For many recreational sailors, it remains a dream: a plot of land of their own right on the water’s edge, somewhere amongst the skerries, with a motorboat right on their doorstep. On Skärmarö in the municipality of Värmdö, this dream could now become a reality. The property is situated in the inner Stockholm archipelago, an area comprising around 30,000 islands and islets. In 2025, National Geographic ranked the region among the 25 hottest travel destinations worldwide. At the same time, the property is less than an hour’s journey from the Swedish capital. Estate agent Björn Ericsson from Svensk Fastighetsförmedling makes no secret of just how unusual this property is: in his 21 years on Värmdö, he has never sold a property quite like this one.
What makes it special is its own water rights
What sets this property apart from an ordinary summer house for motorboat owners and other water sports enthusiasts is the water rights included in the sale. The so-called ‘Vattenarea’ covers 5,190 square metres and grants the future owner the exclusive right to use the adjacent body of water.
This would make it possible to have private jetties, moorings and berths without having to worry about club rules, limited capacity or long waiting lists. Such an offer is extremely rare in the Swedish archipelago. Whilst the right of public access (Allemansrätten) guarantees free access to nature for everyone, a private right of use over such a large body of water remains an absolute exception. The former shipyard site also offers plenty of space on land. There are currently 14 boats still on the 7,040-square-metre site, most of which are ready for the scrap heap. They are to be removed before the sale, but could also be taken over as part of the property being sold.
The residential building dates from 1940; it is one-and-a-half storeys high and comprises four rooms and 84 square metres of living space. However, both the residential building and the other structures are in a state that clearly requires renovation. In particular, the boat sheds and shipyard sheds are unlikely to be salvageable. It is likely that they would have to be replaced or thoroughly refurbished at considerable expense. The existing jetties have also seen better days. They are in a poor state of repair and would likely require a great deal of effort to restore. Whether it would be possible to operate a commercial shipyard on the site again in the future depends on the Värmdö municipal development plan.
As a private retreat for motorboat owners, water sports enthusiasts or a family with their own boat mooring, the location is nevertheless unique, despite the considerable renovation work required.
Discreet sale at open market value
The property is being offered via what is known as the ‘underhand’ method, i.e. without a public reserve price and without a traditional bidding process. According to the estate agent, the starting price of 15 million Swedish kronor is provisional. As there is no truly comparable property, Björn Ericsson is basing his valuation on summer houses in similar locations.
The estate agent openly admits that it is difficult to estimate the property’s true value. In his 21 years on Värmdö, he has never come across a comparable listing. Nevertheless, there is considerable interest: around 250 people have visited the platform at Svensk Fastighetsförmedling have already registered their interest in purchasing.
The full property documentation is available there once you have registered.
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Book recommendations
Baltic Sea Coastal Guide It serves as a handy complement to the view of the archipelago off Stockholm. The sailing guide covers the countries bordering the Baltic Sea, including Sweden and Finland, and lists key ports, approaches, moorings and provisioning facilities. It thus provides readers with practical guidance should their dream of a house by the water turn into a sailing trip of their own through the archipelago.
Mare Balticum takes a different approach. This large-format illustrated book presents the Baltic Sea and its coasts from a photographic perspective, including the archipelago coasts of Sweden and Finland, as well as the region around Stockholm. Rather than providing detailed nautical information, it conveys an impression of landscapes, harbours and maritime habitats – thereby helping to set the scene for the retreat described in the article.
Hauke Schmidt
Test & Technology editor