Daniil found a place in Germany that’s easy to get around, has tons of green space, and which is not as hectic as Berlin. He takes us through how he bought a flat in Düsseldorf. Takeaways:

  • Daniil started looking in Berlin, but found it to be excessively expensive for what you end up with. Then, after looking all over Germany, he honed in on Düsseldorf. He liked that it has good connections to other cities, many job opportunities, and nice, quiet areas to live.
  • Using ImmoScout24 is crucial for finding “hidden” flats.
  • To take out a mortgage, you need to work with a notary and be prepared for some extra costs, like taxes and fees.

Choosing Düsseldorf

When I started searching for a property to buy in Germany, Berlin was my first choice. But as I continued to look, I realized that finding my ideal home wouldn't be as easy as I thought.

It turns out, to get a decent apartment within 20 minutes of the Berlin city center, you'd need to pay at least half a million euros. And even then, you might end up in an area with poor infrastructure or safety issues.

I traveled to almost all of the regions in Germany, looking for the perfect balance of housing quality, affordability, and quality of life. Düsseldorf stood out, a pleasant surprise. I found spacious apartments in quiet, green neighborhoods – and at more reasonable prices. Plus, I didn't have to give up on the amenities or the connections that come with urban living.

But choosing Düsseldorf wasn't just about the property itself because I was also thinking long-term: the region is home to about 5 million people, and that means lots of job opportunities. Furthermore, the transportation links are excellent – I can quickly get to Amsterdam, Brussels, or a major airport for journeys further afield.

The buying process had its challenges, like securing a mortgage and understanding German property laws. (I learned about the importance of legal insurance the hard way. Get this well before you start the purchase, and carefully check the coverage!)

I feel I made the right choice with my new home. I have a great work-life balance here, and there's even a ski resort just 50 minutes away.

Choosing the right property

To make my search easier, I used ImmoScout24, and sprung for their premium service, which was useful because I could see listings before they went public.

I looked at many options. Some were in old buildings with high ceilings, which we liked, but often, these came with old heating systems or needed a lot of work.

It was also important to balance desire with budget. I wanted at least 90-95 square meters, yet, anything really good within this range was usually around 450,000-500,000 euros.

Apartment's interior

My current apartment is in a protected historic building. It was a women's academy or something similar to this, and it’s very beautiful, with high ceilings and a palace-like feel.

Of course, the location within the city was important, too. I wanted a quiet area, but with good connections. Now, I can get to work in about 10 minutes. But even if I need to find a new job, I can probably get something within a 35-minute commute time.

In the end, it's about balance: I got the space and style we wanted, in a place that's quiet, but still close to everything. It wasn't easy, but it was worth it.

Outside view of the house

Buying process

I started by securing a mortgage approval. This required gathering some work documents, for instance, paystubs for 3-6 months. Different banks want different things, but I used a platform to apply to many banks at once. It's better to use these platforms or work with someone who does mortgages because they know more and can often get better rates.

📱
Some apps that we used for getting a mortgage: check24, interhyp. We used that to compare multiple opportunities, including mortgage rates

Once we found the apartment we wanted, the bank checked all the documents about the property and they looked for any legal problems.

After bank approval, it was time to visit the notary, who created the purchase contract. They included both standard things as well as the specific things specific to the agreement with the seller. It’s important to note that, in Germany, only items agreed in front of a notary are legal.

The whole process, from choosing an apartment to getting the keys, took about 3 months: in my case, I chose an apartment in April and got the keys on July 1st.

In terms of cost, you need to plan for an additional 10-11% on top of the purchase price. This includes the property tax, which is 3.5-6.5% depending on where you buy. Then, there's the notary fee, which is about 1-2%. If you use a real estate agent, that’s usually another 3.57% to think about.

❗
Here are some mistakes to avoid:
  • Don't wait too long on a good property
  • Be careful of sellers who keep changing things
  • Get legal insurance before starting the purchase process
  • Make sure your insurance covers the type of property you're buying (new or old)
  • Don't skip the waiting period before signing if there are unusual things in the contract
  • Be ready for delays for getting the property registered
  • Don't forget to plan for all the extra costs beyond the purchase price
  • Don't make a purchase without checking the property's condition and any other potential problems