Buyers’ Guide...
Some essential information when
buying property and real estate in Austria
Non-Austrian citizens are allowed to buy commercial property, Austrian homes, apartments, luxury chalets and investment property in Austria. If you are an EU citizen you have the same rights and responsibilities as Austrian citizens in all matters, including the purchase of homes in Austria. In most areas of Austria you are allowed to buy property as your main home or as an investment property which means that it should be offered for rent when you are not using it yourself. The additional costs associated with buying a property in Austria generally amount to 10-11% of the purchase price. For details of these costs click on the side link Additional Costs.
Please note: when purchasing property in Austria it is sold ’as seen’ and as you are committed to the contract from the moment that you sign the offer document you should have thoroughly investigated both the property and surrounding area before submitting your offer.
Where to buy?
Beautiful regions with wonderful skiing in the Alps, such as Styria and Salzburger Land, allow the purchase of second homes providing they are purchased for investment and rented out when the owner is not using it unless the individual property is designated as a second home. These rules for the purchase of second homes apply to everyone, including Austrians. However, if you wish to make a permanent home in Austria there is no problem with buying any property in any area. Salzburger Land, Styria and the Salzkammergut, long since popular with German buyers, have now become very popular states for home buyers from the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and the Scandinavian countries in particular. This is partly due to the well established and increased presence of the low-cost airlines flying into Salzburg airport and partly due to the good value property available in these provinces. Buyers from outside Austria frequently focus on the Austrian Alps and the excellent ski resorts in Austria as ideal locations in which to purchase property. The availablility of all year round outdoor pursuits are a great attraction, particularly now that more and more people are discovering that Austria is also an ideal summer holiday destination.
There are also really lovely areas of Austria away from the Alps which deserve a lot more attention from outside buyers. For example, although Styria is understandably well known for the fantastic skiing area in the Dachstein Tauern Region of the Alps around Schladming, it also boasts a wonderful wine producing region that is so attractive it is likened to Tuscany in Italy. No wonder Styria is known as Austria’s best kept secret!!
DISCLAIMER: While every effort has been made to ensure the information given on these webpages is correct, it is offered as general advice only and you must always satisfy yourself as to its accuracy. No responsibility, of any sort, can be taken by Live Austria, the company or its agents. We recommend that you should always take professional legal advice before purchasing any property.
For a property investment plan, Austria may represent a good option... In recent research carried out by the makers of the hit Channel 4 programme ‘A place In The Sun’ it was estimated that £100,000 of property investment in Austria could be worth £311,000 in 10 years time, an increase of 211%, thus putting it ahead of Cyprus, France, Spain and Italy. When you factor in a serious risk/benefit analysis of the various different countries (see the relevant ’Rough Guide To...’ for a realistic assessment of crime, organised crime and possible endemic corruption) and evaluate such things as a flooded/limited rental market and the possible lack of buyers to sell on to once prices have risen, you may very well conclude that Austria is one of the best places in which to buy:
www.channel4.com/4homes/ontv/place_in_the_sun/20_
make_money-2.html | 
