Hi, sorry for the delay, super busy as always! But I wanted to take the time to go over this fantastic house in Sala, Sweden, because I know a lot of international buyers have been really interested in properties with lakeside locations and some true Swedish countryside feeling.
Let me tell you a bit about this house at Gullvalla Aspholmen 110. This is actually a really good example of a solid Swedish year-round house with lots of potential uses. It’s original built in 1970 but it’s been taken care of well over the years, and it’s not one of those old projects where you have to rip everything out. The owners have done steady improvements, so it’s in good condition. You’re not going to walk in and feel like you need to do full renovations, it’s pretty move-in ready. But, I’ll walk you through some ideas for adding your own touch later.
Let’s talk about the location first, because honestly, that’s why this house is special. It’s only about 100 meters from the lake Stävresjön in the countryside outside Sala. The water is right there, so it’s absolutely perfect if you want to swim all summer, take out a kayak, do some fishing, or just relax by the jetty. Locally, you get a real close-knit little community feeling—a total of just 17 houses in this Aspholmen area, so very low traffic, super peaceful, and safe for kids if you have a family. Most properties are lived in year-round or as summer houses; so if you want to paddle board in the morning and grill fish in the evening, this is your kinda place.
For anyone coming from outside Sweden, Sala is a midsize town famous for its silver mine, with a pretty classic Scandinavian small-town feel. You have basic shopping, cafes, restaurants, a few schools, plus medical and travel services—all within approx 10-15 mins drive from the house. It’s about 1.5 hours from Stockholm Arlanda airport, so you can get to and from the rest of Europe pretty easily. Transport links are fine for a weekend commute or longer stays.
Now, the Swedish climate can surprise some, so quick heads up—you’ll get warm, sunny days in summer (up to +25°C) but naturally cold and snowy winters. Great place to learn to ice skate or try some cross-country skiing, and the house works fine all seasons - a proper year-round property, not just a summer cabin. The area is quiet, lots of forest, and lakes everywhere—basically, beautiful landscapes, lots of space, and clean air, you know? In autumn, locals go berry and mushroom picking so if you’re into nature, living here is quite an experience.
The house itself makes sense for small families, young couples, or people downsizing and wanting simple country life. You have two bedrooms right now, but the current dining room could be split to add a third small bedroom. The kitchen was redone in 2013 and it’s bright, practical, and works really well for regular cooking, and appliances are from 2016 so they have plenty of life left in them. The bathroom was totally redone in 2015, it’s all tiled, clean, and has a modern shower plus space for a washing machine.
The living room is nice—has a fireplace insert, which is a game changer in Swedish winter (seriously). It opens up directly to a big terrace, with open and covered sections, so even if it’s raining you can sit outside and watch the lake or the birds. There’s this big window area so the room has lots of daylight, which is so important here in Sweden with the changing seasons.
The garden is surprisingly big for a country house—lots of grass, a greenhouse, garden and storage sheds, and even a chicken coop (if you want, otherwise it’s extra storage). Great if you want to grow vegetables, flowers, or just relax outside. There’s also an older outbuilding, not in the best condition, but if you’re a handyman or want a workshop, it could be developed further.
Wifi is availabe via fiber at the property boundary, not yet piped fully in so you’d need to connect it—good for anyone planning to work from home. Water is municipal, sewage new since 2014, and lake water hookup for the garden is there which is pretty practical. There’s shared access to the community’s private swimming area, sandy beach, jetty, and a green area for meeting neighbors or letting the kids play.
Just some honest thoughts—if you want a perfect, luxury mansion, this probably isn’t it. This is more for people who want a real Swedish “get away,” but without endless renovations. Yes, you might want to freshen up the painting outside or put your style in the interiors, things like that, but definitely not a big job house. Outbuilding could use a fix-up if you want to really maximize it.
Main house features:
- Year built: 1970
- Size: about 80 sqm
- Bedrooms: 2 (plus possibility for a third)
- Bathroom: 1, fully tiled (2015)
- Updated kitchen (2013 / appliances 2016)
- Fireplace with insert
- L-shaped living/dining area
- Big terrace—open and covered sections
- Large, grassy garden with greenhouse
- Chicken coop / storage shed
- Larger outbuilding (needs some TLC)
- Municipal water, private sewage (2014)
- Fiber optic internet available at boundary
- Lake water for gardening
- Boat storage and private jetty/bathing for area residents
Overall, this property gives you the real lifestyle of rural Sweden with all the basics covered, easy weekend trips to Stockholm, and space to put your personal touch. Quiet neighborhood, safe for family, lots of nature, good local community vibe. If you need more details or a video walk-through, just let me know—I’m bouncing between viewings but will get back asap!
