Simple life in Norway is not what you think it is!
You better prepare for these struggles.
If you want to have an even deeper insight into the Norwegian housing market and prefer to watch instead of reading, there is a video attached if you scroll down.
Golden sunsets, frosty winters, mountains, and fjords come to mind if anybody mentions Norway. And that is surprisingly exactly what it is. There is a lot of rain too. But however I twist it, Norway is one of the most beautiful countries to call home. The wide-open fields, steep mountain formations, and lush green, mossy forests emanate a sense of calm you can hardly find anywhere else.
Low population density has its charm. Looking at the YouTube and Google search statistics, city folks realize that a calm life in the countryside ain’t that bad. In the online space, Norway manifests itself as the holy grail for silence hungry overworked caffeine, and social media addicts (welcome to the club, eh). A tiny cabin or a small farm is a retreat of choice.
As a creator that has moved here two years ago, I can tell you finding the right place, or barely anything to start your dream is not that simple.
Context
My girlfriend and I moved here in 2020 amidst the corona chaos. Living in Denmark at that point, we had just canceled our rental agreement, ready long for South America travels. Despite the travel ban, we did not want to stay any longer homeless in Copenhagen. So our only options were to return to one of our home countries. With no desire for the crowded Germany, we chose the family cabin in mid-Norway. The most peaceful place I had ever been to at that point.
Long story short, we stayed there for a bit over a year. At one point borrowing a home stops feeling right, and you start looking for your own place.
So we decided, not willing to rent in the long term, to search for a small farm (Småbruk). A place surrounded by nature where we could transform into a space where people can reunite with nature.
How to buy a cabin/farm in Norway
There are just two options you stand a chance to buy any property in Norway. Either you have strong social connections and get news that somebody you are already acquainted with would like to sell their property, or you get lucky on Finn.no.
Finn (More often called Finn.no) is an equivalent of the many different digital marketspaces from other countries. Think about craigslist and ramp up trustworthiness and security.
The first option is rather unsuitable for immigrants and young people. If you are in your mid-twenties, you probably don’t know too many property owners and even less that would like to sell.
You can still go and knock on doors but Norwegians are often more skeptical towards novelty than you would expect. So, Finn is your only chance.
Buying Property on Finn.no
Once you find a cabin or farm you would like to buy, it’s time to take up the fight with the rest of Norway.
Typically, the selling process consists of an official showing and a bidding (normally starting the next workday after the showing). As long as there is more than one interest buyer, the sale automatically shifts to continuous bidding for the highest price.
You do that via your birth number and liquidity proof from your bank via SMS within the system of the real estate agent.
The bidding round is what kills dreams. Incomes in Norway are high and hard to keep up with when it turns to the bidding. So here is example which is not uncommon in the current market.
The cozy pink glasses
This wonderful property was priced at 89.000$. It has 40 hectares of land (mainly forest) and is nicely sheltered with direct access to a river and mountains. Our dream property.
But do not let this scam you here are some of the costs you have to work with.
Making it liveable:
- Roof asbestos, broken frame 20.000$
- Foundation wet, new drainage 20.000$
- Chimney broken — 3000$
- New pipes — 8.000$
- New bathroom — 20.000$
Making it nice:
- Barn rotten, roof is asbestos and broken, the foundation is eroded by the rain river. Worth 0$ either tear down or complete restoration. If you do that yourself to keep the costs down — 50.000$-75.000$
- New outside facade — 10.000$
- Leveling the rooms (30 cm height difference due to the age and rotting wood) — 15.000$
- Repairing the shed (with bedroom) 10.000$
That’s all fair enough. The costs will be spread over many and all in all it would be a fair price for having your dream home in Norway. 160.000$ to make it liveable, 110.000$ to make it nice. These prices assume that you do everything you can do by yourself and only use contractors if necessary.
If you are not willing to do that, you can add another 100.000$ on top.
Well, 270.000$ to get our dream home sounded doable for us. But now the bidding round came in.
The property went for 260.000$ buying price instead of 89.000$.
This system is broken.
In total with renovation, you would have to spend 520.000$ for the property now.
If you ever think about selling again, the commune estimated that it would be worth 300.000 after all repairs are done.
Whoever bought will lose money if they ever sell it again.
Don’t give up the dream
All the information should not play down any of the charms of living in Norway. It’s still amazing despite all the hassle!
But I want to warn you. Getting something nice is hard. Getting something nice for a fair price is nearly impossible!
Till
