Accommodation in Berlin

resanders · 2025-10-30T03:59:42+01:00

Find detailed information on buying an apartment in Northern Berlin, including costs beyond the purchase price like VAT and fees.

resanders Member

Member since 31 October 2024

resandersMember30 October 2025 01:59:42

Gday,

Can anyone direct me to where i can discover the costs of buying an apartment in Northern suburbs of Berlin outside of the agreed purchase price, IE VAT, local taxes, conveyancing fees, commissions etc

Thank you all very much,

Ron Sanders

beppi Germany/Singapore Expert

Member since 08 August 2010

Germany & Singapore Expert

beppiGermany/Singapore Expert30 October 2025 07:15:04

15553

immoscout24.de gives an estimate of the indirect costs of purchase with every property they list.

These typically include property purchase tax (in Berlin 6% of the purchase price), notarization and registration fees (approx. 1.5%) and agent fee (if one is involved, typically 3.5 - 4.6%).

However, a note of caution: Restrictions, fees, buerocracy (all in German) and the difficulty buying/selling property make it a BAD short-term investment. Unless you have been here several years AND plan on staying at least 10 years, I would NOT advise you to buy any property!

resanders Member

Member since 31 October 2024

resandersMember30 October 2025 09:47:36

@beppi

thank you very much for the info!

TominStuttgart Germany Expert

Member since 19 March 2012

TominStuttgartGermany Expert31 October 2025 08:56:22

2787

I would only add to the other answers that I bought my apartment in Stuttgart in 2000. As the buyer, I had to pay the fees for the required notary. Since then the rules changed and the seller now has to pay the notary fees. Not sure if it is the same in Berlin, as laws can vary between regions.