Glossary · Law and contract
Right of first refusal (Vorkaufsrecht)
The right to step into a signed purchase contract and buy the property yourself on the same terms.
It can belong to a municipality, a tenant, a co-owner or a neighbour and arises from law or from the land register. If the holder exercises it, the original buyer loses out. That is why the question belongs before signing, not after.
Where it appears in the report
When a statutory right of first refusal applies is shown per country on the zoning page.
Common questions about it
Is a right of first refusal an expropriation?
No. It stops a sale before it takes effect, and the holder pays the same price as the buyer.
Related terms in the glossary
Last updated: 2026-09-15