Transfer of properties

Updated: 29 January 2024

Next update: 30 April 2024

Dwellings transferred on the free market
Dwellings transferred on the free market
4th quarter 2023
32 010
Registered transfers of real property and properties owned through a housing cooperative. Preliminary figures
Registered transfers of real property and properties owned through a housing cooperative. Preliminary figures
4th quarter 20234th quarter 2022 - 4th quarter 20234th quarter 2018 - 4th quarter 2023
All transfers59 003-7.2-9.8
Real estates48 348-8.7-10.3
Cooperative estates10 6550.11.1
Dwelling properties on the free market sale, total32 010-5.9-12.0
Dwelling properties on owned site, free market sale22 962-8.1-11.1
Dwelling properties on leased site, free market sale901-12.1-15.6
Properties owned through a housing cooperative, free market sale8 1472.0-10.2
Holiday properties , free market sale, total2 752-7.1-23.4
Holiday properties on owned site, free market sale2 179-4.8-18.6
Holiday properties on leased site, free market sale573-15.1-37.4
Explanation of symbols

Selected tables and charts from this statistics

  • Transfers of dwelling properties with building, free market sale. Preliminary figures
    Transfers of dwelling properties with building, free market sale. Preliminary figures
    4th quarter 2023
    Transfers, totalTotal purchase price (NOK million)Purchase price per transfer (NOK 1000)Transfers of titleTotal purchase price, transfer of title (NOK million)Purchase price per transfer of title (NOK 1 000)Transfers of leasesTotal purchase price on transfer of lease (NOK million)Purchase price, transfer of lease (NOK 1 000)
    The whole country23 863117 6124 92922 962114 2544 9769013 3593 728
    Viken (2020-2023)6 22833 0525 3076 01132 1245 3442179294 281
    Oslo2 90525 9738 9412 74625 1059 1421598685 460
    Innlandet1 4444 5393 1431 3994 4313 167451072 389
    Vestfold og Telemark (2020-2023)1 6427 6724 6721 5367 3224 7671063503 297
    Agder1 4975 3113 5471 4545 1883 568431232 853
    Rogaland2 44610 5194 3002 43610 4854 30410343 444
    Vestland2 48110 2544 1332 43710 0844 138441693 848
    Møre og Romsdal1 0493 5583 3921 0313 5013 39618563 129
    Trøndelag - Trööndelage2 30610 1944 4212 2099 9104 486972842 926
    Nordland - Nordlánnda8842 9563 3448362 8223 376481342 786
    Troms og Finnmark - Romsa ja Finnmárku (2020-2023)9813 5853 6558673 2813 7841143042 671
    Explanation of symbols
  • Free market sales of property owned through a housing coopertive. Number, purchase price and joint debt. Preliminary figures
    Free market sales of property owned through a housing coopertive. Number, purchase price and joint debt. Preliminary figures
    4th quarter 2023
    Transfers, totalTotal purchase price (NOK million)Purchase price per transfer (NOK 1000)Joint debt in total (NOK million)1 Joint debt per transfer (NOK 1000)Total purchase price per transfer included joint debt (NOK 1 000)
    The whole country8 14724 4713 0043 3704143 418
    Viken (2020-2023)1 3823 7162 6895293833 072
    Oslo2 82711 7834 1689753454 513
    Innlandet2705512 0411134172 458
    Vestfold og Telemark (2020-2023)8231 7202 0904325252 615
    Agder2143911 828904212 249
    Rogaland4531 0492 3162475462 862
    Vestland7722 0282 6272783602 987
    Møre og Romsdal1552821 816694462 262
    Trøndelag - Trööndelage7581 8442 4333354422 875
    Nordland - Nordlánnda2715962 2011535632 764
    Troms og Finnmark - Romsa ja Finnmárku (2020-2023)2225122 3061496702 976
    County not stated000000
    1Figures on joint debt are based on information on sellers joint debt in the housing cooperative at the end of the year before the sale took place. If figures on joint debt are missing, it is estimated.
    Explanation of symbols
  • Transfers of holiday properties with building, free market sale. Preliminary figures
    Transfers of holiday properties with building, free market sale. Preliminary figures
    4th quarter 2023
    Transfers, totalTotal purchase price (NOK million)Purchase price per transfer (NOK 1000)Transfers of titleTotal purchase price, transfer of title (NOK million)Purchase price per transfer of title (NOK 1000)Transfers of leasesTotal purchase price on transfer of lease (NOK million)Purchase price, transfer of lease (NOK 1000)
    The whole country2 7527 3492 6712 1796 0952 7975731 2542 188
    Oslo and Viken6362 2433 5285111 9313 7791253132 501
    Innlandet6121 8192 9734451 3453 0221674752 843
    Vestfold og Telemark (2020-2023)3049503 1242498423 383551071 950
    Agder2416732 7921745052 901671682 509
    Rogaland1172331 988921932 09425401 595
    Vestland1944112 1181743812 19220291 475
    Møre og Romsdal1111911 7241051851 758671 130
    Trøndelag - Trööndelage3055661 8572494961 99256701 257
    Nordland - Nordlánnda1361731 2701141491 30922231 067
    Troms og Finnmark - Romsa ja Finnmárku (2020-2023)969093566691 0413021703
    Explanation of symbols
  • Registered transfers of real property
    Registered transfers of real property
    4th quarter 2023
    TransfersNotified amount (NOK million)
    The whole country48 348149 958
    Viken (2020-2023)10 95642 116
    Oslo4 06729 413
    Innlandet4 3308 145
    Vestfold og Telemark (2020-2023)3 73610 790
    Agder3 4557 578
    Rogaland4 14212 681
    Vestland5 23013 015
    Møre og Romsdal2 5444 847
    Trøndelag - Trööndelage4 59712 780
    Nordland - Nordlánnda2 6194 088
    Troms og Finnmark - Romsa ja Finnmárku (2020-2023)2 6724 505
    Explanation of symbols
  • Registered transfers of real property, by type of property
    Registered transfers of real property, by type of property
    4th quarter 20204th quarter 20214th quarter 20224th quarter 20231
    All properties63 10258 42152 96848 348
    Dwelling property total43 59141 45738 25335 533
    Dwelling property with building42 02640 04137 16734 611
    Dwelling property without building1 5651 4161 086922
    Holiday property total12 58110 1937 9536 879
    Holiday property with buildingl10 6778 6716 7706 201
    Holiday property without building1 9041 5221 183678
    Agricultural/forestry property total2 0631 8801 8031 572
    Agricultural/forestry property with building1 6471 5681 4851 279
    Agricultural/forestry property without building416312318293
    Commercial/office property total9371 000935810
    Commercial/office property with building858933882762
    Commercial/office property without building79675348
    Industrial property total7258391 036670
    Industrial property with building585656902551
    Industrial property without building140183134119
    Communication purposes16213523489
    Other2 5682 6852 4072 396
    Not specified475232347399
    1Preliminary figures.
    Explanation of symbols

