German for buying a home
Language for viewings, contracts, financing, questions for agents, and key terms around buying a home.
Always ask about extra costs
The purchase price is not the only number that matters. Extra costs, agent fees, and reserves matter too.
See the documents before deciding
Key documents like the floor plan, energy certificate, or meeting records help you ask better questions.
Buy yourself time when unsure
During a viewing or around a contract, it is completely normal to say that you want to review things or think about it.
Ask directly about defects or renovation needs
Especially with older apartments, it is worth bringing up visible defects or renovation questions right during the viewing.
Questions during a viewing
You want to assess the apartment more carefully.
How high are the monthly building fees, and what is included?
Have there been any major repairs in the building recently?
Talking about financing
You want to show that you are prepared.
The financing is basically in place, but I am still checking the final details.
By when do you need an answer from me?
Slowing things down before the contract
You do not want to sign anything you do not understand.
I would like to read the contract carefully first and have it translated if needed.
Could you please send me the documents in advance?
Asking about renovations
You want to know which repair work may be coming soon.
Are any major renovations planned in the next few years?
Who covers the costs if work needs to be done on the building?
How do I ask about the real total costs?
Ask directly: Which additional costs come on top of the purchase price?
How do I ask for documents before deciding?
Say: Could you please send me the most important documents in advance so I can review everything?
How do I say that I do not want to sign yet?
A safe sentence is: I do not want to sign anything today and would like to look at everything carefully first.
What is the difference between a Finanzierungszusage and a Finanzierungsbestätigung?
A Finanzierungsbestätigung is an informal statement of intent from the bank — it commits the bank to nothing. A Finanzierungszusage (also called Darlehenszusage) is binding and means the bank has approved the loan after reviewing your application. Sellers and estate agents typically only accept the binding approval.
When do I have to pay the Grunderwerbsteuer, and how high is it?
The tax office (Finanzamt) sends a tax assessment notice after the notary appointment. You normally have four weeks to pay the Grunderwerbsteuer. Only after payment does the Finanzamt issue a clearance certificate (Unbedenklichkeitsbescheinigung), which the notary needs to initiate the Grundbuch entry. The rate ranges from 3.5% (Bavaria) to 6.5% (e.g. Brandenburg, North Rhine-Westphalia) depending on the federal state.
What exactly happens at the Notartermin, and do I have to understand everything in German?
The notary reads the entire purchase contract aloud — this often takes an hour or longer. Both parties must understand the content. If you do not have sufficient command of German, you have the right to bring a sworn interpreter or to request a bilingual deed. The notary may refuse or postpone the appointment if they have doubts that a party understands the contract. Feel free to ask the notary: Könnten Sie mir diesen Abschnitt bitte erläutern? (Could you please explain this section to me?)
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These texts are for language learning and general orientation only and may be simplified or out of date — they are not legal, financial, medical, or tax advice. Some content is AI-generated. Please confirm important details with the responsible authority or a qualified professional.