What additional costs should expats expect when buying property in Germany?

Short answer: Expats buying property in Germany should usually budget around 10-15% of the purchase price for additional purchase costs (Kaufnebenkosten). These include real estate transfer tax, notary fees, land registry fees and, in many cases, broker commission.

The purchase price is only one part of the real cost of buying property in Germany. On top of your down payment, you need to plan for additional purchase costs (Kaufnebenkosten), which are usually paid upfront during the transaction. For expats, this is especially important because banks often expect these costs to be covered from your own savings, not from the mortgage.

The biggest item is usually the real estate transfer tax (Grunderwerbsteuer), which depends on the federal state where the property is located. You also need to pay notary fees (Notarkosten) and land registry fees (Grundbuchkosten), because the purchase contract and ownership transfer must be officially recorded. If a real estate agent is involved, broker commission (Maklerprovision) may also apply.

A common mistake is to calculate only the deposit and forget the full cash requirement. For example, if the purchase price is 500.000 euros, additional costs can easily add 50.000 euros or more to your budget. That difference can decide whether a bank sees your financing as realistic or too risky.

This is why we always recommend calculating the full purchase budget before making an offer. You can use our Property Investment Calculator to estimate purchase price, additional costs and financing impact. For a deeper look at one of the biggest cost items, read our guide to German notary fees.

Key takeaways:

• Additional purchase costs (Kaufnebenkosten) usually add around 10-15% to the purchase price.
• The main costs are Grunderwerbsteuer, Notarkosten, Grundbuchkosten and Maklerprovision.
• These costs are usually paid upfront and are often not fully financed by the bank.
• Expats should calculate the full cash requirement before applying for a mortgage.

Want to know whether your budget is realistic? Start with our Property Investment Calculator or explore our real estate support for expats.