What costs do you pay when buying property in Sweden in 2026?

Hot Stockholm, Gothenburg, and Malmö listings often go to budgivning: open or closed bidding after the first viewing. Your bank's lånelöfte (mortgage promise) should cover the price you might actually pay, not only the list figure. When you win, the köpekontrakt usually asks for handpenning of about 10% within a set number of days, with the rest at tillträde (completion). That deposit is part of the price, not an extra tax, but it must sit in cash or cleared funds while the mortgage completes: Foreigner mortgage.

Mäklare (estate agent) commission is normally paid by the seller in ordinary residential deals. Buyers still budget besiktning (inspection) where used, bank valuation, moving, and furniture, especially for empty bostadsrätt shells.

On a freehold villa or tomträtt, you apply for lagfart through Lantmäteriet within three months. Private buyers pay 1.5% stamp duty on the higher of purchase price and the relevant tax assessment value (rounded rules apply), plus an expeditionsavgift of 825 kr. If your bolån needs new pantbrev, stamp duty is 2% of the newly mortgaged amount plus a smaller registration fee; existing pantbrev often transfer with the property and can cut that bill.

A bostadsrätt is membership, not a Lantmäteriet land title, so lagfart and pantbrev do not apply the same way. You still need kontantinsats under lending rules, board approval, and a durable avgift for association costs. Some föreningar charge överlåtelseavgift or pantsättningsavgift on the sale or pledge. Compare tenure tradeoffs in Hyresrätt vs bostadsrätt before you assume the "cheaper" path is the apartment with the lower sticker.

Foreign buyers face the same fee stack once a purchase is allowed; the harder gate is usually financing and timing, not a nationality tax: Can foreigners buy property.