Ten steps from search profile to key handover, and a full list of the additional costs — from transfer tax to property care.
For EU citizens, buying property in Hungary is straightforward in principle, but the process differs in several respects from Germany or Austria.
The process
Set search criteria and budget
Shortlist and pre-check properties
View on site
Check the land registry and legal position
Make an offer and negotiate
Appoint a Hungarian lawyer
Sign the contract
Deposit and payment of the price
Registration of title
Handover and handover protocol
Costs
The general Hungarian rate for the acquisition of property against payment is 4% of the market value assessed by the tax authority — not necessarily the contract price.
Example: at an assessed value of HUF 50,000,000 the transfer tax is HUF 2,000,000.
On top of that: lawyer's fees, registry and administrative charges, translation and interpreting, a technical survey, agency or service fees, bank and exchange-rate costs, renovation and furnishing, and then the running costs.
Note: a safe budget always includes a reserve. Technical defects are almost always more expensive than cosmetic work.