Authored by the expert who managed and guided the team behind the Sweden Property Pack
Yes, the analysis of Stockholm's property market is included in our pack
Thinking about buying property in Stockholm in 2026? You're not alone, and the market conditions right now are worth understanding before making any move.
In this article, we break down the current housing prices in Stockholm, whether prices look stretched, and what signals point to where the market might be heading.
We constantly update this blog post to reflect the latest data available, so you always get fresh insights.
And if you're planning to buy a property in this place, you may want to download our pack covering the real estate market in Stockholm.
So, is now a good time?
Rather yes: if you're buying in Stockholm to live in or hold long term, January 2026 is a reasonable moment to enter the market without rushing into a frenzy.
The strongest signal is that prices are basically flat (apartments up only 0.5% over the past year), meaning you're not buying into a peak-price surge.
Another strong signal is that financing conditions have stabilized, with the Riksbank holding rates at 1.75% and floating mortgage rates around 2.68%, which is far below the peaks of the tightening cycle.
On top of that, upcoming mortgage rule changes (loan cap rising to 90%, stricter amortization removed) set to take effect in April 2026 could add more buyers to the market and push prices gently upward.
The best strategy in Stockholm right now is to target well-located apartments in financially healthy co-ops (bostadsrättsföreningar) in areas like Södermalm, Vasastan, or commuter hubs like Solna and Sundbyberg, and plan for a multi-year hold rather than quick flipping.
This is not financial or investment advice, we don't know your personal situation, and you should always do your own research before buying property in Stockholm.
Is it smart to buy now in Stockholm, or should I wait as of 2026?
Do real estate prices look too high in Stockholm as of 2026?
As of early 2026, Stockholm property prices remain expensive but not wildly disconnected from fundamentals, with apartments averaging around 86,000 SEK per square meter and houses around 71,000 SEK per square meter.
One clear on-the-ground signal is that price growth over the past 12 months has been nearly flat for apartments (just +0.5%), which suggests sellers are not able to push prices much higher in the current environment.
Another indicator is buyer sentiment: according to Hemnet's Buyer Barometer from late 2025, fewer Stockholm home buyers now expect prices to fall, but there's no euphoria either, which points to a market that's stabilizing rather than overheating.
You can also read our latest update regarding the housing prices in Stockholm.
Does a property price drop look likely in Stockholm as of 2026?
As of early 2026, the likelihood of a meaningful property price decline in Stockholm over the next 12 months appears low to medium, mainly because rates have already come down and the central bank signals stability.
Looking at plausible scenarios, we estimate Stockholm prices could range from roughly flat to up 5% over the next year, with a downside risk of perhaps minus 5% if something unexpected hits the economy.
The single most important macro factor that could trigger a Stockholm price drop would be a sudden rise in unemployment or household financial stress, which would hit this highly leveraged market hard.
However, labor market indicators in Sweden remain relatively solid for now, so a sharp spike in joblessness looks unlikely in the near term, though it's worth watching closely.
Finally, please note that we cover the price trends for next year in our pack about the property market in Stockholm.
Could property prices jump again in Stockholm as of 2026?
As of early 2026, the likelihood of a renewed price surge in Stockholm within the next 12 months is medium, meaning it's possible but would require several things to line up.
If conditions turn favorable, we estimate Stockholm prices could rise by 5% to 10% over the next year, though a jump beyond that would require unusually strong demand.
The single biggest demand-side trigger that could drive Stockholm prices to jump again is the easing of mortgage rules set for April 2026, which will raise the loan cap from 85% to 90% and remove the stricter amortization requirement, making it easier for first-time buyers to enter the market.
Please also note that we regularly publish and update real estate price forecasts for Stockholm here.
Are we in a buyer or a seller market in Stockholm as of 2026?
As of early 2026, Stockholm leans slightly toward a buyer's market overall, though conditions vary significantly by neighborhood and property type.
While Stockholm doesn't publish a single "months of inventory" figure like some markets, the combination of flat price growth and improved buyer sentiment suggests there's enough supply that buyers have some room to negotiate, especially on timing and condition.
Reports from late 2025 showed periods of unusually high apartment supply in Stockholm, and while we don't have an exact price-reduction share, the modest year-over-year price growth indicates sellers are not in full control of the market right now.
We have made this infographic to give you a quick and clear snapshot of the property market in Sweden. It highlights key facts like rental prices, yields, and property costs both in city centers and outside, so you can easily compare opportunities. We’ve done some research and also included useful insights about the country’s economy, like GDP, population, and interest rates, to help you understand the bigger picture.
Are homes overpriced, or fairly priced in Stockholm as of 2026?
Are homes overpriced versus rents or versus incomes in Stockholm as of 2026?
