New mortgage rules raising the loan-to-value ceiling from 85% to 90% and lowering amortization requirements, including removing the extra 1% amortization for those with mortgages exceeding 4.5 times annual income, took effect on April 1, 2026. The new mortgage rules are expected to make it easier for first-time buyers, especially young adults, to enter the housing market. In a survey conducted in January, six in ten homebuyers on Hemnet said the new mortgage rules would make it easier when buying a home, with 76% of respondents very or fairly positive about the eased credit restrictions. The age group most likely to say the changes will help them buy a home is 25–34, with seven in ten saying it will become easier.
However, the new mortgage rules could have negative consequences for low-income families and those with renovation plans due to stricter amortization requirements and higher loan thresholds. Among those aged 65 or older, more than half (52%) say the new mortgage rules will not make it easier to buy a home.
Housing prices are rising in Sweden, especially for condominiums, with condominium prices increasing by 1.9% nationally in March compared to February. In Greater Stockholm, condominium prices increased by 3% in March. Prices in Bromma, Stockholm, have risen by up to 5% in the last quarter.
Regional variations in housing prices show a decline in Greater Gothenburg, where condominium prices decreased by 0.5% in March. In central Gothenburg, however, condominium prices increased by 3.7% year-on-year in February. In Gävleborg, condominium prices have risen by 1% in recent months, while house prices have fallen by 2%.
Sales data for the first quarter of 2026 shows an overall decrease, with 39,700 homes sold, down from 40,600 in the same period last year. Sales of houses decreased by 8%, while sales of condominiums increased by 1% in the first quarter of 2026.
Rental prices in Sweden are also on the rise, with rents expected to increase by 3.4% this year. The maximum rent for LSS housing in Sweden increases to 6,365 kronor per month from April 1, 2026.
In Norway, rental prices have increased by 7.9% over the last four quarters, with Bergen showing the strongest rental price growth in the first quarter of 2026 at 8.9%, followed by Trondheim at 6.9%. Oslo's rental prices increased by 2.1% in the first quarter of 2026. Since the pandemic, rental prices have increased over 30% in Bergen and Stavanger/Sandnes. Higher interest rates, increased costs for landlords, and a reduction in rental properties have created historical price pressure in Norway's rental market.
Holiday home prices in Vingåker, Sörmland County, have increased by 60% over five years, with statistics from Svensk mäklarstatistik processed by Fastighetsbyrån. All municipalities reported in Sörmland have at least ten sales during periods from March to February.
Public awareness of the new mortgage rules remains low, with eight out of ten Swedes unaware of the rules taking effect on April 1, 2026. The survey on mortgage rules was sent to 3,162 visitors to hemnet.se between 9 and 13 January. The source for the new mortgage rules is SBAB.
Contradictions exist regarding the impact of the new mortgage rules on top-up loans and borrowing limits, with some interpretations suggesting the rules reduce the possibility of taking top-up loans to under 85% of the home's value, while others note the raised loan-to-value ceiling from 85% to 90% increases borrowing possibilities. Similarly, the effect on amortization requirements for first-time buyers is disputed, with some claiming the rules ease or abolish amortization for those under 40, increasing borrowing possibilities, while others argue they impose stricter amortization, hitting renovation plans hardest.
The overall impact of the new mortgage rules on housing market accessibility is also contested, with negative effects cited such as higher barriers for low-income families and renovation delays, versus positive aspects like easier entry for first-time buyers and increased purchasing power. Additionally, reported price changes for condominiums in Greater Gothenburg in March show a discrepancy, with major media reports indicating a 0.5% decrease, while other sources note housing prices increased the least in Gothenburg without specifying a decrease.
Unknown factors loom over the Swedish housing market, including what specific external factors, beyond domestic conditions, are most likely to affect it in the near future, and how the new mortgage rules will impact the availability and affordability of rental properties. The detailed provisions for top-up loans under the new mortgage rules, and how they differ from current regulations, remain unclear, as does the extent to which rising housing prices in Stockholm are driven by the new rules versus other factors like interest rate cuts. Proposed measures to mitigate potential negative effects of the new mortgage rules on low-income families and renovation plans have not been specified.