Buying a Home in Finland: From Search to Keys
A clear overview of financing, documents, viewings, offers, and closing when buying a Finnish home.
Confirm financing and total budget
Discuss a loan promise with banks before making offers. Compare interest margins, reference rates, fees, repayment flexibility, and required collateral. Keep funds for transfer tax, inspections, moving, insurance, immediate repairs, and a financial buffer. For housing-company shares, distinguish the sale price from the debt-free price and understand any company loan.
Investigate the property and documents
Use Kotira to compare suitable homes, then review more than the photos. For an apartment, inspect the housing-company certificate, financial statements, budget, articles of association, energy certificate, renovation history, and maintenance plan. For a house, examine the title, permits, boundaries, utilities, energy use, condition, and planned repairs. Ask questions in writing and use qualified experts when needed.
Make a careful offer and close
A purchase offer can become binding, so include the price, validity period, possession date, included items, and necessary financing or inspection conditions. Have unclear terms reviewed before signing. At closing, verify the final documents, payment process, transfer of ownership or shares, keys, insurance start date, and responsibility for charges. Official requirements and tax rates can change, so confirm current details with the relevant Finnish authorities and professionals.