Sweden's Riksbank waits out the war: rate stays at 1.75% in May 2026
CPIF inflation fell to 0.8% in April 2026 and growth is weak. The Riksbank may still raise rates if the Middle East war sets off broad inflation.
News
Short news about mortgage rates, the Riksbank and the housing market.
Swedish food prices fall 5.5% in April 2026, inflation halves to 0.8%
VAT on food fell from 12% to 6% on 1 April 2026. A family spending SEK 8,000 a month on groceries pays about SEK 440 less.
Swedish home purchase with no loan condition: SEK 350,000 at risk
If the bank says no after you sign, you are still bound, and a SEK 350,000 deposit can be lost. A written loan condition lets you reverse the sale.
Sweden's home sale tax: 22% on your 2025 gain, file by 4 May 2026
A SEK 1,000,000 gain costs SEK 220,000 in tax. The agent's fee, stamp duty and improvements cut the gain, and a deferral puts the tax off.
Swedish house buyers: 10 years for hidden defects, not visible ones
You can claim a hidden defect from the seller for up to 10 years. In a 1998 Supreme Court case, mould the inspection had warned of did not count.
First home in Sweden: 10% down means SEK 125,000 less to save
A SEK 2.5 million flat needs SEK 250,000 down, but costs just under SEK 500 more a month. The bank's stress rate decides how much you can borrow.
Swedish three-year mortgages ranged from 2.85% to 3.56% in March 2026
Sparbanken Mälardalen was lowest and ICA Banken highest on three-year fixes in March 2026. Skandia cut 0.11 percentage points to 2.92%, passing Swedbank.
Swedish mortgage: pay off SEK 30,000 less a year, but ask your bank
The stricter amortization rule ended on 1 April 2026, but existing loans change only if your bank agrees. On SEK 3 million: SEK 2,500 less a month.
Sweden's new mortgage rules from 1 April 2026: 10% down is enough
The cap is 90% and the stricter amortization rule is gone. On existing loans you must ask your bank yourself, and top-up loans stop at 80%.
Swedish banks raise mortgage rates 0.15 points without the Riksbank
Swedbank, Nordea and Danske Bank lift variable list rates to 3.89-3.99%. On a SEK 3 million loan that is SEK 4,500 a year, SEK 3,150 after tax relief.
Buying a Swedish co-op flat? 5 numbers that reveal a weak association
Interest sensitivity of 17% means your fee can rise from SEK 4,500 to SEK 5,250 a month if the association's rate goes up 1 point.
Won the bidding on a Swedish home at SEK 3.2 million? Not yours yet
A SEK 3.2 million bid binds neither you nor the seller until the contract is signed. The seller can pick a lower bid, and you can walk away.