The land registry is at the heart of Austrian real estate law. Only registration in the land registry makes the transfer of ownership legally effective. Many purchasers mistakenly believe that they become owners as soon as the contract is signed. In reality, ownership arises only upon registration (Einverleibung).
Changes such as liens, easements or the creation of condominium ownership must also be entered in the land registry. Without a correct entry, even a fully paid purchase price does not provide secure legal title.
Before completing a transaction, the land registry extract should be reviewed carefully: ownership structure, encumbrances, priority notices and pending applications must be checked. This is the only way to identify risks at an early stage.
We support buyers, sellers and banks throughout the process – from reviewing the contract to coordinating with the notary and ensuring a legally secure registration in the land registry.