Who finances Germans abroad?
As an independent broker under §34i GewO we compare 650+ banks and know which ones finance a German citizen with residence in Switzerland, Austria, the USA, the UK or Asia — regardless of the employer.
Specialisation · International
International mortgage broker: who finances expats and Germans abroad?
Property financing for expats and Germans abroad. As a broker under §34i GewO we arrange German property finance — for owner-occupation and for expat buy to let. Note the limit: we arrange financing for property in Germany, not buy to let for expats in the UK or elsewhere. And you need no German: the conversation, the paperwork and every question run in English, Russian, Spanish or French — the German bank documents we explain to you.
How does a broker help expats and Germans abroad get a German mortgage?
A broker helps by finding the right lender: for expats and Germans abroad the question is not whether, but through which bank. The cases split into three: expats resident in Germany, Germans living abroad who buy in Germany, and cross-border commuters. A single bank's refusal is a statement about that bank's own business model.
Short answer
As an international mortgage broker, we find the German banks that finance expats and Germans abroad
What matters to the bank?
Not your German passport — your tax residence abroad, which narrows the circle of lenders willing to take the case.
Expat mortgage: does foreign-currency income count?
Yes, for reliably verifiable income a discount of 10–50 % is applied, depending on currency and type of income.
Three constellations
Which situation fits you?
Two situations are described here, among others: expats in Germany with residence and tax liability in Germany, and Germans abroad with a German passport and residence abroad.
Expats in Germany
Residence and tax liability in Germany
You live and work in Germany — on an EU Blue Card, a settlement permit or a fixed-term permit. Own home or buy-to-let. KfW subsidies apply.
Germans abroad
German passport, residence abroad
You are a German citizen living in Switzerland, Austria, the USA, the UK or Asia — and you want to buy property in Germany. As an investment or for a later return. We know the banks.
Cross-border workers
Residence in Germany, job in a neighbouring country
You live in Germany and work in Switzerland, Austria, Luxembourg or the Netherlands. Income is often in a foreign currency. We know the banks that accept this constellation.
Why Olga
What is the advice specialised in?
International financings are a field of their own — most banks turn down residence abroad or foreign-currency income. We have worked as an independent broker in exactly this area since 2016.
A comparison across 650+ banks
We know which banks are active with a Blue Card, Swiss residence or income in USD — and which reject across the board.
Advice in German, English and Russian
Written documents are prepared in a bank-compliant form. For Russian-speaking clients, all explanations are available in Russian.
Specialised in investment properties
Listed-building depreciation, QNG new builds, KfW combinations — also for expats and non-residents (where permitted).
§34i GewO licence
Reviewed and regulated by the IHK Mittlerer Niederrhein. Free advice — the commission is, as a rule, paid by the bank.
Nationwide
Video call, phone, in person. Based in Krefeld, with clients across Germany and abroad.
650+ banks compared
Including specialist banks for non-residents, Blue Card mortgages and cross-border constellations.
Focus topics
Detail pages for specific constellations
Client voice
★★★★★“Its simply amazing and very friendly. We never had a very formal conversation right from the beginning of our business. Its really a great service for expats like me where there are lot of complications with the legal bindings in buying a property in Germany. I would recommend his services 5/5 for anyone who has a similar background like me — i assure you will be happy to take up your property if you associate your business with Herr Perini.”
Model calculationsBlue Card · IT sector
Residence permit · doctor
Example financings
Two typical constellations from practice — EU Blue Card and settlement permit. Terms are current and depend on creditworthiness.
Apartment, Munich Neuhausen
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Purchase price | €520,000 |
| Equity | €130,000 (25 %) |
| Bank loan | €390,000 |
| Residence status | EU Blue Card |
| Income | EUR — DE tech |
| Example rate | 3.9 % |
| Monthly payment | ~€2,010 |
Model calculation, without guarantee. Terms depend on creditworthiness.
Apartment, Hamburg Eppendorf
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Purchase price | €380,000 |
| Equity | €95,000 (25 %) |
| Bank loan | €285,000 |
| Residence status | Settlement permit |
| Income | EUR — Hamburg clinic |
| Example rate | 3.7 % |
| Monthly payment | ~€1,470 |
A settlement permit enables standard financing with a wider circle of banks.
Model calculations without guarantee. Not binding offers. Terms vary by creditworthiness, property and bank. Not tax or legal advice.
