Financing property in Germany while living in Switzerland
Resident in Switzerland, income in CHF — and still a mortgage in Germany? It’s possible. No conversion right, but special requirements on equity, proof of income and choice of bank.
Market reference values, Germany
Market reference values for Germany, as of 06/2026 — not offers; terms depend on creditworthiness and the property. KfW funding modules depend on the project and on owner-occupation, with eligibility assessed case by case. Sources: Deutsche Bundesbank (MFI interest-rate statistics), KfW, Dr. Klein.
Can you get a German mortgage while living in Switzerland?
Yes — and the constellation is more workable than its reputation suggests. Switzerland is not an EU member, so the conversion right under §503 BGB does not apply. That provision attaches to non-euro member states; a Swiss residence sits outside it entirely. Compared with other third countries, Switzerland also brings proximity, a stable legal environment and employment records that German lenders can read. The requirements on the file are what differ. Income in francs is credited with a safety discount rather than in full. Several institutions expect a higher share of equity, and proof of income has to cover a longer period than for a resident borrower. Switzerland is therefore its own category — narrower in the choice of lender, but with terms that stay close to domestic level once the right house is found.
Swiss residence at a glance
Why a Swiss residence is its own category
Switzerland is not an EU member. That means the conversion right (§503 BGB), which applies to non-euro EU countries, does not apply here. That is an important advantage — the choice of banks is somewhat wider than for tax non-residents from Sweden or Denmark.
At the same time, Switzerland is a challenge of its own: income in CHF is assessed by many banks with discounts, because the foreign-currency risk remains. Banks that accept a Swiss residence typically calculate with a 20–25 % safety discount on the CHF income converted into euros.
Pension-fund money is an important equity element in the Swiss constellation. Swiss banks confirm the entitlement; German banks assess it differently. I know the banks that accept it.
What's realistic
- Loan-to-value: 60–70 %; with very good creditworthiness, 80 % too
- Equity: 30–40 % + incidental costs (notary, land register, property transfer tax)
- Fixed-interest period: 5, 10, 15 or 20 years — the same as for a German residence
- Interest rate: close to standard terms; some banks calculate a +0.1–0.3 % surcharge
- Mortgaged property: the property is in Germany — valued at the German market value
- Notary appointment: in person in Germany or a power of attorney certified by a Swiss notary
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