About the statistics

The statistics comprise the number and value of registered transfers of real property and registered transfers of property owned through a housing cooperative. For dwellings and holiday homes sold on the free market, both total and average purchase prices are published.

Registered amount

Registered amount comprises mainly purchase prices. If the transfer is free of charge, the value of the property stated on the deed of conveyance is used.

Average purchase price per transfer

An average purchase price is calculated for the following types of properties and transfers:

  • Dwelling property with building, title to land, free market sale and purchase price reported.
  • Holiday property with building, title to land, free market sale and purchase price reported.
  • Holiday home on leased site, free market sale and purchase price reported.
  • Dwelling owned through a housing cooperative.

Transfer

A transfer does not only comprise ordinary sale, but also donation, compulsory sale and eminent domain, licensed decedent estate, inheritance of decedent estate and other. A transfer can also comprise one or several cadastral units. For properties with more than one owner, a transfer can also be a part of a property.

Free market sale

Free market sale means that the property is sold for a price corresponding to the market value. The property is not always announced for sale on the free market.

Name: Transfer of properties
Topic: Construction, housing and property

30 April 2024

Division for Housing, Property, Spatial and Agricultural Statistics

The statistics are published at county and municipality level.

The statistics are published quarterly. Preliminary figures are published about 6 weeks after end of quarter. Usually, final figures are available about 32 weeks after end of quarter. The difference between preliminary and final figures is under 1 per cent.

The statistics are based on the date of registration. This date can be several weeks or months later than the date of sale. Data from finn.no from 2016 show that dwelling properties in average are sold 2-3 mounths before the date of registration.

Not relevant

Microdata are stored in Statistics Norway.

The aim is to provide statistics on the extent of transfers of real property in Norway. The statistics have comprised the present level of details since 1991. With fewer details the statistics go back to 1836. However, statistics are lacking for the years 1981-1983.

As from 2017 registered transfers of property owned through a housing cooperative are included.

Users are public institutions, estate agents, media and people in general.

No external users have access to the statistics and analyses before they are published and accessible simultaneously for all users on ssb.no at 8 am. Prior to this, a minimum of three months' advance notice is given in the Statistics Release Calendar. Read more about principles for equal treatement of all users on ssb.no.

Since 1991 Statistics Norway has worked out the quarterly House Price Index , which provides current price statistics for the housing market.

Statistics Norway also works out statistics on registered transfers of agricultural properties . This statistics are based on the properties defined as agricultural properties in the farm register owned by Norwegian Agriculture Agency.

The Statistics Act §§ 2-1, 3-2.

Not relevant

The statistics comprise all registered transfer of real property (and from 2017 registered transfer of property owned through a housing cooperative) and not only real sales. In addition to sales on the free market, the statistics also include donations, forced sales, expropriations, licensed decent estates, inheritance of decent estate and other registered transfers of title. The statistics include three types of real property: parcels, leases and sections of buildings registered as freehold.

