We have a rule we never break: no VigoImmobilien client signs the Kaufvertrag before we have gone through the complete inspection checklist. Not the shortened version. Not "we had a look, seems fine." The complete one. This rule did not come from a textbook. It came from a specific case early in our work, when a client almost bought an apartment with a hidden sewage defect that would have cost...

Last week, an apartment owner from the 7th district came to us. He said: "I already know what it's worth — I checked on Willhaben and entered the data into an online calculator. €520,000." We carried out a valuation. The actual market value turned out to be €445,000. The difference — €75,000. This is not a calculator error. It is what the calculator simply cannot see: a gas boiler that will...

Most Ukrainians who come to us are not afraid of the price. They are afraid of what they do not understand. A 12-page contract in German. A notary who speaks fast and does not translate. A bank that asks for documents whose names no one has ever heard. Grundverkehrsgenehmigung, Eintragungsgebühr, Kaufvertrag — words that make you want to close the browser tab and put everything off until...

Last month Anastasia sold a two-room apartment in the 10th district in 9 days. Three viewings — two offers — a deal. That same week, the owner of a similar apartment contacted us — same district, similar size, even a slightly lower price. His apartment had been on the market for 5 months already. Without a single serious inquiry. This isn't chance or luck. Over four years of work, we've seen a...

Austria is one of the few EU countries where foreigners can freely purchase property, albeit with caveats depending on citizenship. For EU citizens, the process is nearly identical to that for Austrians: no special permits are needed, banks issue loans on standard terms, and the Negativbestätigung (confirmation of no restrictions) is a simple formality. For citizens of third countries — including...

Imagine: a pipe bursts in your rented apartment in Vienna, flooding not only your room but also the neighbours’ flat below. Damaged furniture, laptop, carpet — all your losses. Plus the neighbours demand compensation for the ruined ceiling and parquet. Without insurance, all these costs — potentially thousands of euros — fall on your shoulders. This is exactly what Haushaltsversicherung protects...

If a Vorsorgewohnung is an investment “for one person,” then a Zinshaus is an investment on an entirely different level. Zinshaus (literally “income house”) is a multi-apartment building fully owned by a single owner that generates income through rental. It is one of the symbols of Viennese real estate: majestic buildings from the Gründerzeit era (1848–1918), with high ceilings, stucco, and...

When you buy an apartment in Austria — whether it is an elegant Altbau in the centre or a modern new build under construction — you become not just an owner of four walls, but part of a community. Stairs, roof, lift, courtyard, facade, pipes — all of this is common property that someone must manage. That “someone” is called the Hausverwaltung — the building management company. The quality...

How much does an apartment in Vienna cost today? The answer depends on the district: the difference between the cheapest and the most expensive can be fourfold. The Viennese real estate market at the start of this year shows signs of confident recovery after the 2023–2024 correction. The average price per square metre of an apartment in Vienna at the beginning of 2026 is approximately €5,500–6,600....

Imagine: you buy an apartment in Vienna, rent it out, and the government refunds you 20% of the purchase price as a tax deduction. Sounds like a dream? In fact, this is a completely real and legal scheme called Vorsorgewohnung — literally “an apartment for future provision.” In Austria, this is one of the most popular instruments for long-term investment and pension planning, especially among those...