What an apartment really costs: the costs on top of the listing price
The listing price is not what you pay. Here are the costs that come along the way, who usually pays them, and how to find the exact amount so you are not surprised at the notary.
7 November 2026The listing price is only the start
When you budget a purchase, add everything that follows to the price. Some costs you know in advance, others show up at the notary or the bank. Below are the categories, who usually pays and how to find the exact amount.
| Cost | Who usually pays | How to find the amount |
|---|---|---|
| The notary's fee for the sale contract | The buyer | Ask the notary for a written quote before the signing date. Fees depend on the value of the deal. |
| Registration fee (entry in the land register) | The buyer | Ask the notary. It is based on the value of the property. |
| The agency's commission | Negotiated, see the agency contract | Read the brokerage contract. Check who pays, how much and when it falls due. |
| Valuation and bank fees, if you take a loan | The buyer | Ask the bank for the full offer, with the total cost of credit. |
| Home insurance (the compulsory natural-disaster policy and the one the bank asks for) | The buyer | Get quotes from insurers. |
| Tax on the sale | The seller | The rate is 3% or 1%, depending on how long they owned the home. It is not your cost, but it matters in negotiation. See the guide. |
If you buy from a developer, ask whether the price includes VAT and what handover costs may come up (for example meters, utility connections, a parking space).
Costs after you move in
They are not in the purchase papers, but they belong in the budget:
- Property tax, paid yearly to the city hall. See how it is worked out.
- Maintenance to the owners' association and the repair fund.
- Renovation and furniture, the biggest source of overruns. Make an estimate with a 15–20% reserve.
- Moving and possible urgent works (installations, windows).
How to build the budget
- Start from the purchase price and subtract your down payment. The difference is the loan.
- Work out the payment and total interest in the mortgage calculator.
- Get written quotes from the notary, the bank, the insurer and, if relevant, the agency. Put them in one sheet.
- Add the costs after the move for the first year.
- Keep a reserve for what you did not foresee.
The sum on that sheet, not the listing price, is your real budget.
Buy or rent?
If you are undecided, put the figures into the rent or buy calculator. It includes the down payment, the loan payment and upkeep, not just rent against price.
General information. Notary tariffs, registration fees and bank costs change; always ask for written quotes before you sign.