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 (16)

KfW funding 2026: every programme for property buyers in Germany

Complete guide to KfW 124, KfW 300, KfW 261 and BEG: terms, repayment grants and how to get up to 150,000 euros in low-interest loans.

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

BAFA funding 2026: grants for insulation, windows and more

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

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

Reading the Energieausweis: the complete guide for buyers in Germany

What the German energy certificate reveals about a property: Verbrauchsausweis versus Bedarfsausweis, efficiency classes A+ to H, and how to spot hidden costs.

Reading time: 14 min · Updated: 2026-07-12

Closing costs when buying a house in Germany: the full breakdown

Every cost on top of the purchase price: property transfer tax by federal state, notary, land registry and agent fees. With a calculator and ways to save.

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

Roof renovation costs in Germany 2026: prices, funding and savings

Planning a new roof? Every cost for covering, insulation, roof structure and flat roofs, with funding options and concrete price tables.

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 in an older German home 2026: cost, funding, running costs

What it costs to switch to a heat pump in an older building, with price ranges by building type and the funding available.

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

Reading a floor plan: symbols, dimensions and practical tips

How to read a 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

Valuing a property in Germany: methods, costs and online tools 2026

Property valuation explained: the comparative, income and asset value methods. What a professional appraisal costs and how accurate online valuations really are.

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: the renovation obligations when you buy a house in Germany

The German Building Energy Act explained: which renovation duties apply when a property changes owner, from boiler replacement to insulation, with deadlines and exemptions.

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

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

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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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