Alright, so thanks for your patience, I’m just quickly typing this up between showings—if you’re looking at this property and thinking about making Sweden your home, or just want a little escape in the countryside, let me walk you through what we’ve actually got here at Österäng Mickelstorp 1, right outside of Götene. I work with international buyers all the time and I totally get it, relocating to another country means you wanna know what kind of area you’re buying into, what the house REALLY needs, and whether the lifestyle fits. So, let’s get into it.
We’re looking at a traditional Swedish country home, a real countryside cottage (the locals would call it a “torp”), standing since 1882, and honestly, it wears its history in a good way. The house is not huge—just 51 square meters, you’ve got basically one bedroom and one bathroom—but it’s perfect for someone (or a couple) wanting a manageable spot, maybe for holidays or even as a creative retreat if work-from-home is your thing. If you’re a small family, there’s possibility to sleep more in the living area (people make it work here, trust me).
The property’s in good condition, not ultra-posh or anything, but you don’t walk in and think you need to rip everything out. The original wooden floors are solid, there’s that Falu red paint outside so you get the picture-postcard look, and both the kitchen and living room have fireplaces that still get used when it’s chilly—which it can be, Sweden isn’t the Mediterranean, right?
Let me paint you a little picture on daily living: mornings in summer, you can open up the veranda doors, have your coffee on the wooden deck and maybe watch a neighbor’s cows in the next field. There’s a robotic lawnmower doing its job in the background, so you’re not sweating over garden jobs. The whole land is HUGE for a place this size, over 7,000 sq meters (don’t convert, it’s plenty), mostly open and surrounded by traditional stone fences—really feels rural, even a bit wild. Lilacs grow well here, so late spring you’ve got those everywhere, and the garden is straightforward to keep for what it is—private, green, not too fussy.
For practical stuff:
- Own drilled well, so water supply is independent
- Incineration toilet (you’d be surprised how common this is, cuts down on maintenance for second homes)
- Electricity throughout, including outbuildings
- Traditional fireplaces, actually functioning
- Veranda and big deck for outdoor eating
- Outbuilding with power, plenty of storage
- Extra outbuilding recently stabilized (you could use as a workshop or for guests if fixed up)
- Lawn robot included
- Rolling ground with stone fences and old trees
- Bedrock and stone slab, great for sitting or BBQ’s
- Wood floors, high skirting
- Decent access road, country standard
- Windows on 3 sides of living room
- Separate bedroom plus bonus sleeping areas
- Large lot, approx. 7,195 sqm
So about the area—this is Österäng, technically in Götene municipality, which is pretty typical for the Swedish countryside. It’s super calm, you don’t get noise here unless the cows are arguing. Götene as a town is just a drive away, you’ll get groceries, bakeries, small restaurants (don’t expect Paris, but it’s enough). Medical clinics, schools, all the basics are in town. The Kinnekulle plateau is nearby—lots of hiking, geological trails, and it actually gets a decent amount of local tourism. Lake Vänern is a real highlight; only a few km off, it’s Sweden’s biggest lake, people swim there, there’s lots of wild beaches and small harbors.
For foreign buyers, a bonus is Götene’s got train service (the Kinnekullebanan line)—connects you to bigger towns like Lidköping and on to Gothenburg if you want city life now and then. You can actually live here full-time or just as a seasonal thing, doesn’t matter.
Talking climate: so, Sweden is Sweden. Winters can be cold and some weeks are dark, but honestly the house is built for it—with fireplaces and that thick old timber, you keep warm. Summers are a treat: long days, light almost all night in June, and it’s green and lush. Spring and autumn are all about mushrooms and quiet walks. As far as country homes go, this is proper “get away from it all” territory—you can garden, have a bonfire, maybe even keep a few chickens if that’s your vibe.
I always tell clients: it’s not a palace, it’s not a project needing months of renovation either. For someone craving privacy, quiet, and a slower pace, with space to do your hobbies or just stare at the fields, it kinda delivers exactly that. The roads are good and cleared in winter, you get post and stuff delivered normally, Swedish countryside is set up for that, and the village neighbors are helpful but keep to themselves (as in they won’t bother you unless you want help).
Quick to sum up: if you want a Swedish country place to seriously relax, have maybe a veg garden, drink your coffee to quiet views—this is a spot worth looking at. You’re about 2 hours from Gothenburg by car or train if you get restless. Some parts are a bit rustic, but that’s the idea. I’m in the area a lot so if you have questions about visas, local services, minor fixes needed, or even just “where do I buy firewood,” just shout, I know the drill.
Reach out if you want to know more or if you’re ready to book a viewing (can do remote, too, if needed). Sweden’s countryside isn’t for everyone, but if you think it might be for you, this one might be worth seeing.
