First home (ensiasunto)

A first-home buyer now pays the transfer tax (varainsiirtovero). The earlier first-home exemption ended on 1.1.2024, so the tax applies the same way as for any other buyer: 1,5 % on a housing-company share and 3 % on a property, calculated from the debt-free price. So set aside this amount for the purchase, even when you are buying your first home.

A first-home buyer still has their own benefits. The loan cap is 95 % of the home’s value, while for others it is 90 %, so your own financing share can be smaller. The ASP system, the home savings bonus account, is aimed precisely at buying a first home, and it brings extra interest on your savings as well as the option of a state guarantee.

A first-home buyer is generally a person who is of legal age but under 40 and has not previously owned at least half of a home. Check your own situation with the bank before you count on the benefits, because the thresholds and terms directly affect what you are entitled to.

When you make a budget, include the debt-free price, the transfer tax, and your own deposit. This way you see realistically how much of your own money the purchase needs and how large a loan you need.