Property guides for buyers in Germany

What buying a home in Germany really costs: funding programmes, energy certificates, closing costs, renovation costs and the usual pitfalls at viewings and in financing. Every guide is free and readable without an account.

All guides (22)

German KfW loans 2026: all programmes in English

German KfW loans at a glance: KfW 124 (€100,000), KfW 300 for families (up to €270,000), KfW 261 grants up to 25%. English guide, updated 18 July 2026.

Reading time: 12 min · Updated: 2026-07-18

BAFA grants in Germany 2026: insulation, windows, heating optimisation

Up to 20 percent back from BAFA, Germany's federal office, for individual energy measures: insulation, windows, ventilation and heating optimisation.

Reading time: 10 min · Updated: 2026-02-09

Energieausweis explained in English: buyer's guide

The German Energieausweis for international buyers: types, classes A+ to H, and why the same class E can cost €2,760 or €9,180 a year.

Reading time: 15 min · Updated: 2026-07-28

Closing costs in Germany: 5.5 to 12% explained

Closing costs in Germany run from 5.5 to 8.5% of the price without an agent and up to 12% with one. Work out your total by federal state with the calculator.

Reading time: 13 min · Updated: 2026-07-12

Viewing a property in Germany: the professional defect check

Damp cellars, old windows, roof damage? This checklist helps you spot expensive defects before you sign.

Reading time: 11 min · Updated: 2026-07-12

How to buy a house in Germany as a foreigner (2026)

How to buy a house in Germany as a foreigner: every step from offer to Grundbuch, closing costs of 5.5 to 12.1%, mortgages, KfW loans and the ten-year tax rule.

Reading time: 15 min · Updated: 2026-07-28

What does a new roof cost in Germany? 2026 prices

What does a new roof cost in Germany? Roofing costs from €14,000 for re-covering to €65,000 for a full refurbishment, with price tables and funding tips.

Reading time: 11 min · Updated: 2026-07-12

Buying property below market value in Germany: renovation backlog, auctions, off-market

How to buy below market value legally: the renovation backlog worked through end to end, the Zwangsversteigerung with its 5/10 and 7/10 thresholds, listing age, bidding procedures, and what you must never do.

Reading time: 13 min · Updated: 2026-07-12

Bathroom renovation costs in Germany 2026: realistic prices and trades

What a bathroom renovation really costs: concrete figures by size, standard and region.

Reading time: 9 min · Updated: 2026-07-12

Heat pump cost in an old German home: €30,000-55,000

Heat pump cost in an old building in Germany: €30,000-55,000 installed. KfW funding cuts your own share to €18,000-38,000. With tables by building condition.

Reading time: 11 min · Updated: 2026-07-18

Reading a German floor plan (Grundriss): symbols, dimensions, traps

How to read a German floor plan properly: every symbol explained, judging room sizes, avoiding the usual mistakes. With a checklist for viewings.

Reading time: 12 min · Updated: 2026-07-12

Property valuation in Germany: costs €0 to €5,000

Property valuation in Germany: what an appraisal costs (€500 to €5,000), how accurate free online tools are (±10-20%) and when you need which.

Reading time: 13 min · Updated: 2026-07-12

Comparing mortgages in Germany: how to get the best loan in 2026

Getting your mortgage right: comparing rates, choosing the repayment rate, securing special repayment rights. With a checklist and negotiation tips for the bank.

Reading time: 11 min · Updated: 2026-07-12

GEG 2026: 3 renovation obligations, €50,000 fines

Energy renovation requirements in Germany: what GEG 2026 demands after a house purchase, what the 2026 reform scraps, and costs from €200 to €40,000 per measure.

Reading time: 13 min · Updated: 2026-07-18

Equity when buying a house in Germany: how much do you really need?

The equity calculation for a German property purchase: the minimum, the recommendation, and strategies for building equity. With worked examples.

Reading time: 12 min · Updated: 2026-07-12

Property as an investment in Germany: yield, AfA, tenancy law, exit

Property as an investment in 2026: rental yield and the Kaufpreisfaktor, degressive AfA and the Sonder-AfA under § 7b EStG, the rent cap and the modernisation levy, WEG risks and the ten-year rule.

Reading time: 16 min · Updated: 2026-07-12

German property prices 2015 to 2026: how buying and renting diverged

Purchase prices, new-let rents, inflation and mortgage rates from 2015 to 2026 in one overview: the four market phases, houses versus flats, and the top 7 cities, with all sources.

Reading time: 9 min · Updated: 2026-07-09

German property analysis tools compared: meta search, extensions, AI analysis

ImmoMetrica, Levi and ImmoLens in an honest comparison: which tool type solves which problem, what the providers cost (as of July 2026), and what to check about data basis and cancellation terms.

Reading time: 9 min · Updated: 2026-07-24

Closing Costs in Austria: 6.6 to 11.5% Explained

Transfer tax 3.5%, land registry 1.1%, mortgage fee 1.2%, contract drafting and broker: what buying property in Austria really costs, with calculator.

Reading time: 9 min · Updated: 2026-08-01

Housing Subsidies in Austria: All 9 States 2026

Loans up to 100,000 € and grants up to 80,000 €: what Vienna, Salzburg, Tyrol and the other states subsidise, which income limits apply, and why buying existing homes usually misses out.

Reading time: 8 min · Updated: 2026-08-01

Energy Certificates in Austria: Understanding the HWB, New Classes 2026

HWB instead of final energy demand, a new A-to-G scale since the 2025 OIB guideline and stricter listing duties since July 2026: what the Austrian energy certificate really says.

Reading time: 8 min · Updated: 2026-08-02

Buying Property in Switzerland: Costs, Mortgage, Lex Koller

Transfer tax of 0 to 3.3% depending on the canton, 20% equity, affordability at a 5% imputed rate and the Lex Koller: how buying a home in Switzerland works differently, with a canton calculator.

Reading time: 10 min · Updated: 2026-08-02

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The guides are written and reviewed by the ImmoLens editorial team. The information is for orientation and does not replace legal, tax or financial advice. Found a mistake? Write to us.

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