As of early 2026, Stockholm homes appear moderately overpriced when you compare purchase costs to both rents and incomes, especially for apartments.
The price-to-rent ratio in Stockholm is quite high: with apartment prices around 86,000 SEK per square meter and rents around 1,700 SEK per square meter per year, the gross rental yield comes out to roughly 2%, which is below the current floating mortgage rate of about 2.7%.
On the income side, with a median Stockholm income around 394,000 SEK and an average apartment price of about 5.2 million SEK, you're looking at roughly 13 times a single income, or about 6 to 7 times a dual-income household, which is high but not completely detached from reality.
Finally please note that you will have all the indicators you need in our property pack covering the real estate market in Stockholm.
Are home prices above the long-term average in Stockholm as of 2026?
As of early 2026, Stockholm prices appear slightly above their long-term trend but are not in extreme territory, having corrected from the 2021-2022 peaks and now showing very modest growth.
Over the past 12 months, Stockholm apartment prices rose only about 0.5% and houses about 1.3%, which is much slower than the double-digit annual gains seen in the pre-pandemic boom years.
When adjusted for inflation, Stockholm prices are likely still below their prior cycle peak in real terms, which means the market has given back some of its earlier excess even if nominal prices haven't dropped dramatically.
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What local changes could move prices in Stockholm as of 2026?
Are big infrastructure projects coming to Stockholm as of 2026?
As of early 2026, the biggest infrastructure project likely to impact Stockholm property prices is the Nya tunnelbanan (new metro expansion), which will add 18 stations and improve access to areas like Barkarby, Arenastaden in Solna, and the Nacka-Sickla corridor.
The metro expansion is well into construction with various lines opening in phases through the late 2020s, meaning the price effects in neighborhoods like Barkarbystaden (Järfälla), Arenastaden, and Nacka are already being priced in but will strengthen as opening dates approach.
For the latest updates on the local projects, you can read our property market analysis about Stockholm here.
Are zoning or building rules changing in Stockholm as of 2026?
The most important rule change affecting Stockholm housing supply is not a zoning headline but rather the structural constraints the OECD has flagged in Sweden's planning and permitting system, which limit how fast new housing can respond to demand.
As of early 2026, these supply-side frictions mean that inner-city and transit-rich neighborhoods like Vasastan, Östermalm, Kungsholmen, and Södermalm will stay supply-constrained, while new-build heavy zones in areas like Årstafältet or northwest growth corridors may see more competition among sellers of similar units.
If Sweden were to meaningfully speed up permitting and reduce planning bottlenecks, it could eventually soften price pressure in Stockholm, but such reforms take years to show up in actual housing completions.
Are foreign-buyer or mortgage rules changing in Stockholm as of 2026?
As of early 2026, the biggest rule change affecting Stockholm buyers is on the mortgage side, not foreign-buyer restrictions, with the Swedish Government proposing to raise the loan-to-value cap from 85% to 90% and remove the stricter amortization requirement tied to high debt-to-income ratios.
There are no major foreign-buyer restrictions being discussed for Stockholm, as Sweden generally has an open market for international purchasers without the special taxes or bans seen in some other countries.
The mortgage rule changes, expected to take effect around April 2026, will most benefit first-time buyers who are deposit-constrained, particularly in starter apartment segments in neighborhoods like Hägersten-Liljeholmen, Årsta, Bromma, Sundbyberg, and Solna.
You can also read our latest update about mortgage and interest rates in Sweden.
We did some research and made this infographic to help you quickly compare rental yields of the major cities in Sweden versus those in neighboring countries. It provides a clear view of how this country positions itself as a real estate investment destination, which might interest you if you’re planning to invest there.
Will it be easy to find tenants in Stockholm as of 2026?
Is the renter pool growing faster than new supply in Stockholm as of 2026?
As of early 2026, renter demand in the most desirable parts of Stockholm continues to outpace new rental supply, keeping the market structurally tight in central and well-connected areas.
The clearest signal of persistent demand is Stockholm's official housing queue, managed by Bostadsförmedlingen, where average waiting times stretch to many years rather than months, showing just how many people want to rent in the city.
On the supply side, Boverket's construction forecast shows housing starts recovering gradually (around 35,000 nationally in 2026), but this is not enough to flood Stockholm with new rentals, especially in the inner city where land is scarce.
Are days-on-market for rentals falling in Stockholm as of 2026?
As of early 2026, there is no single official days-on-market series for Stockholm rentals, but in prime areas like Vasastan, Södermalm, Kungsholmen, and Östermalm, reasonably priced rentals typically get snapped up quickly because the pool of qualified tenants is deep.
