Guides · Vienna & Lower Austria

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18 articles

GuideTaxes & LawNov 8, 2026

Property transfer tax in Austria: rates, family, gifts & inheritance

In Austria, property transfer tax (Grunderwerbsteuer) on a purchase is 3.5% of the purchase price, but at least of the property value (Grundstückswert). That applies in Vienna and Lower Austria just like in the rest of Austria. For gifts, inheritances and transfers within the family, a tiered rate applies to the property value: 0.5% on the first €250,000, 2% on the next €150,000 and 3.5% on everything above that.

GuideBuyingOct 30, 2026

Buying an investment apartment in Vienna: is it worth it in 2026?

An investment apartment (Vorsorgewohnung) in Vienna usually brings in 2.5 to 4% rental yield a year, plus any rise in value. If you rent it out with VAT, you get the 20% VAT on the purchase price back and depreciate the building. In return, the apartment stays tied to renting for 20 years.

GuideMarket & RatesOct 24, 2026

Vienna property prices 2026: price per square meter by district

According to Statistics Austria, a condo in Vienna cost a median of €5,212 per square meter in 2025, based on prices actually paid. The most expensive district is the Innere Stadt (€7,077/m² for buildings up to 1960, €9,477/m² from 1991), the cheapest is Favoriten (€3,024/m² for buildings up to 1960). In the first half of 2026, residential property prices across Austria rose 3.9% to a record high.

GuideCosts & FeesOct 22, 2026

Getting an Austrian land register extract online: cost & contents 2026

You can get an extract from the Austrian land register (Grundbuchauszug) online via JustizOnline or an authorized provider; a current full extract costs €4.89. Since October 1, 2026, owners get the extract for their own property free of charge. In three parts – the A, B and C sheets – it shows the property, the owners and all encumbrances.

GuideSellingOct 17, 2026

Purchase offers in Austria: how binding is a Kaufanbot – and what sellers should watch for

A signed purchase offer (Kaufanbot) binds the buyer for the agreed period. If you as the seller accept within that period, the purchase contract usually already exists – and you're bound too. Watch out: if a private buyer signs on the day of the first viewing, they may be able to withdraw within a week.

GuideTaxes & LawOct 13, 2026

Main-residence exemption: when selling your apartment or house in Austria is tax-free

When you sell your apartment or house in Austria, the profit is tax-free if it was your main residence: either for at least 2 continuous years since you bought it, or for at least 5 years in a row within the 10 years before the sale. Either way, you have to move out. For the land, the tax authorities only exempt up to 1,000 m².

GuideSellingOct 8, 2026

Selling and buying a new home in Austria: order, bridge financing and deadlines

Selling first gives you security; buying first works with bridge financing – but only with a realistic value for your old property and enough of a buffer. The costliest mistakes are missed deadlines: the rules for the main-residence tax exemption, and the 5-year period if you bought with the land register fee exemption.

GuideBuyingOct 6, 2026

Buying an attic apartment in Vienna: what to look out for

An attic conversion (Dachgeschoss) is often more complicated than it looks: roof, insulation, waterproofing and building systems all meet, and many defects end up hidden. Pay special attention to airtightness, the terrace and the paperwork – and have new conversions, tricky properties and older buildings checked by a court-certified expert before you buy.

NewsTaxes & LawOct 4, 2026

Energy certificate when selling: what applies since July 2026

When you sell a property in Austria, you must show the buyer an energy certificate that is no more than ten years old and hand it over within 14 days of signing the contract. Since July 1, 2026, every listing must state the heating demand, final energy demand and overall energy efficiency class. Violations cost up to €1,450.

NewsCosts & FeesOct 4, 2026

Land register: the fee exemption for home buyers has ended

Austria's temporary exemption from the land register fee for owner-occupied homes is over: only applications received by the land register by July 1, 2026 qualified. Since then, buyers once again pay 1.1% to register ownership and 1.2% to register a mortgage.

NewsTaxes & LawOct 4, 2026

Capital gains tax rises in 2027: selling “old property” gets more expensive

From January 1, 2027, selling so-called old property (Altvermögen) in Austria costs effectively 6% instead of 4.2% of the sale price in real estate income tax (ImmoESt) – 21% instead of 18% for land that was rezoned. If you plan to sell such a property, you save by closing the sale in 2026.

GuideMarket & RatesOct 4, 2026

What is my apartment worth? How the price is determined

An apartment's value depends mainly on location, size, condition, features and the prices of comparable sales. Appraisers work under the Real Estate Valuation Act (Liegenschaftsbewertungsgesetz) with the sales comparison, income or cost approach. Online calculators only give rough guidelines. An on-site valuation is more accurate.

GuideSellingOct 4, 2026

Documents for selling an apartment: the checklist

To sell a condo in Austria, you mainly need: a land register extract, an energy certificate, the unit value appraisal and condominium agreement, floor plans, the latest service charge statement, the reserve fund balance and the minutes of the owners' meetings. The more complete your file, the faster and safer the sale.

GuideTaxes & LawOct 4, 2026

Inherited a property in Austria? What you need to know before selling

You can usually sell an inherited property in Austria once probate has ended with the court's transfer order (Einantwortung) and you're registered in the land register. For the tax on the sale, the deceased's purchase date is what counts: if the property dates from before April 2002, the old-property flat rate usually applies – but it goes up in 2027.

GuideSellingOct 4, 2026

Selling an apartment in Vienna: the process in 7 steps

Selling an apartment in Vienna takes seven steps: valuation, documents, energy certificate, presentation, viewings, purchase offer and finally the purchase contract and handover. If you start well prepared, you'll sell faster and usually for a better price.

GuideCosts & FeesOct 4, 2026

Closing costs in Austria: what buyers pay on top of the price

In Austria, buyers usually pay around 9 to 11% on top of the purchase price: 3.5% property transfer tax (Grunderwerbsteuer), 1.1% land register fee, up to 3% plus VAT in agent's commission, the cost of drawing up the contract and, if you finance with a loan, 1.2% to register the mortgage (Pfandrecht).

GuideCosts & FeesOct 4, 2026

Agent's commission when selling: what a real estate agent costs in Austria

When you sell, an Austrian real estate agent may charge at most 3% of the purchase price plus 20% VAT – to both the seller and the buyer (for prices above €48,448.51). The commission is only due if the sale actually goes through.