Lapland is drawing building permit applications for new single-family homes, bucking a downward trend in the rest of the country.
Foreign buyers attracted to Finland's far north are interested in both apartments and property lots.
Italians Francesca Callegari and Manuel Crepaz are measuring their Rovaniemi plot for the first time, after purchasing it sight unseen. The deal also included a house classified as uninhabitable.
The couple was pleasantly surprised when they finally had the opportunity to see what they had bought.
"I didn't expect it to be this big!" Callegari exclaimed. "But I really like the neighbourhood, it's very family-friendly."
The house, on the other hand, is ready to be demolished, according to the couple.
"I don't believe we have any choice but to demolish it and build a new one in its place, or maybe two. The plot is large, and it has building rights," explained Crepaz, who works as an architect.
"We have a very positive first impression of the property. We are very happy," he added.
Foreign buyers made 1,198 property transactions in Finland last year, 128 of which were in Lapland, according to the National Land Survey of Finland. These figures do not include properties on leased land or residential apartments.
This year has only seen 763 transactions so far. Most transactions in 2024 have been in Uusimaa (105), followed by Lapland (90). Realtor Habita in Rovaniemi told Yle that a fifth of all deals between May and October involved foreign buyers, with their share growing as the winter season approaches.
"In November, the share of foreign buyers is already close to 40 percent," said Henri Tuomi of Habita.
Permit wait
Callegari and Crepaz plan to have their new house ready within a few years. The couple said they're not daunted by their upcoming building project.
"We couldn't really do anything until we had seen the place. Where the sun comes in, is there noise from the road, and all of those things. But now we can start planning," Crepaz said.
The couple will likely have to wait until next spring before familiarising themselves with Finnish building permit bureaucracy.
"Everything has worked smoothly with the Finns so far, so I hope there won't be any issues with the permits either," Crepaz said.