The gap between "best areas" and weaker areas is significant: in central Stockholm, a well-priced rental can find a tenant within days, while in some outer suburbs or new-build developments with high asking rents, landlords may wait weeks or longer.
The main reason rentals move fast in prime Stockholm locations is simple undersupply relative to the number of people who want to live there, combined with the fact that many people cannot access the regulated rental queue and must turn to the private market.
Are vacancies dropping in the best areas of Stockholm as of 2026?
As of early 2026, vacancies in the best-performing rental areas of Stockholm, such as Vasastan, Östermalm, Södermalm, and Kungsholmen, remain extremely low and behave like "permanent low vacancy" zones as long as rents are reasonable.
These prime inner-city districts consistently have tighter vacancy rates than the overall Stockholm market, where some outer suburbs and new-build developments can struggle to fill units priced at the top of what households can afford.
One practical sign that the best areas are tightening first is that landlords in Vasastan or Södermalm rarely need to offer incentives or negotiate on rent, while landlords in newer peripheral developments sometimes have to adjust expectations or wait longer to find tenants.
By the way, we've written a blog article detailing what are the current rent levels in Stockholm.
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Am I buying into a tightening market in Stockholm as of 2026?
Is for-sale inventory shrinking in Stockholm as of 2026?
As of early 2026, for-sale inventory in Stockholm is not clearly shrinking across the board, with Hemnet-based commentary from late 2025 actually showing periods of unusually high apartment supply as sellers tested the market.
Stockholm doesn't publish a standard "months of supply" figure, but the combination of flat price growth and elevated listings suggests the market is neither tight nor flooded, sitting somewhere in the middle depending on the specific neighborhood and property type.
One reason inventory is not shrinking uniformly is that improving buyer sentiment and the upcoming mortgage rule changes may be encouraging more owners to list now in anticipation of stronger demand later in 2026.
Are homes selling faster in Stockholm as of 2026?
As of early 2026, homes in Stockholm are not selling dramatically faster than before, with buyers remaining selective and price growth staying modest rather than accelerating.
While we don't have a precise year-over-year days-on-market comparison, the flat price trend (apartments up only 0.5%) suggests that time-to-sell has not shortened meaningfully, and well-priced homes in prime locations like Södermalm or Vasastan still move faster than average properties elsewhere.
Are new listings slowing down in Stockholm as of 2026?
As of early 2026, new for-sale listings in Stockholm are not clearly slowing down, and we expect listings to remain responsive to sentiment as buyers and sellers both react to the upcoming mortgage rule changes and stabilizing rates.
Stockholm typically sees seasonal listing patterns with slower activity around the winter holidays and stronger activity in spring and autumn, and the current level does not appear unusually low for January.
If anything, the anticipation of easier mortgage rules in April 2026 may encourage more sellers to list soon, expecting improved demand, rather than holding back.
Is new construction failing to keep up in Stockholm as of 2026?
As of early 2026, new housing construction in Stockholm is not keeping pace with underlying demand, especially in the most desirable inner-city and transit-connected areas where land is limited and permitting is slow.
Boverket forecasts around 35,000 housing starts nationally in 2026, which represents a gradual recovery from recent lows but is still not enough to create oversupply pressure in Stockholm's tightest submarkets.
The biggest bottleneck limiting new construction in Stockholm is the combination of planning and permitting delays, high construction costs, and limited available land in central locations, all of which the OECD has flagged as structural issues for Sweden.
We made this infographic to show you how property prices in Sweden compare to other big cities across the region. It breaks down the average price per square meter in city centers, so you can see how cities stack up. It’s an easy way to spot where you might get the best value for your money. We hope you like it.
Will it be easy to sell later in Stockholm as of 2026?
Is resale liquidity strong enough in Stockholm as of 2026?
As of early 2026, resale liquidity in Stockholm is generally strong compared to most markets, as Stockholm is Sweden's deepest buyer pool with the most active transaction volume.
While exact median days-on-market figures vary by source, apartments in good locations with healthy co-op finances typically sell within a few weeks in Stockholm, which compares favorably to a "healthy liquidity" benchmark of 30 to 60 days.
The property characteristics that most improve resale liquidity in Stockholm are being in a financially healthy co-op (low association debt, reasonable monthly fees), having good transit access (especially metro proximity), and being located in sought-after neighborhoods like Vasastan, Södermalm, Kungsholmen, or Östermalm.
Is selling time getting longer in Stockholm as of 2026?
As of early 2026, selling time in Stockholm has not shortened dramatically compared to last year, with buyers remaining selective and the market favoring well-priced, well-located properties over average listings.
The realistic range for time-to-sell in Stockholm spans from a couple of weeks for a great apartment in Södermalm or Vasastan to several months for homes with issues like high monthly fees, co-op debt problems, or compromised locations.
