When buying a home in Finland, it's important to clarify whether you are purchasing housing shares (asunto-osake) or real estate (kiinteistö). Generally, kiinteistö refers to buying a standalone private house (omakotitalo), while purchasing other types of properties usually involves shared ownership (osakehuoneisto).
In the case of an asunto-osake, you become a shareholder in a housing company that handles the technical maintenance of the building. For example, if there are 5 apartments in a building and 500 shares for the building, each apartment would represent 100 shares.
It's advisable to carefully review the company bylaws before purchasing to understand all risks and agreements—whether renovations need approval, what living rules exist, and what penalties apply for violations. It’s also important to check what maintenance work is planned for the coming years, as upcoming major repairs could add several hundred euros to your monthly payments. Housing shares can be sold, gifted, inherited, etc.
You can check the property price in the Oikotie app. Velaton hinta refers to the price of the apartment if you pay off the entire renovation debt. Myynti hinta is the price of the property itself. With new apartments, it often works like this: for example, the property price might be low, 100k euros, but it comes with a 170k euro loan from the construction company. Usually, this loan isn't repaid in the first few years, but later on, your vastike (monthly payment for the apartment) will include an additional 500-600-800 euros for this loan.
Land plots can be either leased (Vuokra tontti) or owned (Oma tontti). In the first case, the lease cost will be included in your monthly payments. In the second case, you'll need a larger capital for the purchase, but the monthly payments will be lower.
When purchasing real estate, you may need to pay a property transfer tax (varainsiirtovero). This tax is 2-4% depending on the type of housing. It is not paid in the following cases:
You can read more about this at the provided link.
If you live in Finland with a residence permit, you will need to obtain permission from the Ministry of Defense to buy a house and land.
In the case of an asunto-osake, you become a shareholder in a housing company that handles the technical maintenance of the building. For example, if there are 5 apartments in a building and 500 shares for the building, each apartment would represent 100 shares.
It's advisable to carefully review the company bylaws before purchasing to understand all risks and agreements—whether renovations need approval, what living rules exist, and what penalties apply for violations. It’s also important to check what maintenance work is planned for the coming years, as upcoming major repairs could add several hundred euros to your monthly payments. Housing shares can be sold, gifted, inherited, etc.
You can check the property price in the Oikotie app. Velaton hinta refers to the price of the apartment if you pay off the entire renovation debt. Myynti hinta is the price of the property itself. With new apartments, it often works like this: for example, the property price might be low, 100k euros, but it comes with a 170k euro loan from the construction company. Usually, this loan isn't repaid in the first few years, but later on, your vastike (monthly payment for the apartment) will include an additional 500-600-800 euros for this loan.
Land plots can be either leased (Vuokra tontti) or owned (Oma tontti). In the first case, the lease cost will be included in your monthly payments. In the second case, you'll need a larger capital for the purchase, but the monthly payments will be lower.
When purchasing real estate, you may need to pay a property transfer tax (varainsiirtovero). This tax is 2-4% depending on the type of housing. It is not paid in the following cases:
- This is your first home
- The tax amount is less than 10 euros
- ASO housing
- The property was received as a gift or inheritance
You can read more about this at the provided link.
If you live in Finland with a residence permit, you will need to obtain permission from the Ministry of Defense to buy a house and land.
Types of properties in Finland:
- Kerrostalo — An apartment building, often with 3-5 floors, but it can be taller. Maintenance and repairs are handled by a management company, and the cost of services is shared among all residents. Finnish apartment buildings may have a sauna, either in the apartment or for the entire stairwell.
- Rivitalo — A single-story long building with 3-6 units, where each has its own entrance and a small yard. You purchase the corresponding share of the building.
- Paritalo — A semi-detached house for two families, usually with one shared wall. Everything else is separate—entrance, property. Maintenance is shared between the neighbors depending on your agreements.
- Omakotitalo — A private house with a plot of land. In such a house, you are fully responsible for all maintenance—electricity, road cleaning, major repairs, etc.
- Erillistalo — A detached house, but purchased not as real estate, but also as an asunto-osake with a management company.
