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How To Buy An Apartment in Vienna

Vienna

When you’re not Austrian nor a resident, it’s hard to know what’s required to buy real estate in Vienna.

In this property blog post, we have a few tips on how to get the apartment or home you desire in popular Vienna.

Why Vienna?

If safety is your concern, Austria is one of the safest countries in Europe. For the last decade, Vienna has ranked number one as the most liveable city. So why does Vienna have the highest standard of living, making it ideal for an investment property?

From public transport to evolved infrastructure, low crime rates, and the plentitude of picturesque spaces there’s a lot of reasons to buy property in Vienna. Let’s have a look at some of them, including:

  • House prices
  • Tourism
  • Hospitality
  • Location

Property Prices

For a developed European city, housing prices in Vienna remain attractive even for those on a budget. The cost of apartments depends on the floor plan however as a guide consider the cost per square meter which according to Statista is €5370.

Did you know 62% of the capital’s population choose social housing, paying only around 10% of annual income?

Tourism

Tourism in Vienna has dynamically grown over time and continues to do so. The capital offers an array of sights and activities that make it a hot spot for visitors. Its outstanding artistic and musical scene, Viennese culture — take the Vienna State Opera, the Albertina, and the Belvedere — gives the destination old-time charm and fills its streets with history.

Dining

Another exciting aspect is Vienna’s gastronomical setting. Vienna has something for every taste, the cradle of such staples as Apfelstrudel, Sachertorte, and the Wiener Schnitzel. From cozy cafes to Michelin-starred venues, there’s always a place to treat yourself to something special. The capital also prides itself on coffee culture. It has been part of UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage for a decade. Vienna’s residents treat the beverage as art.

Location

Vienna’s location plays its part. Anyone looking to travel to other well-known European destinations like Italy, Germany, or Hungary can do so easily. The Mediterranean Sea is also nearby if you’re craving a remarkable getaway. Around the capital, there’s an abundance of hiking trails, parks, and vineyards for those admiring nature’s breathtaking views.

How to Choose the Property

Real estate investment in Austria commences in much the same way as anywhere else – you’d do an online search of property listings. However, often you can miss out on properties relying just on this strategy; therefore, consider engaging a real estate agency to assist you in your property search.

Choose the Real Estate Agency with the following traits:

  • Fast communication. In the process of property acquisition, missing important details is quite common. Solving issues timely makes the procedure less stressful for everyone involved.
  • Wide selection of property. Investing is easier when there’s enough to choose from. Based on the type of estate, your expectations from the facilities and the surrounding area, and your budget, agencies can suit your needs more effectively.
  • Online and offline assistance. Feeling comfortable and exempt from the pressure with your real estate agent is a given. Plus, it would be best to take advantage of all the available information to ensure a smooth search.
  • Expertise. The skillset speaks for itself. Consulting an agency with comprehensive knowledge of the local market and awareness of its particularities saves money, time, and effort. Referring to a top-ranked Viennese agency with several years of experience is even better.

Due Diligence

While Austria’s capital appears worthwhile for investment in more ways than one, buying apartments in Vienna calls for careful assessment of several factors. Before purchasing property, make sure you’ve ticked all your boxes, including the following criteria.

Property type

Investing in one-bedroom apartments is most lucrative because they provide the highest rental yields. It’s important to keep in mind that the average living space in Austria has increased from 99.3 square meters in 2016 to 100.1 square meters in 2018.

Estate’s condition

Most Austrian real estate agencies have a wide portfolio of apartments in Austria available for demonstration. Online screening is also possible, which helps save time and cover more choices. Checking the location’s facilities and amenities and the close nearby is critical to maintaining tenants’ interest.

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Infrastructure

The area’s surroundings should have everything to make living convenient and enjoyable. Vienna’s underground train network, U-Bahn, makes getting around smooth. It’s affordable, and the variety of ticket options works well with any schedule.

The school system provides diverse options to accommodate your needs, with conventional and unconventional forms of teaching and opportunities for international applicants. The dining scene is worthy of particular attention. Even those hard to please find their dearest spots.

Attractions and special features

Each of Vienna’s districts has something special about it. The most sought-after is the Innere Stadt district. You will be surrounded by well-known historical and architectural wonders like the State Opera or the Kunsthistorisches Museum. Leopolstadt and Landstrasse charm residents with spacious gardens and parks. Neubau and Mariahilf are packed with shopping venues and fancy restaurants.

Property Prices

Even though Austria bears the image of an expensive country, and its real estate prices display growth over the last few years, and they still lie within the affordable range. What is more — investing won’t take long to pay off, considering the high demand for rent.

For 2021, the average cost per square meter for property in Vienna is approximately EUR 7,600 for the city center and inner districts, and EUR 4,500 for estate in the outer districts and residential areas.

Keep in mind the additional factors linked to property acquisition in Austria:

  • Legal Fees are at 1% to 3% of the purchase price (+ 20% VAT). Value Added Tax (VAT) only applies to new property. You can claim it back if the property is leased. Notary Fee is 2% and around 20% VAT, depending on the estate’s size. There also are mortgage fees of around 1% of the loan, and a court registration fee of your loan at 1.2%
  • Property registration costs around 1.1%, and the government tax is 0.5-1%
  • Property Transfer Tax usually accounts for 3.5% of the estate’s value

Summary

Vienna’s fascinating history, special charm, and abundance of opportunities for education and leisure make it an excellent prospect for real estate investment.

The city tops global rankings in terms of quality of life and maintains the reputation of a place capable of meeting any needs one can have.

Are you keen to know the top six rules of international real estate? Read this article.

PropertyTalk is the popular online Hub for quality articles and discussion.

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