1. Initial Credit Assessment

• A brief phone consultation to quickly assess the client's financial possibilities.

2. Property Search

• Based on the discussed financing framework, the client searches for a suitable property — we offer professional guidance throughout.

3. Property Viewing

• On-site viewing of the selected property or properties. Expert inspection arranged if needed.

4. Credit Review II & Bank Appraisal

• The bank performs a market-based valuation based on the property documents and reviews the borrower's personal and financial documents to formally confirm creditworthiness.

5. Bank Commitment

• If the outcome is positive, the bank issues a financing offer and commitment letter confirming that both the client and the property are financeable.

6. Negotiation & Offer Submission

• Offers should only be submitted after receiving the bank's commitment — or conditionally ("subject to financing") — as a standard offer is binding and, if it fails, may result in significant costs or legal disputes.

7. Offer Acceptance

• Ideally, the seller accepts the negotiated price and confirms intent to sell by signing within the offer's validity period. This constitutes a binding agreement.

8. Drafting the Purchase Agreement (Kaufvertragsentwurf)

• Preparation of the draft purchase agreement for coordination between all parties, including the bank. The draft remains unsigned at this stage.

9. Bank Review of Contract Draft

• The bank's legal or credit department reviews the purchase agreement to ensure it matches the approved terms.

10. Loan Agreement Preparation

• Drafting of the loan agreement including all terms previously agreed upon in the financing offer.

11. Signing of Purchase and Escrow Agreements

• The purchase agreement covers the terms of sale, while the escrow agreement regulates the handling of the purchase price and associated costs.

12. Signing of Loan Agreement

• The client and bank sign the loan agreement, officially confirming financing terms and enabling execution.

13. Notarization of Mortgage Deed

• The notary certifies the mortgage deed(s), which secure the bank's right to register the mortgage in the land registry. These fees are typically payable on-site.

14. Loan Disbursement

• The loan is disbursed to the escrow (Treuhand) account, where it becomes available to the seller and is combined with the buyer's own funds to cover all costs.

15. Submission for Land Registry Entry

• Once all legal and notarial work is completed, the full file is submitted to the competent land registry. Registration can take several months.

16. Final Statements

• The attorney's invoice and escrow account summary are sent to the client, marking the final cost-related stage.

17. Handover of Keys

• Once the purchase price is received, the buyer takes possession of the keys — timing may vary based on mutual agreement.

18. Transfer of Utilities

• After recording meter readings, utility contracts are transferred to the buyer's name.

19. Transfer of Seller's Insurance

• After the purchase, the seller's property insurance automatically transfers to the buyer. It can be replaced within one month of official land registry entry.

This overview provides a simplified summary for general guidance. Actual steps may vary depending on the transaction. Throughout the entire process, we offer continuous support and coordinate each step with the client until full completion.

• Minimum age: 18 years, with full legal capacity

• Permanent residence in Austria (at the latest by the time of application)

• Own funds: 10–20% of the purchase price, depending on the official property valuation

• Additional collateral: Austrian or foreign real estate accepted (e.g., property in Hungary)

• Positive credit assessment

• Payslips from the last 3 months

• Bank statements from the last 3 months

• Copy of a valid photo ID

• Copy of residence registration card

• When purchasing through a real estate agent: exposé, land registry extract, energy performance certificate

• When purchasing from a private individual: title deed, floor plan, energy performance certificate, photos (also required for collateral properties!)

• In case of construction: construction and façade plans, title deed for the land, cost estimate or contractor's quote

• Real estate transfer tax: 3.5%

• Land registry fee for title registration: 1.1% (waived until June 30, 2026, for first-time homebuyers purchasing a primary residence)
• Mortgage registration fee: 1.2% (waived until June 30, 2026, for first-time homebuyers purchasing a primary residence)
• Legal (attorney) fees: approximately 1–2% (depending on the scope of services)
• Notary fees: based on official fee schedule
  
• Real estate agent commission: 3.6%
  

• Credit Assessment by Phone or Online
  

Quick preliminary credit check by phone or online to help you understand your financing options as early as possible.

• Advisory on Suitable Property Types
  

Personalized guidance on available property types, including an overview of their respective pros and cons — tailored to your specific needs and preferences.

• Property Valuation via Partner Banks
  

Complimentary valuation provided through our partner banks.

• Price Negotiation with the Seller
  

Support in negotiating the purchase price to help you secure the best possible deal.

• Assistance with Making and Accepting Offers
  

Guidance throughout the offer and acceptance process to ensure a smooth and legally sound transaction.

