Buying a home in Stockholm: the complete guide
Everything a buyer meets, in the order you meet it – each rule linked to the law or the authority that sets it, with the date VERA PI read it.
Buying
- Lantmäteriet
Foreign citizens register title (lagfart) under broadly the same rules as Swedes. For ownership changes from 1 July 2026 the new owner must give a Swedish personnummer or samordningsnummer in the application; apply within three months of becoming the owner.
The source ↗ · read 21 October 2026 - Lantmäteriet
Lantmäteriet's estimated processing time for a title registration (an estimate, read on the date shown).
The source ↗ · read 21 October 2026 - Lantmäteriet
A mortgage deed (pantbrev) is Lantmäteriet's proof that a mortgage (inteckning) has been registered in a property; banks use digital deeds (datapantbrev) in Pantsystem as security. Existing deeds pass to the buyer, so only new ones cost stamp duty.
The source ↗ · read 21 October 2026 - Fastighetsmäklarinspektionen (FMI)
No law governs how bidding is run: the seller decides the process and who may buy, not the agent. Bids are not binding, and the bidding stays open until the contract is signed. The agent must pass every bid to the seller and keep a bidding list for buyer and seller.
The source ↗ · read 21 October 2026
Mortgages and loans
- Regeringen (Finansdepartementet)
From 1 April 2026 the mortgage cap (bolånetak) is 90 % of the home's market value (was 85 %), the stricter amortisation requirement for loans above 4.5 × gross income is abolished, and top-up loans are capped at 80 %. The rules are now in law rather than in Finansinspektionen's regulations.
The source ↗ · read 21 October 2026 - Finansinspektionen
Finansinspektionen repealed its own amortisation and mortgage-cap rules (FFFS 2016:16, FFFS 2016:33, FFFS 2020:3) from 31 March 2026 (decision memo 17 March 2026, FI dnr 25-33519), because the rules are now set by law (SFS 2026:226). FI still supervises the lenders.
The source ↗ · read 21 October 2026 - Finansinspektionen
Finansinspektionen (fi.se) is Sweden's financial supervisor; it supervises banks' compliance with the mortgage rules.
The source ↗ · read 21 October 2026
The interest rate
- Sveriges riksbank
The Riksbank held the policy rate at 1.75 % at its decision announced on 24 September 2026, in effect from 30 September 2026. The next decision is announced on 4 November 2026 (meeting on 3 November).
The source ↗ · read 21 October 2026
Costs and taxes
- Skatteverket
Interest on a mortgage gives a tax reduction: 30 % of a net capital deficit up to SEK 100,000 a year, and 21 % of the part above SEK 100,000.
The source ↗ · read 21 October 2026 - Skatteverket
2026: the municipal property fee for a house is 0.75 % of the taxable value but never more than SEK 10,425; newly built houses pay no fee for their first 15 years. The price base amount is SEK 59,200.
The source ↗ · read 21 October 2026 - Lantmäteriet
Buying a house (a fastighet, or a tomträtt): stamp duty (stämpelskatt) for private persons is 1.5 % of the price or of the previous year's taxable value, whichever is higher, plus an administration fee of SEK 825. New mortgage deeds (pantbrev) cost 2 % of the amount mortgaged plus SEK 375 per mortgage. A bostadsrätt carries neither.
The source ↗ · read 21 October 2026
The law, paragraph by paragraph
- Lag (2026:226) om begränsning av bostadskrediter, 4 §
When a mortgage is granted for a purchase the loan-to-value may be at most 90 % — you need at least 10 % of the price in cash (kontantinsats).
SFS 2026:226 ↗ · read 21 October 2026 · t.o.m. SFS 2026:1028 - Lag (2026:226) om begränsning av bostadskrediter, 5 §
A top-up loan may take the loan-to-value to at most 80 %.
SFS 2026:226 ↗ · read 21 October 2026 · t.o.m. SFS 2026:1028 - Lag (2026:226) om begränsning av bostadskrediter, 7 §
Amortisation: at least 1 % of the loan a year when the loan-to-value is above 50 % and up to 70 %, and at least 2 % a year above 70 %. No debt-to-income surcharge since 1 April 2026.
SFS 2026:226 ↗ · read 21 October 2026 · t.o.m. SFS 2026:1028 - Lag (2026:226) om begränsning av bostadskrediter, 10 §
A first buyer of a newly built home can be exempted from amortisation for up to five years.
SFS 2026:226 ↗ · read 21 October 2026 · t.o.m. SFS 2026:1028 - Lag (2026:226) om begränsning av bostadskrediter, 13 §
A revaluation to lower the amortisation or raise the borrowing room may be made at the earliest five years after the purchase or the last revaluation, unless the value changed for reasons other than the market.
