Buying guide · Sweden · 2026
Buying a house in Sweden: the steps and the real costs
Anyone can buy a house in Sweden. The buying costs are low: a stamp duty of 1.5% and a small fee. But since 1 July 2026 you need a Swedish ID number to register as the owner. This page shows the steps and each cost, with the official source.
- Stamp duty
- 1.5%
- Registration fee
- SEK 825
- Yearly property fee
- SEK 10,425
- Apply for the title
- 3 months
of the price, or of last year's tax value if higher
for the title (lagfart)
at most, or 0.75% of the tax value (2026)
after you buy
Every tax and fee on this page links to its official source. We checked them on 30 September 2026. Rules change, and this is not legal advice. Ask the notary or the tax office before you sign.
The steps
1. Get a Swedish ID number first
Since 1 July 2026 you need a Swedish personal number or coordination number (samordningsnummer) to register as the owner. Apply for it early (Lantmäteriet).
2. Find a house and bid
Most houses sell through an estate agent. The asking price is often only a start. Buyers bid, and the agent runs the bidding (budgivning). A bid does not bind you.
3. Inspect the house
The buyer must inspect the house before the sale. A fault you should have found in a careful inspection is your risk, not the seller's. Many buyers pay an inspector (Jordabalken 4:19).
4. Sign the contract
You and the seller sign the contract (köpekontrakt). Now the sale binds both of you. You usually pay a deposit (handpenning).
5. Pay the rest on the access day
On the access day (tillträdesdag) you pay the rest of the price. The seller signs the bill of sale (köpebrev) and gives you the keys.
6. Apply for the title (lagfart)
Apply to Lantmäteriet within 3 months. You then pay the stamp duty and the fee (Lantmäteriet).
Taxes and fees
You pay these to Lantmäteriet after you apply for the title.
| What | Rate or amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Stamp duty (stämpelskatt) | 1.5% of the price, or of last year's tax value if that is higher, rounded down to whole SEK 1,000 | Lantmäteriet |
| Registration fee (expeditionsavgift) | SEK 825 | Lantmäteriet |
| If you borrow: mortgage deed (pantbrev) | 2% of the new deed amount, plus SEK 375 per deed | Lantmäteriet |
| Property fee, every year (fastighetsavgift) | 0.75% of the tax value, at most SEK 10,425 for 2026 | Skatteverket |
A worked example
In Åsele, in the north, the average house for year-round living sold for SEK 502,000 in 2025 (SCB). This example assumes the tax value is below the price. With a loan and a new mortgage deed of SEK 200,000, add SEK 4,375.
| What you pay | Amount |
|---|---|
| House price | SEK 502,000 ≈ €45,600 |
| Stamp duty (1.5%) | SEK 7,530 |
| Registration fee | SEK 825 |
| Total | SEK 510,355 ≈ €46,400 |
Who can buy
Sweden has no rules against foreign buyers. Buyers from the US, the UK and every other country can buy a house. You need the Swedish ID number to register as the owner, so apply for it before you sign.
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