Calculators

On top of the purchase price, budget roughly 8–10% for transaction costs: property transfer tax (Grunderwerbsteuer) of 6% in Berlin, notary fees around 1.5%, land-registry fees around 0.5%, and — if an agent is involved — typically 3.57% buyer's commission including VAT. Our buying-costs calculator shows your exact total.

Grunderwerbsteuer is the one-time property transfer tax due after signing the purchase contract. In Berlin it is 6% of the purchase price — one of the higher rates in Germany. The tax office sends the assessment after notarization, and the land registry only transfers ownership once it is paid.

Yes: the monthly Hausgeld (building service charge, typically 2–4 € per sqm) covers maintenance, reserves, and shared utilities; property tax (Grundsteuer) is usually a few hundred euros per year; plus your own utilities and insurance. Factor Hausgeld into affordability — lenders do.

Every project is quoted individually — that personalized approach is deliberate, and prices are average for the Berlin market. Renovation scope varies too much for a standard price list to be honest. Send a short description of your situation and property, and you'll receive a tailored estimate.

The certificate grades consumption from A+ to H; unrenovated Altbau typically lands D–F. A weak class isn't a dealbreaker but it prices in future work: Germany's building energy law (GEG) imposes duties after ownership change — old boilers, pipe insulation, top-floor insulation — and some banks reflect the class in their conditions.

The building's shared savings for repairs — roof, facade, heating — funded monthly through your Hausgeld. A healthy reserve protects you from sudden special assessments (Sonderumlagen); a thin one in an ageing building is a warning sign. Your apartment's share of the reserve effectively transfers with the purchase.