The weak krona is creating house sales in Sweden for foreign buyers.
They are getting the most for their money in Kronoberg County, where estate agent Christer Stjernfeldt is busy.
Christer Stjernfeldt has devoted his entire brokerage career since 1993 to selling houses in Småland mainly to Germans and Danes. Even then, the crown was low in course.
"The Tongs are about the same as 1993, it's a sale for our Danish and German, Dutch and Swiss customers. They take advantage of the opportunity too, so we have a lot to do."
While foreign home buyers in the 1990s were primarily looking for a summer house, a much larger share is now looking for a house where they can stay much of the year. The technological development and new working patterns that emerged during the corona pandemic have made it possible to sit in a cottage in the countryside of Småland and perform their work remotely, says Christer Stjernfeldt.
"Nice rural areas".
"It has led to a nicer countryside – there is more light in the windows than it did 30 years ago. More and more of our customers will stay here most of the year."
According to a summary from Länsförsäkringar, the number of sales has decreased by almost one third and the average price in the whole country has fallen by two percent in one year.
"In Kronoberg County, where Jonas Hellström is also a real estate agent, the price has gone down even further," he says. According to Länsförsäkringar, you get 67 square meters of free-time residences for one million SEK, which can be compared to 18 square meters in Stockholm and 28 square meters in Sweden on average.
"There are quite a few of the single family houses that become holiday homes, because it's not really a big price difference. You get a lot for the money if you buy a single family house in a village", says Jonas Hellström.
"Not in doubt."
The German buyers he reaches through Germany's equivalent to Hemnet, Immoscout24. He feels that they are not as affected by the rise in interest rates as many Swedes.
"The Swedes are more careful. This is a feeling I have, but I don't have statistics."
In addition to the low price, Småland has also seen many other attractive features with German eyes, he notes: Forests, lakes – and silence.
"The Swedes want to go to the coast, but those who are used to congestion in Europe choose silence and calm."
Facts: Foreign home ownership in Sweden
In Sweden there are about 610,000 holiday homes. Of them, just over 38,000 (6.3 percent) have foreign owners.
Among the foreign homeowners, the Norwegians (33 percent) followed by Germans (28 percent) and Danes (26 percent)
Foreign ownership of holiday homes is most common in Västra Götaland, Värmland and Kronoberg County.
Source: SCB July 2022
Facts: Cheapest in Kronoberg County
Purchasers in Kronoberg County (67 square meters for SEK 1 million), Örebro County (48 square meters), Västernorrland County (45 square meters), Värmland County (44 square meters) and Norrbotten County (43 square meters) receive the most free-time residences for money.
The minimum free-time residence for money is available to buyers in Stockholm County (18 square meters), Halland County (20 square meters), Gotland County (20 square meters), Västra Götaland County (23 square meters) and Jämtland County (25 square meters)
Source: Swedish Brokerage Statistics and Länsförsäkringar