EU-Residents have the possibility to buy property in Austria.
There are different options.

FULLY MANAGED 

These apartments and chalets are fully managed by a rental company that does all the work for you: they do the bookings for you, receive the guest, take care of the administration and of the management of the house. As an owner, you have to register your own use into the booking system. The own use of the apartment or chalet is often restricted to a few weeks per year.

RENTAL PROPERTY IN OWN MANAGEMENT 

There are properties which you can rent out yourself. Or you can choose a rental organization yourself. This is a more flexible option, often providing a higher return on investment.

SECOND HOME

If you prefer not to rent out your holiday apartment or house you can choose to buy a property with a second home permission, the so called Zweitwohnsitz. These properties are rare and therefore a bit more expensive than properties that do not have this permit.

PERMANENT RESIDENCE

In case you are considering emigration to Austria, you can choose for a permanent residence. This might be a detached house, but can also be a commercial property such as a bed and breakfast or a hotel.

LEASEHOLD AND FREEHOLD

The vast majority of the privately owned houses and apartments in Austria are freehold. In Austria this is mostly referred to as "Eigentumswohnung" and "Eigen Haus".
Leasehold is called "Baurecht" in Austria. Leasehold is normally determined for a period between 10 and 100 years.
We rarely have leasehold properties in our listings and it is therefore not a search option in our listings.

Negotiations in Austria are very often done in written form, with a purchase offer, a so called Kaufanbot. This offer mentions not only the purchase price but also the handover date and all the agreed conditions such as what inventory remains, details on the rental bookings, etc. 
It is the basis for the purchase contract, the Kaufvertrag.

NOTARY OR SOLICITOR

The purchase contract is drawn up by a notary or a solicitor. He acts on behalf of both parties, seller and buyer. You can either sign the purchase contract and other documents required at the notary in Austria of at an Austrian embassy. The purchase price is being paid into an escrow account of the notary or solicitor. Only after registration of the propery in the land register, the purchase price will be paid out to the vendor. 

A property bought in Austria can be financed locally.

OWN INVESTMENT

Buying real estate in Austria, you might need a mortgage. In general, banks will ask an own investment of 40% of the purchase price plus the purchase costs. A maximum of 60% of the purchase price will be given as a loan by the bank. The condition for getting the mortgage is that your income (in euro) or the rental income of the apartment / chalet covers the monthly cost of the mortgage.

EURIBOR

Rates are mostly based on the Euribor interest rates, like the 3 months rate or the 12 months rate. 

In case you need a mortgage in Austria, there will be the following costs:
•  Land register registration fee: 1,2% of the amount registered;
• General order of priorities: 0.6% of the amount registered;
• Commission: 2%;
• Costs of drafting of the contractual document;
• Costs of valuation, if needed.

When you buy an (holiday) apartment of chalet, a bed and breakfast or hotel, you will have to take into account the following costs:
• Property transfer tax: 3.5% of the gross price;
• Land register registration fee: 1.1% of the gross price;
• Notary´s fee: 2% plus 20% VAT of the gross price;
• Real estate agents commission: 3% plus 20% VAT of the gross price;
• Administration fees and legal stamps: approx. 1,200euros.

Totalized these costs will make up 10 - 11% on top of the buying price.