Real Estate Crash Course – Step 2: Property Types

Important things to consider for different property types

Villa

Inspection: Hire an inspector ("besiktningsman") before buying. Costs 10–15k SEK but can reveal hidden problems worth hundreds of thousands.
Title deed and mortgage deed: Expect 1.5% stamp duty ("stämpelskatt") plus mortgage deed ("pantbrev") fees. On 5 million SEK: about 75,000 SEK extra at purchase.
Running costs: Heating, insurance, and maintenance ("driftkostnad") are on you. Seller estimates are often too low. Check the energy declaration.
Leasehold vs freehold: Leasehold ("tomträtt") means you rent the land. The fee ("avgäld") is renegotiated roughly every ten years and can increase sharply.
Energy declaration: Shows the home's energy rating ("energideklaration"). Poor rating can mean 10–30k SEK extra per year in heating.

Ownership type: Can be freehold ("äganderätt") or cooperative ("bostadsrätt"). Determines taxes, fees, and responsibilities. Always ask first.
Joint property association: Shared costs ("samfällighet") for roads, roofs, and common areas. Check budget and maintenance plan for surprise fees.
What's included: Walls, roof, plot ("tomt"), and parking may be yours or shared. Unclear boundaries create conflicts.
Neighbor dependency: Shared walls mean shared maintenance. Neighbor's problems can become yours. Check for past disputes.
Inspection and permits: Get an inspection ("besiktning") like for a villa. Check if renovations have permits ("bygglov"). Unpermitted work ("svartbygge") becomes your problem.

Zoning and building rights: The zoning plan ("detaljplan") determines what you can build: size, height, placement, style. Always check with the municipality first.
Connection fees: Water/sewage ("VA"), power, and fiber can cost 200–500k SEK, especially rural. Get quotes before buying.
Geotechnical conditions: Rock, clay, or high water table affects foundation costs. A cheap plot ("tomt") can become expensive.
Easements and road access: Do you have legal road access? Without an easement ("servitut"), you depend on your neighbor's goodwill.
Shoreline protection: Within 100 meters of water, building is prohibited ("strandskydd"). Check if an exemption ("dispens") exists or can be granted.

Annual report: Review the annual report ("årsredovisning"): debt per sqm, fee trends, and planned maintenance. High debt = risk of fee increases.
What the fee covers: Does the monthly fee ("avgift") include heating, water, internet? Low fee may hide that you pay a lot extra yourself.
Association bylaws: The bylaws ("stadgar") cover subletting, renovations, and pets. Can limit what you're allowed to do. Read before buying.
Maintenance plan: Check planned pipe replacement ("stambyte"), facade, or roof work. Major projects can raise the fee 500–1,500 SEK/month.
Financial plan: For newly formed associations ("nybildade föreningar"). The financial plan ("ekonomisk plan") projections are often optimistic. Real costs tend to be higher.

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