Getting a Swedish Home Loan Without Swedish Roots

Parliament raised the maximum loan-to-value for mortgages from 85% to 90% and abolished the stricter amortisation requirement from 1 April 2026. A new law replaced earlier regulations from the financial supervisor, and top-up loans on an existing home are capped at 80% of value. Amortisation continues in tiers: broadly 1% a year for loans between 50% and 70% of the home's value and 2% above 70%, but check the current text with your bank. For a buyer this means a minimum cash contribution of 10%, down from 15%, though banks still apply their own affordability tests and set their own margins.

The Riksbank held its policy rate at 1.75% at its September 2026 decision, applying from 30 September, and said that a stronger economy, a weaker krona and higher energy prices mean the rate could rise. Most Swedish borrowers use floating rates reset every three months (rörlig ränta) or fix for one to five years. Lenders compete on the discount from list rates, and a customer with a large deposit and a strong income can negotiate hard. Since the krona is the local currency, a borrower with income abroad carries exchange-rate risk. Test options using the mortgage calculator.

Banks including Swedbank, Handelsbanken, SEB, Nordea and Danske Bank rely on a Swedish personnummer, tax records and a salary account. Without these, the credit check cannot run. People who have just moved to Sweden often need a few months of employment and an indefinite contract. Non-residents typically get a refusal, or an offer requiring a big deposit and another property as collateral. Browse the market of villas and houses to see what budget you would need if you must pay in cash.

Ownership registration (lagfart) costs 1.5% of the purchase price for individuals, and each new mortgage deed (pantbrev) carries a 2% charge on the deed amount, with any existing deeds that transfer to you not charged again. Agents are paid by the seller, so buyers do not usually pay commission. A pre-purchase inspection is customary for houses. Annual municipal property fee is capped by a national formula and is modest. Co-op apartments (bostadsrätt) are bought as shares and involve monthly fees to the association; there is no lagfart on them but the association may check your finances. Always confirm current fees.

1. Get a loan promise (lånelöfte) from a bank before bidding.
2. View the property and read the inspection report and, for flats, the association's annual accounts.
3. Bid in the public auction run by the agent. A winning bid is usually binding when the contract is signed.
4. Sign the purchase contract, with a deposit around 10%.
5. Complete on the access date, when the bank pays and the deeds are registered.

The Swedish bidding system is open, so you need your funding in place before you start.

Overseas buyers frequently choose Swedish summer houses and rural homes with cash, since prices outside the big cities are lower than in neighbouring Norway. Our Sweden property pages show what is on the market. Weigh costs using the Sweden buying guide, the Sweden market analysis, and the lower brackets under cheap properties and under 100,000.