Property in Germany as a foreigner

The property purchase process in Germany involves a notarised purchase agreement, the registration of a priority notice (Auflassungsvormerkung) and, finally, the transfer of ownership in the land register. Before notarisation, the land register, building encumbrances and any existing tenancies should be carefully reviewed. For condominiums, the declaration of division, meeting minutes, business plan and maintenance reserve are also particularly relevant.

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We help you assess the property thoroughly, avoid common estate-agent tactics, prepare a purchase agreement that protects your interests, and, upon request, conduct market analyses and on-site viewings.

Property financing is generally arranged through a bank in the country where the property is located – and Germany is no exception. Buyers resident in Switzerland may face additional requirements, for example regarding the recognition of foreign income, the valuation of collateral and the amount of equity required.

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We help you identify suitable financing options and support you with the financial planning and calculation of your project.

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Renovation projects often cost more than planned when the scope of work, dependencies between trades and responsibilities are not clearly defined. We help you structure the renovation requirements, make quotations comparable and budget costs realistically.

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We also provide technical and commercial advice on which measures are worthwhile, deliver a genuine return and may improve rental potential or long-term property value. This helps you avoid unnecessary work, poor decisions, additional costs and expensive mistakes.

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For condominiums, the property management company and the condominium owners’ association (WEG) play a central role. The annual budget, annual accounts, service charges, maintenance reserve and potential special assessments determine a significant proportion of the ongoing costs.

International owners must also consider the tax treatment of the property and any rental income in Germany and in their country of residence.

We help you understand, organise and optimise these cross-border matters.

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When renting out property in Germany, determining the appropriate rental price is particularly important, as legal restrictions such as the rent brake (Mietpreisbremse) must be balanced with the opportunities offered by the market. We also support you with matters such as service-charge accounting, preparing an optimised tenancy agreement and defining the strategic positioning – for example, renting the property as shared

accommodation or as a furnished apartment.

The result is a rental strategy tailored to the property, its location and your financial objectives.

When selling a property in Germany, we support you with the property valuation, preparation of the required documents and planning of the sales process. Depending on the property, the required documentation may include the land-register extract, energy performance certificate, floor-area calculation and records of the condominium owners’ association.

For owners resident outside Germany, we also consider the tax and financial implications of the sale in Germany and their country of residence. Together, we develop a suitable sales strategy.

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