Every figure on the site comes from official sources or typical fees we've checked, so you can see how far to rely on it.
Taxes and fees
- Purchase taxes (stamp duty, transfer tax, registration duty and others) use the official rates published by each country's government or tax authority. The sources are listed under every result.
- Extra taxes for buyers from abroad are added when they apply to you, based on where you live and your citizenship.
- Reliefs, such as first-time buyer relief, are applied when you choose that buyer type and qualify.
- Professional fees (solicitor, notary, survey and so on) are typical amounts for that country and are labelled as typical. You can type your own quote over any figure.
- What we can't know: the exact property, its official tax value in some countries, local surcharges and your full situation. Where that matters, we say so.
Keeping it up to date
We check every country's rules against official sources every week. A change only goes live once it's confirmed on an official page and tested. If we can't confirm a possible change, that country is marked "Under review" until we can. Every change is listed in the "Rule updates" log at the bottom of the calculator.
What's it worth today?
We take what you paid and when, and move it in line with official house prices since then, using the most local official figures available: by area in the UK, by state in the US, by region in Spain and Ireland, by town in the Netherlands, Portugal and Italy, and by postcode in France and in England and Wales. Elsewhere we use the national figure. Where local figures are older, we bring them up to date with the national trend. It's an estimate of how prices like yours have moved, not a survey of your home.
Future price scenarios
"What could it be worth?" figures are scenarios, not forecasts. They're based on how official house prices have moved over past five-year periods: a cautious, a typical and a strong case. Your area can differ a lot, and past changes don't predict future ones.
How much can I afford?
We find the highest price where your savings cover the deposit and every buying cost, and the mortgage stays within the usual lending limits in that country (based on your income, and your own monthly budget if you give one). These are typical rules, not a lender's offer: lenders also look at your debts, spending and credit history.
Rent or buy
We compare the rent you'd pay with the true cost of buying over the years you'd stay: buying and selling costs, mortgage interest and upkeep, what your deposit could have earned as savings, minus any rise in the home's value. Repaying the loan isn't a cost, because you get it back when you sell. We start with cautious assumptions, and you can change all of them.
Cost of selling
Typical estate agent fees, legal costs and the certificates a seller needs in each country, with notes on local taxes and tax on any gain. Agent fees are negotiable, so you can change them.
Exchange rates
Amounts in your own currency use example exchange rates, which you can change. Use the rate you'll actually get.
Limits
All figures are estimates to help you plan. They aren't tax, legal, mortgage or financial advice. Always check with a qualified solicitor, notary, tax adviser or lender before you commit.