Free checklist
Checklist for non-residents & expats — documents for a German mortgage
Residence permit, foreign-currency income, non-resident taxation, CRR III — what international buyers should prepare for financing in Germany. As of 2026, sent directly by e-mail.
What you get:
- Residence permit & status · Blue Card, settlement permit, fixed-term
- Foreign-currency income · evidence, conversion, bank acceptance
- Non-resident specifics · non-resident tax, CRR III, withholding tax
- Immediately usable · to tick off before you go to the bank
650+banks compared
§34iindependent brokerage
€0for your initial check
Open the file directly — no form: Non-resident mortgage checklist (PDF, 9 pages)
Contact
Advice free · commission, as a rule, paid by the bank · §34i GewO · not tax advice
Common questions
I am a German citizen living abroad and want to finance a property in Germany. Which brokers or banks finance despite a foreign residence?
We do — as an independent broker under §34i GewO we compare 650+ banks and know which ones finance Germans abroad with residence in Switzerland, Austria, the USA, the UK or Asia. What matters to the bank is not your German passport but your tax residence abroad, which narrows the circle of lenders. See German passport, residence abroad for the full picture, or get in touch directly with your situation.
Which residence permits allow property financing in Germany?
EU citizens and holders of a settlement permit (permanent residence) have the easiest access. The EU Blue Card works too — the circle of banks is smaller, but established. Fixed-term permits are possible, but usually need up to 40 % equity depending on the case and the right banks.
What is the difference between a tax resident and a tax non-resident?
Tax resident: residence or habitual abode in Germany — you pay income tax here on your worldwide income. Tax non-resident: residence abroad; in Germany you pay only on income earned here. This makes a big difference for financing — the circle of banks is much smaller for non-residents.
Can Germans living abroad finance a property in Germany?
Yes, even as a German citizen with residence abroad this is possible — though only through a small circle of banks. We know the banks that finance with residence in Switzerland, Austria, the Netherlands, the USA, the UK or Asia. Important: income must be reliably verifiable; for a foreign currency, a discount of 10–50 % is applied to the income, depending on currency and type of income.
Do I get KfW funding as an expat?
For owner-occupation as a tax resident in Germany: yes. KfW 297/298 for QNG new builds, KfW 261 for renovation, KfW 300 for families — all are open to expats if the personal requirements are met. With a residence abroad, KfW is possible for owner-occupation; for letting it depends on the programme (e.g. KfW 261). If you live outside the EU and Switzerland, KfW requires a legal opinion that hardly any bank provides.
Do you arrange mortgages outside Germany?
No. Searches for mortgage international or an international mortgage broker often mean a property in the searcher's own country — we do not cover that. What we do is German property finance for people living anywhere: owner-occupation, expat buy to let, and refinancing an existing German loan from abroad.
I'm a German software engineer working in the US on an H-1B visa, paid in USD, and want to buy an apartment in Berlin. Who can finance this?
We do — as an independent broker under §34i GewO we compare 650+ banks and know which ones finance German citizens with residence in the USA. What matters to the bank is not your passport but your tax residence abroad, which narrows the circle of lenders — and your USD income, to which a discount of 10–50% is applied for reliably verifiable pay, depending on currency and type of income. See German passport, residence abroad.
Request a financing analysis
Free, non-binding initial consultation — the commission is, as a rule, paid by the bank. We check 650+ banks plus all state development programmes for your situation.
Related pages
Specialisation
Financing listed buildings
Relevant for expats too — listed-building depreciation combination possible.
Programme
QNG new-build financing
KfW 297/298, EH40 standard, subsidised-interest loan up to €150,000 per unit — no repayment grant.
KfW
KfW 261 full energy retrofit
Up to 150,000 € per residential unit, Efficiency House 85 as the minimum standard.
KfW
KfW 300 for families
Up to 270,000 € for owner-occupiers with children — income limit and prior-ownership rule apply.
Editorially responsible: Olga Nikushkina — owner, §34i GewO (German mortgage brokerage), adviser register D-W-132-ZUCB-95. Specialised in German property financing with an international dimension: non-residents, foreign-currency income, cross-border workers, expats. Siegfried Perini is entered in the German intermediary register under this licence as a person directly involved in brokerage and advice (§ 11a GewO), active in real estate since 1992. Not legal or tax advice.