Apartment buildings in Töölö photographed from the tower of the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki. Photo: Markku Ulander / Lehtikuva
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Buyers in the Helsinki region are prepared to pay far more for homes than buyers elsewhere in Finland, according to new figures from Oikotie.
While half of prospective homeowners across the country are budgeting no more than €200,000 for a home, only a quarter of those looking in the capital region are doing the same.
Among Helsinki region buyers, 26 percent are looking for properties priced between €200,000 and €300,000.
A further 20 percent are prepared to pay up to €400,000. Another 12 percent are budgeting up to €500,000. Eight percent are looking in the €500,000 to €600,000 range, six percent up to €800,000, and four percent exceed that figure.
By contrast, outside the capital region, only two percent of home seekers are aiming above €800,000. A majority, 51 percent, are keeping their budget under €200,000. Another 23 percent aim for €200,000 to €300,000. Just 12 percent are targeting €300,000 to €400,000.
Tiina Aalto-Fischer, director at Oikotie Asunnot, said nearly half of homebuyers in the capital are ready to pay between €200,000 and €400,000.
“In central Helsinki, that budget can still include larger studio flats, one-bedroom flats and smaller two-bedroom homes,” Aalto-Fischer said.
She added that one in four buyers in the region is now budgeting over €400,000, compared to 14 percent across Finland.
Oikotie gathered the data through a nationwide survey in spring 2025 with 17,276 respondents.
Statistics Finland also recorded a price rise in used owner-occupied homes. Between February and July, prices increased 1.6 percent nationally. From June to July, the increase was 0.2 percent.
In rental housing, budget differences are also clear between the capital region and the rest of the country. Nearly one in three renters in the Helsinki area is prepared to pay over €1,000 a month. Nationwide, only 12 percent are.
Among Helsinki renters, 15 percent are open to monthly rents of €1,200 or more. Another 15 percent budget €1,000–€1,200. Sixteen percent aim for €800–€900, while 18 percent are ready to pay €700–€800.
Nationally, rent budgets cluster between €400 and €900. Only five percent are ready to exceed €1,200 per month. About one in five renters is budgeting €600–€700.
According to Aalto-Fischer, renters in Helsinki are spread more evenly across rent levels than elsewhere. Outside the capital, demand is concentrated in the mid-range.
Loft-style apartments, garages and allotment gardens are the three most sought-after features in urban property searches across Finland.
The popularity of allotment gardens remains high. Oikotie reports that in Helsinki, Tampere, Oulu and Turku, the most searched-for housing extra is a small garden plot. In Espoo and Vantaa, it is the second most popular feature, behind a garage.
In Espoo and Vantaa, demand for garages exceeds that for allotments. In Vantaa, fireplaces are searched for more than in other large cities. In Helsinki, sea views are a notable attraction.
Aalto-Fischer said urban Finnish home seekers now prefer a combination of loft living, attached garage and a garden allotment.
“These are clearly the top three features in housing searches. Their order of popularity just varies by city,” she said.
More than 1.1 million people use Oikotie weekly to browse homes. Around half of those considering a home purchase are also selling their current home.
The dishwasher has emerged as one of the ten most searched-for home features in most Finnish cities. It is especially important among rental properties, with the exception of Vantaa.
“The dishwasher is a key criterion, particularly for renters. It’s also a significant selling point,” said Aalto-Fischer.
“People are looking for practicality and functionality in daily living.”
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
