Homes for sale in Vienna, Austria - Buy Residential properties (2025)

FAQs

Can a foreigner buy a house in Vienna? ›

If you wish to acquire a property in Vienna as a non-citizen of the European Union, you need a permit from Municipal Department 35 - Immigration and Citizenship MA 35. This department is the competent property transfer authority (Grundverkehrsbehörde) in Vienna.

If you are a foreigner looking to purchase property in Austria, you generally need approval from the real estate transaction authorities. Since real estate law in Austria is governed by the states, each state has its own regulations.

In 2020 properties were sold for an average of just under EUR 700 000, a slight decrease over the previous year, however with price rises of over 40 % since 2016 the preceding years were characterised by strong growth.

Can I get residency in Austria if I buy a house? No. On the contrary, to buy real estate in Austria, you need to get a residence permit. To do that, you must live in the country for at least 183 days a year.

Families wishing to immigrate to Austria from the US must apply for the respective residence permit, which is valid for one year. This document allows access to jobs valid on the Austrian market. Please get in touch with our lawyers in Austria for more information on how to apply for a residence permit in Austria.

Vienna's reputation as a beacon of social housing excellence is widely considered well-deserved; the city council owns, co-owns and manages some 50 per cent of the city's residential real estate through an array of social schemes, these initiatives have made rents affordable for tens of thousands of households.

Austria offers several visas to Americans, but the most popular one for retirees is a settlement permit. To qualify for a settlement permit, a person must prove that he or she has sufficient funds, health insurance and a place to live.

If a stay of more than 90 days is planned, you should apply for a visa D, which entitles the holder to stay in Austria up to six months.

A new house in Austria costs €359,000 on average. Remarkably, even the COVID-19 global pandemic hasn't affected the property market in Austria. The nation, and the capital Vienna, continue to grow with property prices increasing markedly in 2020.

Where is the best place to live in Vienna? ›

The most popular rental properties are located in the largest cities in Austria - Vienna and Graz. In both cities, due to the increase in jobs and the influx of students, the population is growing significantly. Therefore, buying investment apartments or hotels in Vienna and Graz is a great opportunity to make money.

Requirements for permanent residence in Austria

Been financially self-sufficient, whether through independent means, a job, or self-employment. Maintained health insurance for those five years. Maintained adequate accommodation, and had your accommodation registered with the government, for those five years.

Registration of property rights

The information is entered into the State Real Estate Cadastre - the Land Register. The whole process of buying property in Austria takes about three months.

So, can Americans buy property in Europe? Simply put, yes – but each European country will have its own regulations. Whether you're looking for a holiday home or you want to invest in citizenship abroad, let's take a closer look at buying a home in Europe.

Average salary in Vienna

With a monthly cost of living of €1,717, living in Vienna is more expensive than in other Western European capitals like Berlin or Paris. However, Vienna's high salaries make it manageable. The average gross annual salary in Vienna is €51,219 (or €4,268 monthly).

For more than a century, Vienna has accorded political priority to the provision of affordable housing.