How high are the additional costs when buying property in Austria?

The essentials in brief

• Property transfer tax (Grunderwerbsteuer): 3.5 % of the purchase price.
• Land register entry (Grundbuch): 1.1 % of the purchase price. The exemption for a principal residence expired on 30 June 2026.
• Mortgage, if you take out a loan (Pfandrecht): 1.2 % of the registered mortgage amount — not of the purchase price.
• Agent's commission: max. 3 % plus 20 % VAT per contracting party (for purchase prices above €48,448.51). The Bestellerprinzip (whoever commissions the agent pays) does not apply to purchases.
• Contract drafting and escrow: about 1–3 % plus VAT, often negotiable as a flat fee.
• Rule of thumb: around 10 % without a loan, around 11 % with a loan; without an agent, about 6–7 %.
• Vienna and Lower Austria: the same rates — taxes and fees are set by federal law.

What additional costs are there?

Purchase costs (Kaufnebenkosten) are all the taxes, fees and professional charges payable on top of the purchase price when you buy a property. In Austria the buyer bears most of them.

Property transfer tax: 3.5 % of the purchase price

On a purchase, the Grunderwerbsteuer is 3.5 % of the consideration, which as a rule is the purchase price. The notary or lawyer calculates it and pays it to the tax office; the money is placed in escrow for this purpose when the contract is signed. For transfers within the family and for gifts, a tiered rate based on the property value (Grundstückswert) applies: 0.5 % up to €250,000, 2 % on the next €150,000 and 3.5 % above that.

Land register entry: 1.1 % — no exemption

Registering your ownership costs 1.1 % of the purchase price plus a filing fee (€85 according to oesterreich.gv.at). From April 2024 to June 2026, purchases of a principal residence were exempt up to €500,000. It applied to applications received by the land register court by 30 June 2026. For new purchases the full fee applies again.

Mortgage: 1.2 % of the registered amount

If you buy with a loan, a mortgage (Pfandrecht) in favour of the bank is entered in the land register. The fee is 1.2 % of the registered amount. Banks usually register a maximum-amount mortgage (Höchstbetragshypothek) above the loan amount, in practice around 120 %, to cover interest and costs. The fee is payable on that maximum amount. So every euro of unnecessary mortgage amount costs you an extra 1.2 % straight away.

Contract drafting and escrow: about 1–3 %

The notary or lawyer draws up the purchase contract, holds the purchase price in an escrow account (Treuhandkonto), calculates the property transfer tax and applies for the land register entry. About 1–3 % of the purchase price plus VAT and disbursements is usual. Many firms offer a flat fee — the charge is negotiable. Certification of the signatures is billed separately according to the official scale.

Agent's commission: up to 3 % plus VAT

The maximum rates for buyers and sellers are set by the Immobilienmakler-Verordnung (estate agents' ordinance). They apply to each client separately:

Since 1 July 2023 the Bestellerprinzip has applied only to rental flats. On a purchase, both sides can still be charged a commission. New-build projects from the developer (Bauträger) are often offered commission-free.

Worked examples: €300,000, €500,000 and €800,000

Assumptions: agent 3 % + VAT, contract drafting 1.5 % + VAT, loan 80 % of the purchase price, mortgage registered at 120 % of the loan amount. The filing fee and the certification are not included.

As a rule, you have to pay these amounts out of your own funds — banks are reluctant to finance purchase costs. Calculate your personal instalment in the mortgage calculator.

What extra costs arise in special cases?

• Buying with a loan: besides the mortgage registration, the bank's processing and valuation fees, which vary by bank. Details in the guide Property financing.
• New build from the developer: often no agent's commission. Under the Bauträgervertragsgesetz (developer contracts act), the purchase price is paid in instalments as construction progresses; escrow is part of the contract costs.
• Buyers from non-EU countries: permit fees on top (in Vienna €130 plus a €21 federal fee per applicant) and, where necessary, certified translations. Fees for enclosures and for the confirmation of legal effect (Rechtskraftbestätigung) may also apply; the total depends, among other things, on the number of applicants and of the land register folios (Einlagezahlen) concerned. The MA 35's current fee schedule is what counts. See Buying property as a foreigner.
• Vienna or Lower Austria: tax, fees and commission are the same. The differences lie in housing subsidies and the land transfer rules.

What running costs follow the purchase?

After the purchase, flat owners pay monthly operating costs (Betriebskosten) and a contribution to the building's reserve fund (Rücklage). Since 1 January 2026 the statutory minimum reserve has generally been €1.12 per month per square metre of the total usable floor space of the condominium units. Each flat's share depends on the allocation formula; § 31 WEG (Wohnungseigentumsgesetz, condominium act) provides for exceptions. On top of that come property tax (Grundsteuer), insurance and, if the flat is let, income tax on the rental income.

How ImmoLöwin supports you

Before you make an offer, we calculate the purchase costs for the specific property — taking your financing and your status into account. That way you know in advance how much equity you really need. View current properties or book a consultation.