What this guide covers
Buying property in another country raises questions that are answered differently at home: who is registered as the owner, and which encumbrances are recorded? What requirements apply to you as a buyer? In which order do the contract, the payment and the registration take place? This guide gives a general overview. It does not replace a review of your specific case.
How we can assist
- review of the land register extract (tulajdoni lap) and the documents relating to the property
- drafting or reviewing the preliminary agreement and the sale and purchase agreement, in a bilingual version if required
- attorney countersignature of the purchase agreement (ügyvédi ellenjegyzés)
- support with the payment arrangements and filing with the land registry office (földhivatal)
- clarifying whether any official permits are required in your case
- communication with the seller, the estate agent and the authorities, in English and in Hungarian
What we do not do
We are a law office, not an estate agency. We do not offer properties, quote prices or assess market values. To find a property, please contact an estate agent or the seller directly. Once you have a specific property in mind, we can review the legal side.
In person in Keszthely or remotely
Our office is in Keszthely, at the western end of Lake Balaton. Meetings can take place in person or online. Whether individual steps, such as signing, can be completed without travelling to Hungary depends on the transaction and is assessed case by case.
The guide at a glance
How buying a property in Hungary works, step by step
Every purchase is slightly different. The steps below show the order in which the legal questions are usually dealt with when buying a property in Hungary.
Checks before buying a property at Lake Balaton
With a property of higher value, a lot is at stake. A careful legal review before signing (due diligence) helps identify risks while they can still be addressed in the contract.
Buying property in Hungary as a foreign buyer
Whether special requirements or permits apply to your purchase in Hungary cannot be answered in general terms. It depends on you, the property and the way you acquire it. This page shows which points we review in each case.
Contracts, companies and inheritance when buying property
Who will acquire the property – you alone, together with your partner, or a company? And what happens on inheritance? These questions are worth considering before buying, because changing the decision later is often difficult.
Frequently asked questions about buying property at Lake Balaton
Short, general answers to the questions international buyers ask us most often. They do not replace a review of your specific case.