Find your new home

Buying a property usually takes 6 to 12 weeks, from acceptance of the offer to the handover of the keys. The process falls into three phases:

• Reservation and proof of financing (1 to 3 weeks): we reserve the property for you while your bank reviews the financing.
• Notary appointment and notarisation (2 to 4 weeks): the purchase contract is notarised. Every party must attend in person or by power of attorney.
• Land registry entry and handover (3 to 5 weeks): once the purchase price is paid, the entry is made in the land register and the keys change hands.

Our team is with you through every phase and coordinates everyone involved, from the bank and the notary to the managing agent.

Beyond the purchase price itself, plan for the following costs in Saxony:

• Land transfer tax: 5.5% of the purchase price (Saxony, since 1 January 2023)
• Notary fees: approx. 1.0 to 1.5% of the purchase price
• Land registry entry: approx. 0.5% of the purchase price
• Agent’s commission: freely negotiable; 7.14% including VAT is customary in Saxony. When a flat or a detached house is sold to consumers, buyer and seller split the commission, 3.57% each (sections 656c and 656d of the German Civil Code). The splitting rule does not apply to land or apartment buildings.

All told, budget 7 to 10% of the purchase price for additional costs. We are glad to help you put together a realistic total. Just ask.

A professional valuation weighs a great many factors, among them:

• Location: micro and macro location, infrastructure, schools, shops and transport links
• Fittings and condition: year of construction, state of renovation, energy efficiency (energy certificate) and the heating system, among others
• Floor area: for residential property the living area under the German Living Space Ordinance, for commercial property the usable area under the gif guideline
• Market comparison: current sale prices of comparable properties in the region

Take up our free initial valuation and we will give you a well-founded estimate of your property’s market value within a few working days.

German rented flats are quoted with two different rent figures:

• Base rent (Kaltmiete): the rent for the living space alone, with no service charges. This is the figure in the tenancy agreement and the basis on which rent increases are calculated.
• Total rent (Warmmiete): the base rent plus all service charges (heating, water, refuse collection, caretaker, insurance and so on). This is the monthly amount you actually pay.

Our listings always show both figures openly, so you can see the real monthly outlay at a glance.

We do not arrange viewings through the website. We do it the other way round, and deliberately so: documents first, appointment second.

• Renting: download the exposé, review the property and submit your tenant self-disclosure. Once it is complete, we agree an appointment with you.
• Buying: request access to the exposé. After providing your details and signing, you receive the full documentation; we then arrange an appointment personally.

That way everyone knows what they are looking at beforehand and nobody travels for nothing. Appointments are also available in the evening and at weekends. For a first impression you can use our virtual 360° tour as well.