Property Payments to Hungary: Currency Choices, Escrow Basics and Timing That Works

The essentials buyers actually care about

Where funds sit: payments typically land on a lawyer’s client account (ügyvédi letéti számla) until agreed conditions are met. Which currency: listings can be in HUF or EUR; the settlement currency should drive the rail you use. Goal: money posted on time with no surprises from fees or mid-route conversion.

Pick the path that matches the price tag

EUR-priced deals → SEPA. Paying in EUR to a Hungarian IBAN keeps pricing transparent and speeds posting. It’s a natural fit for developers and sellers who work in euros.

HUF-priced deals → SWIFT. When the statement is in forints, a SWIFT payment to a HUF account avoids hidden conversion and makes the final “on-account” number easy to verify. If the seller expects a precise figure, the OUR charge model is commonly used.

FX without headaches

Two popular approaches: pre-convert outside Hungary and send the settlement currency you see on the statement, or send a major currency and convert before the international dispatch at a quoted rate. Either route is fine when the net figure is clear and written down, especially for the completion payment.

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Timing that keeps closings on schedule

SEPA EUR usually arrives T+0/T+1; SWIFT HUF depends on routing and reviews. Sending earlier in the day, avoiding Friday evenings for Monday handovers, and sharing standard proofs in the same email thread as the statement makes releases straightforward.

After the money lands — the “last mile”

Once funds hit the client account, payouts to the seller or for local obligations (e.g., building fees) are handled inside Hungary. The AFR instant scheme allows near real-time HUF credits within limits, while GIRO covers regular domestic transfers. That’s how keys and funds swap predictably.

What makes payments stall — and how savvy buyers avoid it

Mixed signals on currency. Choose one settlement currency and stick to it across emails and statements.

Unclear fee model. If a full amount must be available to the seller, say so and use OUR; otherwise SHA works.

Vague payment text. Keep the reference short and consistent with the statement; it speeds reconciliation on the client account.

Late wires. Value funds early on the closing morning—or the business day before when timing is tight.

Closing week, simplified

Reconfirm beneficiary details and cut-offs; keep currency and fee wording identical in all documents; send proofs as soon as you transmit; and ask for a simple receipt note from the escrow holder. These small habits are what make international buyers feel local on closing day.

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Why clients choose us

VelesClub Int. keeps Hungarian property payments clean and on-time: currency-matched rails, readable references, and timing aligned to handover. With UNIBROKER as our partner, we support secure international transfers and dependable completion workflows in Hungary and other destinations.