• Full Process Support Through Title Registration
  

We accompany you through every step of the transaction, right up to the official registration of ownership in the Austrian land registry.

• Insurance
  

Referral to the appropriate insurance solutions to ensure your property — and you — are well protected.

Fees

Our services are completely free of charge to you. We are compensated through a portion of the bank's processing fee, which you would pay anyway. In some cases, the bank may even waive its own commission — meaning you benefit from full professional support at no additional cost to you.

If you're investing more equity or transferring larger sums of money, it's important to understand the following Anti-Money Laundering (AML) rules ahead of time. This helps you avoid delays, account freezes, or issues during compliance reviews.

Cash Transactions:

• Import and export of cash within the EU with a threshold of 10,000 euros: If you're traveling with €10,000 or more in cash—or the equivalent in foreign currency, gold, or securities—into or out of the European Union, you must declare it in writing to the relevant customs office before crossing the border. This rule is based on EU Regulation 2018/1672 and applies in Austria as well. If the cash is not declared, customs authorities can confiscate it and may start legal proceedings under anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing laws.

• Cash payments in commercial transactions (domestic): According to the Under the Austrian Trade Regulation Act (GewO, 1994 §§ 365m1–365z), all businesses and service providers must follow anti-money laundering procedures when accepting or making cash payments of €10,000 or more. For example, a car dealership must verify the customer's identity, assess the risk, and keep proper records when a car is paid for in cash over this amount. The same rules apply to cash purchases of other high-value goods like jewelry, artwork, or electronics. Once the €10,000 cash threshold is reached, ID verification using official documents becomes mandatory. Note: This rule applies strictly to cash payments—credit card or bank transfers are not affected.

• Art and antiques trade: Since the expansion of the 5th EU AML Directive (EU 2018/843), dealers of high-value art—such as galleries and auction houses—are required to comply with anti-money laundering regulations. In this sector, customer identification using official documents is mandatory for any transaction totaling €10,000 or more, regardless of whether payment is made in cash or via bank transfer. So, if you're buying artwork for €10,000 or more, you should expect the seller to verify your identity—and if anything seems suspicious, the transaction may be reported to the authorities.

• Reporting obligation: Transactions over €10,000 don't have to be automatically reported to the authorities unless there's something suspicious about them. However, for any cash transaction above this threshold, proper identification and documentation are mandatory to help flag potential red flags. Starting in 2027, the EU will ban all cash payments over €10,000, so transactions of this size will no longer be legally allowed in cash anywhere in the Union.

  
  

Bank Transactions:

Over 10.000 EUR:

• For wire transfers above €10,000, the EU's rules on money transfer traceability (EU Regulation 2015/847) apply.

• Banks must verify customers under the "Know Your Customer" (KYC) process.

• Transfers of €15,000 or more automatically trigger a review of the relationship between the sender and the recipient. Starting in 2027, this threshold will be lowered to €10,000.

• Customer identification is required for each transaction unless there's an existing business relationship.

• If the amount is split into multiple transfers, the total will still be reviewed—especially if there's suspicion of "structuring" to avoid reporting. Review periods typically range from 30 to 180 days, depending on the risk level.

Over 25.000 EUR:

While €25,000 isn't a legal threshold, it's widely recognized in the financial industry as a point where banks apply enhanced due diligence (EDD), especially for international wire transfers.

• Banks increasingly ask for proof of the source of funds for transactions of this size—such as a purchase agreement, inheritance documents, or an invoice.

• The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) publishes a list of countries with weak anti-money laundering controls, available at https://www.fatf-gafi.org/en/home.html.

• Transactions involving these countries may be subject to extra scrutiny, restrictions, or even be completely blocked.

Over 50.000 EUR:

• Large cross-border or domestic transfers are automatically reported to the Austrian Ministry of Finance (BMF).

• If a transaction appears suspicious, it must also be reported to the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU): https://www.bundeskriminalamt.at/308/start.aspx.

Stricter Regulations from 2027:

• Starting July 10, 2027, the review threshold for bank transactions will be lowered from €15,000 to €10,000 under EU Regulation 2024/1624.

• Cash payments over €10,000 will no longer be allowed anywhere in the EU.

What happens if the source of funds cannot be proven?

• Banks may freeze an account until the source of funds is clearly verified. If the explanation is missing or not convincing, it could lead to criminal consequences.

• Banks themselves aren't exempt—violations can result in fines, license revocation, or even personal liability for those involved.

You can find additional documents on this topic at the bottom of the page.