Transfer of real property may occur without registration, but this is very uncommon.

A few transfers include more than one dwelling property unit or holiday property unit.

The statistics are based on data from two governmental administrative registers: the Register of Deeds ("Grunnboka") and the Norwegian Cadastre system (real properties, addresses, buildings and cadastral map). The Norwegian Mapping Authority has been managing the latter register for many years and has in the period 2004-2007 gradually taken over the management of the Register of Deeds from the local courts.

The statistics comprise all registered transfers of real property.

Data from the registers mentioned in chapter 3.2 are forwarded via file transfer and API to Statistics Norway.

The data are subject to computerized controls to detect lacks, errors, extreme values and lack of coherence. Data are corrected by means of additional information from the Register of Real Properties, Addresses and Buildings.

Mainly, the statistics comprise counting of transfers by various characteristics, e.g. type of property, type of transfer, with/without building and type of dwelling. Registered amount in NOK is also added up.

Registered amount is estimated as follows:

If the purchase price is above NOK 1, the registered amount is based on the purchase price. If the purchase price is NOK 1 or less, the registered amount is based on the value of the property stated on the deed of conveyance.

As from 2017 registered transfer of property owned through a housing cooperative is included. Data on share of common debt in the cooperatve come from tax statistics for persons. If data on debt is missing, an average value is used.

Not relevant

Figures based on less than three units (transfers) are not published if this causes risk for identifying any of the units concerned. Furthermore, figures are not published if more than 90 per cent of the registered amount originates from a single unit.

Statistics on transfers of real property exist as a continuous time series from 1836 to 1980. The statistics show the number of transfers and the registered amount, distributed on urban and rural areas. In addition, as from 1852 to 1980 a time series is available on average price per unit of assessed site value for agricultural properties sold on the free market.

Up to and including 1980, the statistics were based on aggregated data forwarded directly from local courts to Statistics Norway. The Register of Real Properties, Addresses and Buildings was established around 1980. The intension was to use this register as base for the statistics as from 1981. However, at that time data from several municipalities were lacking and the data quality for municipalities included was partially poor. Due to this, statistics are lacking for the years 1981-1983. As from 1984 statistics are published again, but for some years data were still of rather poor quality. Statistics at present level of details are published as from 1991.

Before 2006, the statistics were published in this way: 1st quarter, 1st half year, 1.-3. quarter and the whole year. As from 2006, the statistis are published quarterly.

Average price per transfer is published for transfers of dwelling properties with building and holiday properties with building. Properties without purchase price reported are not included. Dwelling property refers to detached houses, semi-detached houses, row-houses, flats in multi dwelling houses etc. Percentage of different dwelling types varies over time. For holiday properties a few transfers may include more than one holiday property unit. Due to these circumstances, the average value do not describe the price trend for a specific type of dwelling or holiday property, particularly not when the average figure is based on just a few transfers.

Therefore, average prices are not published for a lower level than county.

See the section revisions.

The statistics are based mainly on information reported in connection with registration of title to property and thus considered to be reliable. Misclassification of type of property and type of dwelling may occur.

In the period 2004-2007 the number of registered transfers classified as other type of property and other type of dwelling has increased. Registered transfers not specified have also increased. During the control routine we are not able to replace all of the transfers with the correct classification.

Errors originate from data processing in Statistics Norway are considered to be insignificant.

There are formal procedures to be followed when registering a real property. Consequently, non-response does not exist. Delay in the updating of the relevant registers may cause minor lacks in the preliminary statistics.

As from 2017 registered transfer of property owned through a housing cooperative is included. Data on the share of common debt in the cooperatve come from tax statistics for persons. If data on debt is missing, an average value is used.

The figures for dwelling and holiday properties in free sale for the years 2015-2020 have been changed. This is because several dwellings and a small number of holiday properties have by mistake been changed from the free sale to donation. These have now been changed back to free sale.

By linking information about the buyers and sellers involved in the sales with information from the National Population Register, we have been able to determine if any of the buyers are family members of the sellers. Up to three sellers and two buyers from each sale were included in the assessment of whether the buyer is related to the seller.

The following relatives are included in the test:

  • Spouse
  • Parents
  • Children
  • Siblings
  • Grandparents
  • Aunts/uncles

Sales that are declared as free market sales should be placed in the ‘other’ category if the price is lower than the market price. The guidelines for the statistics have not included any criteria for inclusion as a free market sale in terms of how the dwelling is sold or who buys the property. The only requirement has been for it to be sold at market price. This is often difficult to assess.

We have therefore examined how house sales to family members that are categorised as free market sales differ from the rest of the sales. We have only included sales with title transfers here. The average purchase price for dwellings sold to family members was significantly lower than the average for all free market sales. The low purchase price suggests that many of these dwellings were sold at a reduced price. Sales that are declared as free market sales have been placed in the ‘other category from 2015 if the buyer is related to the seller.

Contact