Clients abroad · Real estate
Nº 05 · MMXXVIBuying property in Germany from abroad for international, non-resident buyers
You live outside Germany but want to acquire an apartment or house in Frankfurt, Königstein or another city? We handle the transaction remotely: we review the contract and the WEG documents, agree the terms with the notary and the seller, and — where needed — represent your interests by power of attorney, in English, German and Russian.
RemoteFull support online: video consultations, document exchange and signing by power of attorney — without travelling to Germany.
EN · DE · RUCommunication and document review in English, German and Russian — no language barrier, no loss of meaning.
No bordersClients from the UK, the Gulf, the US, the EU and beyond — support across the whole of Germany.
Process
How the purchase works when you are abroad
Distance is no obstacle to a safe purchase. The process is built so that your physical presence in Germany is not required.
Initial online consultation
A video meeting in English: we go through the property, the purpose of the purchase (own use, letting, residence, investment) and the risks of the specific deal.
Remote document review
You send us the draft notarial contract, the land-register extract (Grundbuchauszug), the declaration of division (Teilungserklärung) and the WEG minutes — we analyse them and explain the substance in English.
Negotiations with notary and seller
We agree protective wording, warranties and deadlines, and request missing documents from the property management (Hausverwaltung).
Signing by power of attorney
If you cannot travel, the contract can be notarised by notarial power of attorney or through a German embassy — no mandatory flight to Germany.
Purchase-price transfer and taxes
We accompany the international transfer of funds in line with the bank's compliance requirements, the payment of real-estate transfer tax (Grunderwerbsteuer) and the transfer of ownership.
Clients
Who we help
We regularly support non-resident buyers of German property, wherever they are based.
International investors
For international investors we handle purchases of apartments and income properties in Germany entirely online, with signing by power of attorney. We help assess the property as an investment and review the WEG documents before the notary appointment, taking account of source-of-funds requirements (KYC/AML).
Expats & relocating buyers
For English-speaking buyers relocating to Germany — or buying ahead of a move — we explain how German ownership (WEG) differs from the systems you know, review the contract, and make sure every obligation is clear before you sign.
EU & neighbouring countries
For clients in France, the Benelux, Austria and Switzerland we accompany the purchase in English and German, clarifying the differences between German property law and the notarial systems you are used to.
Overseas & Gulf clients
For buyers in the US, the UK and the Gulf we run the transaction across time zones, fully remotely and with signing by power of attorney, and coordinate the compliant international transfer of the purchase price.
Questions
Frequently asked questions from clients abroad
Do I need to travel to Germany to buy an apartment?
No. The transaction can be handled remotely: consultations take place online, and the notarial deed can be signed by notarial power of attorney or through the German embassy in your country of residence.
In which language is the support provided?
In English, German and Russian. We explain the substance of the notarial contract and the WEG documents in English so you understand every obligation before you sign.
How is the money for the apartment transferred from abroad?
The purchase price is transferred through a bank account in line with compliance requirements (KYC/AML). We help you prepare proof of the source of funds and accompany the payment together with the notary.
What taxes and costs arise on a purchase?
Real-estate transfer tax (Grunderwerbsteuer) depending on the federal state, notary fees and the land-register registration fee. We calculate the total expected costs for your specific property in advance.
Can you also advise in German and Russian?
Yes. The firm advises in English, German and Russian, so mixed-language families and international teams can work with a single point of contact.
Reading
Useful reading
More on legal support for the transaction and on residential ownership in Germany.
Find Our Offices
Our offices in Frankfurt and Königstein im Taunus