What is the minimum down-payment banks expect in 2025?

Short answer: The minimum down-payment banks expect in 2025 is usually the 10 %–12 % “ancillary costs” plus at least another 10 % of the purchase price, so plan on 20 % equity for a smooth approval.

The minimum down-payment banks expect in 2025 depends on three factors we review during your mortgage pre-check:

• Ancillary costs are non-negotiable. Grunderwerbsteuer (3.5 %–6.5 %), notary and land-registry fees (~1.5 %) and, if applicable, broker commission (up to 3.57 %) must be paid from your own pocket; no German lender finances these closing costs.

• Standard equity share. Most mainstream banks now fund a maximum of 80 % loan-to-value, leaving you to cover 20 % of the headline price. A few online lenders will go to 90 %, but they charge a rate premium of 0.30 %–0.50 % and often exclude non-EU applicants.

• Bonus for strong profiles. If your household income exceeds €100 k, you hold a Blue Card or permanent residency and your credit score is clean, we can sometimes negotiate 15 % down—especially for new builds with full developer appraisals.

At Finance for Expats we feed your figures into our mortgage calculator, show how each extra percentage of deposit lowers the monthly repayment and then forward the file to banks known to welcome expat borrowers. We also structure the equity split: cash savings, vested pension capital or a gift from parents, all documented in English and accepted by German underwriters.

Key take-aways:

• Budget at least 20 % of the purchase price plus closing costs.
• Larger deposits unlock better interest rates and faster approvals.
• Finance for Expats models different equity scenarios and matches you with the right lender.