Question 1

Can foreigners buy property in Austria?

Accepted Answer

EU citizens buy on equal terms in most states; Tyrol and Salzburg require Grundverkehr approval for foreign second-home buyers (regulated to limit speculative second-home growth). Non-EU buyers face similar Grundverkehr scrutiny in all states. Process is transparent but state-specific; engaging a local lawyer is essential.

Question 2

What taxes apply when buying property in Austria?

Accepted Answer

Property transfer tax of 3.5% plus 1.1% land registry fee. New builds carry 20% VAT, generally embedded. Capital gains taxed at a flat 30% (Immobilienertragsteuer) regardless of holding period; primary residences exempt after 2 years. Rental income is taxed at progressive personal income tax rates up to 55%. Headline rates: property transfer tax 3.5%, capital gains tax 30%, rental income tax 0%.

Question 3

What is the legal process for buying property in Austria?

Accepted Answer

Austria offers the most mature alpine property market in the EU with deep liquidity and the highest construction-quality standards. Each of the nine federal states (Bundesländer) has its own property acquisition law (Grundverkehrsgesetz), with Tyrol and Salzburg historically the most restrictive for non-resident second-home buyers.

Rakousko

Subregiony

Místa

Salzburg

Innsbruck

Klagenfurt

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