Home-buying guides
Clear guides to buying a home in Finland — based on open data and official sources.
Pipe renovation (putkiremontti): when, how much, what to ask before buying
The plumbing renovation is a Finnish housing company's biggest repair. When it's due, what it costs per m², and what to check before buying.
Asbestos and wet rooms: the renovation risks of older flats
Flats built before 1994 may contain asbestos, and bathroom waterproofing ages. How to assess the risks and costs before buying.
Rental yield: how to calculate gross and net yield
Rental yield shows whether a buy-to-let makes sense. How to calculate gross and net yield, and how the charge and transfer tax affect it.
Home-buying checklist: what to request and ask
A practical checklist for buying a home in Finland: which documents to request and what to ask the seller and building manager before an offer.
The cost of owning a flat: charge, loan share and leased land
What a flat's monthly costs consist of in Finland: maintenance and financing charge, loan share, transfer tax and leased land explained.
Radon in a flat: measurement, limits and risk areas
Radon is an odourless indoor-air risk, highest on the lowest floors. How to spot the risk, measure it, and read STUK's limits.
Flood risk: what a flood-hazard zone means for a buyer
A flood-hazard zone affects insurance, repairs and resale. How to read SYKE's flood maps before buying a home.
Energy certificate and class: what A–G means
The energy class shows a flat's energy efficiency and affects heating costs and value. How to read the energy certificate as a buyer.
Condition inspection (kuntotarkastus): when and why
A condition inspection reveals a home's state before purchase. The difference between kuntotarkastus and kuntotutkimus, the cost, and when to order one.
Housing-company loan and financing charge: risks for buyers
A company loan lowers the sale price but raises the financing charge. How to assess the loan-share risk and compare the debt-free price before buying.
Moisture damage: how to spot it and what to ask before buying
Moisture and mould damage is the most common hidden defect. Where it comes from, where it hides and how to verify the wet-room before buying an apartment.
First-home buyer's guide: budget, financing and taxes 2026
First-home buyer checklist: total budget, ASP and the loan cap, monthly costs and transfer tax (the exemption ended in 2024). What to check before making an offer.
Debt-free price vs. sale price: what an apartment really costs
Debt-free price = sale price + share of the company loan. Why you must compare it, how the debt share works and why the tax is calculated on the debt-free price.
New build or old apartment: costs and risks compared
Differences between a new build and an old apartment: cost structure, renovation risk, the company loan and a leased plot. Which suits you — a comparison before buying.
Manager's certificate: what it reveals and why it is the key document
The manager's certificate reveals the debt share, the charge, completed and upcoming renovations (PTS) and the housing company's finances. How to read it before an offer.