Purchase
Purchase contract

Property purchase with a major price disparity: review lesion beyond half

Major price disparity in a property purchase: review requirements, valuation, evidence and consequences of lesion beyond half.

BRANDAUER Rechtsanwälte
Your law firm

BRANDAUER Rechtsanwälte

Salzburg law firm for real estate, property and corporate law

Every matter is handled by a coordinated team of lawyers, legal staff and specialists. In property purchase matters we look at the contract, land register, escrow and tax consequences together.

27 August 2026 · Mag. Bernhard Brandauer, Rechtsanwalt

A property purchase often regulates price, financing, the land register and handover at the same time. One unresolved point can therefore affect the entire transaction.

This article separates its specific focus from general purchase-contract questions. The wording, documents and actual sequence are decisive.

An initial orientation does not replace case-specific advice. It does help secure the right evidence and identify open clauses before signing.

Quick check

Property purchase with a major price disparity: review lesion beyond half

Two questions organise the contract clause and documents.

Already know you want to get in touch? Go straight to the enquiry form.

01 Question 1

Is the central point clearly regulated in the draft?

valuation and price disparity

All paths at a glance

Overview of all answers.

01

Secure the documents first

Secure the contract, schedules, messages and payment records before making a declaration.
02

Clause and evidence fit together

Now review the remedy and the sequence of payment, handover and registration.
03

Contract wording needs clarification

Have the open point stated specifically in the contract or a schedule before signing.

Legal starting point

Section 934 ABGB addresses lesion beyond half where there is a striking disparity between performance and counter-performance. The relevant value is generally the value when the contract was concluded.

Connect this point with the exact contract wording and contemporaneous documents.

Review this point together with the contract and evidence before payment, handover or registration.

Documents and evidence

Secure contemporaneous documents, drafts, messages and payment records. Later recollections do not replace reliable documentation.

Connect this point with the exact contract wording and contemporaneous documents.

Review this point together with the contract and evidence before payment, handover or registration.

Contract implementation

A clear clause should identify the subject, amount, timing, responsibility and consequence of a deviation.

Connect this point with the exact contract wording and contemporaneous documents.

Review this point together with the contract and evidence before payment, handover or registration.

Risks before signing

Unclear points affect payment, escrow, handover or registration. The entire transaction should be reviewed before making a declaration.

Connect this point with the exact contract wording and contemporaneous documents.

Review this point together with the contract and evidence before payment, handover or registration.

Review points

Review points for the contract file

These points should not remain open before signing.

Point Evidence Risk
Vertrag Wording and schedules Open clause
Nachweis Contemporaneous evidence Assertion remains open
Abwicklung Payment, handover, register Sequence unclear

Before signing: secure the documents and clarify conflicting clauses.

Updates: Further information is available at Brandauer News.

FAQ

Property purchase with a major price disparity: review lesion beyond half

Is the statutory requirement automatically met? +

No. The clause, documents and actual sequence must be assessed together.

Which documents should I secure? +

Secure the contract, schedules, land-register documents, communications and payment records.

Can I stop payment or handover unilaterally? +

Not without review. A unilateral step can endanger your position and the transaction.

Topics
Property purchase with a major price disparityvaluation and price disparityproperty purchase

Reviewing a contract, arranging escrow, securing handover?

When buying property, the contract and the land register decide. Call us directly or send an email, callback within one business day.

Contact

A direct line to the firm.

Address

BRANDAUER Rechtsanwälte GmbH Giselakai 51 5020 Salzburg