Real Estate Purchase in Vienna: 5 Things You Should Know Beforehand

Buying property in Vienna is influenced by various factors that are relevant for both apartments and houses. Potential buyers should consider the following five aspects before making their investment decision:

Prices and Supply: Monitor the Current Market Situation

Property prices in Vienna have shown a moderate increase for months. According to current analyses by Kurier and News.at, prices for existing apartments rose by an average of 5.6 percent in the first half of 2025. The average square meter prices in sought-after Viennese districts (e.g., 7th, 8th, or 19th district) range between 6,500 and 8,000 euros.

For single-family homes, especially on the outskirts or in the outer districts, there is still strong demand. According to Kurier analysis, the average purchase prices are over 800,000 euros – in prime locations, it can be significantly higher.

New construction activity has been declining since 2024. Reasons for this include increased construction costs and stricter environmental regulations. This leads to a shrinking supply, especially for modern condominiums with energy efficiency standard A or better. Buyers are increasingly turning to existing properties – with the plan to renovate or modernize them themselves.

Considerations for Financing and Additional Costs

Financing in 2025 is influenced by two developments: on the one hand, slightly decreased loan interest rates (currently around 3.0–3.5 percent effective annual interest rate for mortgage loans), and on the other hand, by legal reliefs on additional costs.

A major advantage for buyers: Since April 1, 2024, there is a temporary exemption from fees for land register entry as well as for the registration of liens. According to Kurier, this can bring savings of over 10,000 euros for an apartment or house worth 500,000 euros. Important: The registration must be completed by July 1, 2026, at the latest.

Nevertheless, high equity requirements remain. Banks generally expect at least 20 percent equity – for houses with higher renovation needs, it is often even 30 percent. In addition, incidental acquisition costs such as broker commission (up to 3 percent + VAT, if commissioned by the buyer), contract creation costs, and possibly real estate transfer tax (3.5 percent) must be factored in – the latter still needs to be paid.

Apartment or House? Legal and Practical Differences

The purchase of a condominium in Vienna differs significantly in legal and organizational terms from the acquisition of a house. The Chamber of Labor, the Chamber of Commerce, and the e-government platform oesterreich.gv.at offer comprehensive information on this.

When acquiring an apartment, one typically becomes part of a condominium owners' association (WEG). This means that you own not only your own unit but also an ideal share of common areas (e.g., stairwell, garden). Decision-making processes take place through owners' meetings. Important: If there are existing rental agreements in the building, the new owner automatically enters into these – early termination is only permissible under certain legal reasons (e.g., personal need).

When buying a house, especially a single-family home, you have more freedom of design, but you also have to take care of maintenance and operating costs yourself. Existing rental contracts, if not recorded in the land register, can be terminated with a one-month notice period at the end of the month. Renovation needs, energy performance certificates, and any construction orders or assignments from previous periods must be carefully examined.

Importance of Location and Infrastructure

Location is still the most important price factor in Vienna, as the information portal ganz-wien.at has extensively detailed. In the inner-city districts 1 to 9, properties are significantly more expensive, but they are also excellently connected in terms of infrastructure. Districts like Floridsdorf, Donaustadt, or Liesing, on the other hand, are experiencing a stronger influx of young families, as houses with gardens are available here and are comparatively cheaper.

Important when buying a house: Check the building designation (e.g., residential land vs. agricultural land), the condition of the roof, facade, heating, and plumbing – many old buildings need to be retrofitted for energy efficiency. An energy certificate is legally required. For apartments, it's worth looking at the neighborhood: Are there supermarkets, subway connections, schools, doctors? Is the house quietly located or on a busy street?

The choice of location ultimately depends heavily on the individual needs and budget of the buyers. While central districts of Vienna score with their infrastructure and urbanity, emerging and outer districts offer potential for value appreciation and a family-friendly environment.

Real Estate Agent - Yes or No: What to Consider

An experienced and reputable real estate agent can play a crucial role in the buying process – whether in the pre-selection of suitable properties, organizing viewings, legal review, or price negotiations. However, there has been an important legal change since July 2023 that buyers should be aware of: the "Bestellerprinzip" (ordering principle).

The "Bestellerprinzip" states that the party who commissions the agent must also pay the commission, as explained by the Chamber of Labor on their website. In practice, this means: If you buy an apartment or house directly from the developer or owner, there is usually no agent commission for the buyer. If an agent is commissioned by the seller's side, they may no longer charge a commission from buyers. Only if buyers actively commission an agent with a search or brokerage activity (e.g., with a search order), can they demand a commission – usually up to 3 percent of the purchase price plus 20 percent VAT (a total of 3.6 percent).

Especially if you have no time or experience to go through many listings, or have specific requirements (e.g., barrier-free living, apartment building as an investment, renovation projects), a professional search order can be useful. Some real estate agencies in Vienna also offer exclusive properties that are not listed on public platforms or accompany the entire purchase process, including contract processing with notary and escrow account. On the website www.immobiliencard.at, for example, you can search for legally authorized real estate trustees.

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