Commission-free Properties to buy

Due to persistently low interest rates, buying property in Germany is currently more attractive than it has been for a long time. An analysis by the Cologne Institute for Economic Research (IW) has shown that buying property in Brandenburg, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia, as well as in some districts in North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland, is particularly lucrative. Brokerage-free offers are particularly popular.

Checklist for the purchase of a property

Inspection of the property or the real estate

• In daylight and accompanied by an expert with the necessary technical expertise, so that possible renovation measures in the case of an old building and costs for paving and landscaping in the case of a new building are sufficiently taken into account in the financing sum.

Purchase of a plot of land

• Have a soil expertise drawn up

This will tell you more about the soil conditions, the groundwater level and the load on the land on which you want to place your future house.

• View the development plan of the municipality

So you can find out what plans the municipality has around your dream property in the near future.

• Floor plan design

Rule of thumb: the more walls and corners are necessary, the more expensive the house will be.

Buying a house or apartment

• Legally required energy certificate

Important: Only the energy demandcertificate evaluates the energy demand of the property. The energy consumptioncertificate only says something about the energy consumption of the previous owner, which depends on his usage behavior.

• House connections
  • How old is the existing heating system?
  • What does the electrical system of your "dream property" look like?
  • Which DSL connection is available
  ?
• Living space

Check whether the stated living space corresponds to the actual square meters.

Apartment purchase

• View the minutes of the owners' meetings!

So that you know everything about upcoming repair measures.

SINGLE additional costs when buying a property

• Real estate transfer tax in the amount of 5% of the total purchase price in most German states
• Fees for notary and land register entry
• Costs for the planned move
• If applicable, broker's commission

All in all, you have to reckon with additional costs of about 12 - 13 % of the purchase price when buying a property. Without broker's commission it is 3 - 7 % less, depending on the agreement.

How much equity should you have?

Even in view of the current low-interest phase, experts recommend at least 20 - 30% equity when buying a property, so that the financing does not immediately become non-performing in the event of unforeseeable events such as sudden unemployment and similar misfortunes.

How do you protect yourself from insolvent sellers?

You have finally found your dream property, but in the last few meters your dream home comes to an abrupt end. The seller had not told you that he had filed for insolvency, and the property you coveted now falls into the seller's insolvency estate, leaving you outin the cold.

Thesolution is the priority notice in the land register for your dream property, to which the insolvency administrator no longer has access after its entry.

Conclusion: When buying real estate, it is better to be safe than sorry, and offers without brokerage costs make your dream real estate a double dream.

A helpful tool that we can recommend is this German mortgage calculator that is designed to assist users in identifying the optimal mortgage for purchasing property by considering various financial details, including purchase price, equity, monthly payments, and fixed interest periods. It also incorporates factors like location and real estate commission to offer accurate calculations and the option for users to request personalized financing offers or consultations.