One clear reason selling time can lengthen in Stockholm is if the property is in a co-op with weak finances (high debt, rising fees), which makes buyers nervous and extends negotiations or scares them away entirely.
Is it realistic to exit with profit in Stockholm as of 2026?
As of early 2026, the likelihood of selling with a profit in Stockholm is medium to high if you hold for several years, buy smartly, and avoid co-op financial traps, but quick flipping is not a reliable strategy right now.
A realistic minimum holding period to exit with profit in Stockholm is typically 5 to 7 years, which gives you time to absorb transaction costs and benefit from gradual price appreciation rather than relying on a quick market surge.
Total round-trip costs in Stockholm (buying plus selling) typically run around 5% to 8% of the property value, which translates to roughly 260,000 to 420,000 SEK on a 5.2 million SEK apartment (about 23,000 to 37,000 EUR or 24,000 to 39,000 USD at recent exchange rates).
The single factor that most increases your profit odds in Stockholm is buying in a financially healthy co-op in a transit-rich, high-demand neighborhood, which protects your downside and ensures strong resale liquidity when you eventually sell.
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What sources have we used to write this blog article?
Whether it's in our blog articles or the market analyses included in our property pack about Stockholm, we always rely on the strongest methodology we can … and we don't throw out numbers at random.
We also aim to be fully transparent, so below we've listed the authoritative sources we used, and explained how we used them and the methods behind our estimates.
| Source | Why it's authoritative | How we used it |
|---|---|---|
| Statistics Sweden (SCB) - Real Estate Price Index | Sweden's official statistics agency and the baseline for national price trends. | We used it to anchor the national cycle context and cross-check Stockholm data. We compared agent data against this official series to avoid short-term noise. |
| SCB - Rent Levels (Greater Stockholm) | Official rent statistics with clear methodology and regular updates. | We used it to estimate realistic rent levels per square meter in Stockholm. We then compared rents to purchase prices to calculate gross yields. |
| SCB - Financial Market Statistics | Official SCB release on mortgage rates, not marketing material. | We used it to pin down the latest floating mortgage rate. We then used those numbers to stress-test affordability and rate sensitivity. |
| Sveriges Riksbank - Monetary Policy Report | The central bank's official view on inflation, rates, and macro risks. | We used it to set the interest-rate backdrop for January 2026. We relied on their rate-path guidance for our affordability analysis. |
| Swedish Government - Mortgage Rule Proposal | Primary source for what mortgage rules are changing and when. | We used it to assess demand-side tailwinds from higher loan caps. We then translated this into buyer-versus-seller market implications. |
| Finansinspektionen - Household Debt Analysis | Sweden's financial supervisor focused on systemic risk and household leverage. | We used it to quantify Sweden's debt vulnerability. We also used it to explain why Stockholm prices are extra sensitive to rate changes. |
| Svensk Mäklarstatistik - Stockholm Prices | Industry contract-based sales database processed with SCB involvement. | We used it for Stockholm-specific sold prices and 12-month changes. This is our main source for what Stockholm actually costs right now. |
| Hemnet - Market Statistics | Sweden's dominant property portal with transparent market metrics. | We used it for market temperature signals and inventory trends. We triangulated this with sold-price data for a complete picture. |
| Hemnet Group - Buyer Barometer | A published, repeatable sentiment series from a major market platform. | We used it to judge whether buyers were still bracing for drops or turning bullish. We combined it with rates and inventory to classify market conditions. |
| Boverket - Construction Forecast | Sweden's National Board of Housing, Building and Planning. | We used it to estimate near-term supply for 2025-2027. We mapped this to Stockholm's new-supply pressure for apartments and new builds. |
| Region Stockholm - Nya Tunnelbanan | The regional authority responsible for public transport investment. | We used it to identify transport-driven neighborhood tailwinds. We translated these into where demand could strengthen in 2026 and beyond. |
| Bostadsförmedlingen Stockholm - Queue Times | The official housing queue operator and ground truth for rental scarcity. | We used it to show underlying rental demand pressure in Stockholm. We explained why rental demand stays strong even when some new-build rents seem high. |
| Ekonomifakta - Stockholm Income Data | Clearly cites official SCB sources for income statistics. | We used it to put a hard number on Stockholm median income. We compared income levels to typical prices to judge affordability. |
| OECD - Sweden 2025 Housing Survey | Top-tier international institution with consistent cross-country methodology. | We used it to contextualize Sweden's structural supply constraints. We explained why Stockholm can stay expensive even when the market cools. |
We created this infographic to give you a simple idea of how much it costs to buy property in different parts of Sweden. As you can see, it breaks down price ranges and property types for popular cities in the country. We hope this makes it easier to explore your options and understand the market.
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