SFS 2026:226 ↗ · read 21 October 2026 · t.o.m. SFS 2026:1028 - Lag (2026:226) om begränsning av bostadskrediter, övergångsbestämmelser
The law applies from 1 April 2026.
SFS 2026:226 ↗ · read 21 October 2026 · t.o.m. SFS 2026:1028 - Bostadsrättslag (1991:614), 1 kap. 3 §
A bostadsrätt is the right a member holds in a housing association (bostadsrättsförening) to use an apartment without time limit. You buy the right and a membership — the association owns the building.
SFS 1991:614 ↗ · read 21 October 2026 · t.o.m. SFS 2026:847 - Bostadsrättslag (1991:614), 6 kap. 4 §
The contract for buying a bostadsrätt must be in writing and signed by seller and buyer, and name the apartment and the price.
SFS 1991:614 ↗ · read 21 October 2026 · t.o.m. SFS 2026:847 - Bostadsrättslag (1991:614), 6 kap. 1 §
The buyer may use the apartment only once admitted as a member of the association.
SFS 1991:614 ↗ · read 21 October 2026 · t.o.m. SFS 2026:847 - Bostadsrättslag (1991:614), 7 kap. 10 §
Subletting (andrahandsuthyrning) needs the board's consent, or the rent tribunal's permission.
SFS 1991:614 ↗ · read 21 October 2026 · t.o.m. SFS 2026:847 - Jordabalk (1970:994), 4 kap. 1 §
A house purchase (a fastighet) is concluded by a written deed (köpehandling) signed by seller and buyer, with the price and a declaration that the property is transferred.
SFS 1970:994 ↗ · read 21 October 2026 · t.o.m. SFS 2026:1498 - Jordabalk (1970:994), 4 kap. 19 §
The buyer has a duty to inspect (undersökningsplikt): a fault the buyer should have found by a reasonable inspection cannot be claimed later.
SFS 1970:994 ↗ · read 21 October 2026 · t.o.m. SFS 2026:1498 - Jordabalk (1970:994), 20 kap. 2 §
Title (lagfart) must be applied for within three months of the purchase deed.
SFS 1970:994 ↗ · read 21 October 2026 · t.o.m. SFS 2026:1498 - Jordabalk (1970:994), 13 kap. 2 §
A tomträtt is a right to use land owned by the state or a municipality — common in Stockholm — for an annual ground rent (tomträttsavgäld); you own the building, not the land.
SFS 1970:994 ↗ · read 21 October 2026 · t.o.m. SFS 2026:1498 - Jordabalk (1970:994), 13 kap. 1 §
The ground rent (avgäld) on a tomträtt is reviewed at fixed intervals.
SFS 1970:994 ↗ · read 21 October 2026 · t.o.m. SFS 2026:1498 - Fastighetsmäklarlag (2021:516), 2 kap. 1 §
Estate agents must be registered with Fastighetsmäklarinspektionen (FMI).
SFS 2021:516 ↗ · read 21 October 2026 · t.o.m. SFS 2022:1030 - Fastighetsmäklarlag (2021:516), 3 kap. 1 §
The agent is usually hired by the seller but must look after both the seller's and the buyer's interests.
SFS 2021:516 ↗ · read 21 October 2026 · t.o.m. SFS 2022:1030 - Fastighetsmäklarlag (2021:516), 3 kap. 18 §
The agent keeps a list of every bid (budgivningslista: bidder, amount, time and conditions); once the assignment is completed the buyer and the seller receive it with the agent's journal.
SFS 2021:516 ↗ · read 21 October 2026 · t.o.m. SFS 2022:1030 - Fastighetsmäklarlag (2021:516), 3 kap. 12 §
The agent must tell the buyer in writing about the buyer's duty to inspect the property, and encourage an inspection before the purchase.
SFS 2021:516 ↗ · read 21 October 2026 · t.o.m. SFS 2022:1030 - Lag (1984:404) om stämpelskatt vid inskrivningsmyndigheter, 8 §
Stamp duty on a purchase: SEK 15 per full SEK 1,000 of the value (1.5 %) for a private person; SEK 42.50 (4.25 %) for a company.
SFS 1984:404 ↗ · read 21 October 2026 · t.o.m. SFS 2025:391 - Lag (1984:404) om stämpelskatt vid inskrivningsmyndigheter, 24 §
Stamp duty on a new mortgage deed (inteckning): SEK 20 per full SEK 1,000 (2 %).
SFS 1984:404 ↗ · read 21 October 2026 · t.o.m. SFS 2025:391 - Inkomstskattelag (1999:1229), 67 kap. 10 §
Tax reduction for a capital deficit (mainly mortgage interest): 30 % up to SEK 100,000 and 21 % above (67 kap. 10 §).
