common.
- 6
Title registration
For a house — title registration (lagfart) with the land registry and stamp duty payment; for a co-op flat — entry in the association's member register, no stamp duty.
Frequently asked questions
Are there restrictions on foreign buyers in Sweden?+
No. There are no restrictions by nationality or residence, no minimum investment, no geographic limits within the country, and no obligation to live in the property. Residents and non-residents alike may buy.
What is a bostadsrätt and how does it differ from ownership?+
It is an apartment in a housing cooperative: what is legally acquired is a membership right conferring use of a specific apartment, rather than the real estate itself. The form is widespread in Swedish cities and requires board approval on purchase.
Can the cooperative's board refuse a buyer?+
Yes — membership approval is a genuine stage of the transaction, not a formality. Some cooperatives take a cautious view of buyers who do not intend to live in the apartment. Refusal is possible and should be factored into your planning.
Can such an apartment be let out?+
Subletting normally requires the board's consent and is limited in duration. If rental income is the purpose of the purchase, the specific cooperative's rules are examined before the deal: they differ and may make the scenario unworkable.
What taxes apply on purchase and ownership?+
Buying a house attracts stamp duty and registration fees; buying a cooperative apartment does not attract stamp duty. A municipal property charge is payable annually, subject to a cap.
Does buying property grant residency in Sweden?+
No. A purchase has no connection to immigration status: someone with no ties to the country may buy a home, but it confers no right to stay.
Will a bank lend to a non-resident?+
It is difficult. Swedish banks look to income and credit history in Sweden, so a mortgage is largely unavailable to a non-resident. Purchases from abroad are normally planned on the buyer's own funds.
Do you have property in Sweden?+
Not in the public catalogue at present. If the market interests you, send us a request — we will source through our partner network and help you navigate the cooperative form and the board's requirements.
Overview
Sweden is one of Europe's most open markets: no nationality restrictions, no minimum investment, no obligation to live in the property you buy. The difficulties here are practical rather than legal — access to mortgages and the particularities of cooperative housing.
Why buy here
No restrictions of any kind on buying by nationality or residence: residents and non-residents, individuals and companies all buy. Highly transparent transactions and a reliable property register. No obligation to live in the property after purchase and no geographic restrictions within the country.
Taxes, costs and yield
Benchmarks for taxes, purchase and holding costs and rental yield. Exact figures depend on the property and your situation.
Stamp duty on buying a house; it does not apply to cooperative apartments. Annually, a municipal property charge subject to a cap.
Buying a house attracts stamp duty and registration fees. Buying an apartment in a cooperative does not attract stamp duty, because what is legally acquired is membership rather than real estate. A municipal property charge is payable annually, subject to a cap, so for expensive properties it does not rise in proportion to value. Apartment owners pay a monthly charge to the cooperative covering building upkeep and servicing its collective loan.
1. Establish the form of the property: a freestanding house, or an apartment in a housing cooperative (bostadsrätt). These are different legal constructs. 2. For a cooperative apartment, membership must be approved by the cooperative's board. This is a distinct stage, and refusal is possible. 3. Sale contract. 4. For houses, registration of title and payment of stamp duty; for apartments, entry in the cooperative's member register.
Swedish banks lend mainly to clients with income and credit history in Sweden. A non-resident will find a mortgage hard to obtain.
Buying property in Sweden does not grant residency and has no connection to immigration status. Someone with no ties to the country may buy a home, but no immigration rights follow from it.
The cooperative form is the main practical consideration. The board approves new members, and some cooperatives take a cautious view of buyers who do not intend to live in the apartment, as well as restricting subletting. Before buying, examine the cooperative's finances: the size of its collective loan directly affects the monthly charge and the apartment's future liquidity. We do not currently list property in this country in our public catalogue. If the market interests you, send us a request — we will source through our partner network and support the transaction.
What to bear in mind: — board approval is a real stage, not a formality, and refusal is possible; — subletting a cooperative apartment normally requires board consent and is limited in duration; — the cooperative's finances and the size of its collective loan affect monthly payments more than is apparent at the outset; — a mortgage is largely unavailable to a non-resident, so the plan rests on your own funds. Checked in September 2026. Thresholds, rates and programme terms change — confirm the current requirements with a lawyer in the country before you buy.
Request a selection in Sweden
Figures are indicative, change over time and depend on the specific property and your circumstances. Obtain independent legal, tax and financial advice before any purchase.
Get a personal property shortlist
Tell us your goal and budget — we'll send a curated selection from trusted local partners, with no obligation.