Living remains expensive? Especially in the west – diepresse.com
The residential property market is recovering differently throughout Austria. Bregenz, Innsbruck and Salzburg remain the most expensive plasters in the country for good reasons.
The delicate recovery on the domestic residential property market – or at least in parts of it – continued in the first quarter. The S Real’s demand for existing real estate, the core business of the Austrian real estate agency, was around 30 to 40 percent above the same period last year.
Unlike in 2023 and 2024, seekers are not primarily on the rental market. « Currently, many who have waited in the past two years want to buy home ownership again, » reports Managing Director Martina Hirsch.
Open spaces further popular
At Re/Max Austria, too, a significant increase in demand has also been observed in recent months, among other things, driven by the retirement interest, increasing income, retirement inflation or the temporary suspension of the land register and public registration fee. RE/Max Austria boss Bernhard Reikersdorfer is optimistic that the positive trend will continue.
Now is still a comparatively good time for a purchase. Because in view of the forecast return in the new building area, increasing housing prices should be expected.
What do real estate seekers are currently interested in in all of Austria? According to Reikersdorfer, the focus is on open and green areas. « Without balcony, terrace or small garden, it is much more difficult to sell an apartment. » There would be good transport links and infrastructure as well as an additional small space that could be used as a home office, for example. « This is an important topic for a specific target group. »
But especially in the West, the prospects for affordable living with a lot of freedom are not particularly good. Little hope for bargain prices is especially said in the state capitals. Bregenz, Salzburg and Innsbruck have been doing the competition in the shade for a long time – especially in the new building area. In Salzburg and Innsbruck, the square meter most recently cost around 9000 euros or more, more than 6000 euros in Bregenz. Graz (5100 euros per square meter) and Linz (5500 euros) follow with a little distance.
Soil as a short commodity
The supremacy of the West is no coincidence: While Bregenz, for example, benefits from the special location, i.e. the proximity to Germany, Liechtenstein and Switzerland, is a very scarce and very popular asset, especially in Salzburg and Innsbruck.
The fact that Vienna is not one of the top three attributes Reikersdorfer to the fact that there are large areas in the federal capital, especially large areas, where prices are significantly below the level of Bregenz, Salzburg and Innsbruck. At the lower end of the price ranking there are St. Pölten (3700 euros per square meter) and Eisenstadt (4100 euros). Nothing will change in their status as the cheapest state capita, says Reikersdorfer.
Even if it is easy to imagine that more people tend to move to the Lower Austrian state capital in the coming years due to the comparatively moderate prices and the good connection to local public transport. « The market remains exciting and scores, among other things, with nature and leisure activities, » says the expert. The expected shortage of offer from the end of 2025 or early next year promises little good, whereby somewhat differentiated between the individual state capitals must be differentiated.
Exceptional city of Graz
The situation in Graz, for example, is less drastic, where a lot has been built in recent years, above all large -volume project developments, and even this year the majority of the forecast population growth is to be covered by the completion pipeline. In addition, there are still available areas in the Styrian state capital.
What you should know on the subject: residential properties in Austria
Purchase interest increases again
The demand for home ownership has recently noticeably accepted speed. Especially in the existing area. In view of the increased price sensitivity, interested parties are willing to invest in renovations or renovations. The pressure remains high on the rental market. In view of the uncertain economic environment and more difficult financing conditions, many people have refrained from buying in the past two years.
Expected: noticeable price increase
The range of existing real estate is still very pronounced. In the new building area, however, there is a lack of lack of lack of offer due to the due building permits and postponed or discarded projects. For experts, it is therefore clear that it is only a matter of time for the prices to rise noticeably again. It is quite possible that this could already occur in 2026.
Relaxed southeast
In addition to Graz, which benefits from district developments and a mix of private and non -profit new apartments, St. Pölten or Eisenstadt are also among the more affordable state capitals. At least in addition to Bregenz, Salzburg and Innsbruck with top locations around 10,000 euros per square meter-and more.