SFS 1999:1229 ↗ · read 21 October 2026 · t.o.m. SFS 2026:1393 - Lag (2007:1398) om kommunal fastighetsavgift, 3 §
Houses pay a municipal property fee: a fixed amount per house, indexed every year, but at most 0.75 % of the taxable value.
SFS 2007:1398 ↗ · read 21 October 2026 · t.o.m. SFS 2012:743 - Lag (2007:1398) om kommunal fastighetsavgift, 3 §
Apartment buildings pay a fixed amount per apartment, at most 0.3 % of the taxable value — for a bostadsrätt the association pays it and it is part of the monthly fee.
SFS 2007:1398 ↗ · read 21 October 2026 · t.o.m. SFS 2012:743 - Skollag (2010:800), 8 kap. 14 §
The municipality must offer a preschool place within four months of the application.
SFS 2010:800 ↗ · read 21 October 2026 · t.o.m. SFS 2026:1636 - Skollag (2010:800), 8 kap. 5 §
Children are entitled to a preschool place from the age of one.
SFS 2010:800 ↗ · read 21 October 2026 · t.o.m. SFS 2026:1636 - Skollag (2010:800), 8 kap. 4 §
From the autumn term of the year a child turns three, 525 hours a year of preschool are free (allmän förskola).
SFS 2010:800 ↗ · read 21 October 2026 · t.o.m. SFS 2026:1636 - Folkbokföringslag (1991:481), 3 §
A person who is regarded as resident after moving to Sweden is to be registered (folkbokförd).
SFS 1991:481 ↗ · read 21 October 2026 · t.o.m. SFS 2026:1613 - Folkbokföringslag (1991:481), 3 §
Resident means expected to spend one's nightly rest in Sweden regularly for at least one year.
SFS 1991:481 ↗ · read 21 October 2026 · t.o.m. SFS 2026:1613 - Folkbokföringslag (1991:481), 1 §
Skatteverket assigns coordination numbers (samordningsnummer) to people who are not registered.
SFS 1991:481 ↗ · read 21 October 2026 · t.o.m. SFS 2026:1613 - Årsredovisningslag (1995:1554), 6 kap. 3a §
The Annual Accounts Act sets extra disclosure rules for housing associations' annual reports (key figures such as fees, debt and savings per square metre).
SFS 1995:1554 ↗ · read 21 October 2026 · t.o.m. SFS 2026:780
Practical matters
- Skatteverket
If you move to Sweden and plan to live here for one year or more you should normally be registered in the Swedish Population Register (folkbokföring) with Skatteverket; you are then assigned a Swedish personal identity number (personnummer). Whether you may live in Sweden is a separate question for Migrationsverket.
The source ↗ · read 21 October 2026 - Skatteverket
A coordination number (samordningsnummer) is an identity number for people who are not, or have not been, registered in Sweden. You can apply for one yourself and must book an identity check at a service office.
The source ↗ · read 21 October 2026 - 1177 (Region Stockholm and the regions)
Healthcare is run by the regions — in Stockholm by Region Stockholm. For most needs you go to a healthcare centre (vårdcentral) near your home; call 1177 for advice (in Swedish or English) and 112 in an emergency.
The source ↗ · read 21 October 2026 - 1177 Region Stockholm
High-cost protection: in Stockholms län you pay at most SEK 1,450 in total for outpatient visits over twelve months; after that you get a free card (frikort).
The source ↗ · read 21 October 2026 - 1177 Region Stockholm
A visit in outpatient care in Region Stockholm — a vårdcentral, a specialist clinic — costs SEK 275 for patients aged 18–84; calls to 1177 are free.
The source ↗ · read 21 October 2026 - Migrationsverket
Residence and work permits are decided by Migrationsverket. This guide gives no immigration advice — check your own situation there.
The source ↗ · read 21 October 2026 - Stockholms stad
Stockholms stad: preschool places are applied for through the city's e-service; the city must offer a place within four months (Skollagen).
The source ↗ · read 21 October 2026 - BankID (Finansiell ID-Teknik BID AB)
BankID, the e-identification used for banks, Skatteverket, 1177 and most services, is issued by Swedish banks; banks normally require a Swedish personnummer and an account. Check with your bank.
The source ↗ · read 21 October 2026 · Not confirmed the source did not show it on the date read – check the link - SL (Region Stockholm)
Public transport in the Stockholm region (tunnelbana, pendeltåg, buses, trams, some ferries) is run by SL; one ticket system covers the whole län. Fares: see sl.se.
The source ↗ · read 21 October 2026 · Not confirmed the source did not show it on the date read – check the link
Cross-checked
- bostadsrätt median price, Stockholms länmatches SCB