Gothenburg Property Market and Real Estate Guide

(Gothenburg, Vastergotland, Vastra Gotaland County, Sweden)

The city of Gothenburg, Scandinavia's largest port, lies on the south-west sea coast of Sweden, at the mouth of the Got Alv River. The home of the car manufacturer Volvo, Gothenburg, founded in 1621 by King Gustav Adolphus, is also a university town with a large student population.

Gothenburg's metropolitan area meanders along the course of the river as it approaches the ocean. In the Old Quarter are canals lined with multi-storey stone houses, giving the appearance of a mini-Venice. The city's major avenue, Kungsportsavenyn, boasts traditional late 19th-century three-storey stone and wood houses. Noted modern architects have been responsible for a number of unique suburban developments.


The city's districts are connected by an excellent transport system. While the old quarter of Haga has quaint wooden homes, the Kungsportsavenyn district contains a number of apartment blocks, and developments in the residential district of Hisegen are popular. Stylish Vasastaden comes with elegant stone houses, with Bergsjon and Biskopsgarden containing mainly rental apartments. Frolunda, close to the sea, features mostly family homes.

After several years' slump, property prices in Gothenburg are now at an all-time high, driven by low interest rates and demand, which is currently exceeding supply. Average prices compare with other European cities, with homes in prime locations at a premium. Timber homes outside the municipal area are more reasonable. Investment in property-to-let is a poor idea, as rents are heavily regulated, resulting in minimal returns.

Renting Serviced Apartments

Serviced apartments in the city are easily available in hotels, aparthotels and apartment blocks mostly located in the city centre. Apartments are modern and well designed, and include a number of upscale options with luxury facilities. Savings of up to 30 percent on comparable hotel rooms can be made, and special offers are often available, particularly when booking online.

Buying Apartments and Houses

There are no restrictions on foreign ownership of property in Sweden. Realtors negotiate between buyer and seller as in the UK and the USA, and the services of a lawyer are, although advised, not obligatory. The buyer is responsible for applying for and registering the title deeds within three months of the purchase. Closing costs are between three and five percent of the purchase price.

Although most houses are freehold, apartment blocks are generally owned by housing associations or cooperatives, with residents purchasing only a right to occupation. Monthly maintenance charges on a new-build block may be high, but lower in established communal blocks which have had time to build up a surplus. Apartments may be sold by auction, at which buyers have no rights, which can result in a high percentage increase in the advisory price.

Real Estate Agents

Although there are a number of realtors in Gothenburg, few have websites, and those that do exist are mainly in Swedish. However, English-speaking agents are easy to locate by visiting real estate offices.

Check out the following Gothenburg realtors and real estate agents:

Colliers International
Address: Lilla Borman 1, Gothenburg, SE-41104, Sweden
Tel: +46 031 743 0090
Email: charlotte.hogberg@colliers.se
Website: www.colliers.se
An international company with a useful English website.

Bovision
Address: Svensknabbevägen 25, Kalmar, SE-39127, Sweden
Tel: +46 048 044 7450
Email: info@bovision.se
Website: www.bovision.se
This realtor has branches across Sweden. The website (in Swedish), advertises a number of Gothenburg properties.

Svensk Fastighetsformedling
Address: Svensk Fastighetsförmedling, Stockholm, SE-10074, Sweden
Tel: +46 08 505 35800
Email: sf@svenskfast.se
Website: www.svenskfast.se
This realtor's website is in both Swedish and English, and contains both useful information and a good selection of Gothenburg properties.