International mortgage broker for expats and Germans abroad: arranging your expat mortgage, also from the UK
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.
As an international mortgage broker, we find the German banks that finance expats and Germans abroad
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.
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 10–25 % (50 % at 100 % financing) is applied, depending on currency and type of income.
Which situations does this page describe?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Detail pages for specific constellations
★★★★★“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.”
Example financings
Two typical constellations from practice — EU Blue Card and settlement permit. Terms are current and depend on creditworthiness.
Blue Card · IT sectorApartment, 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.
Run this calculation with your own figures →
Residence permit · doctorApartment, 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.
Run this calculation with your own figures →
Model calculations without guarantee. Not binding offers. Terms vary by creditworthiness, property and bank. Not tax or legal advice.
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
Open the file directly — no form: Non-resident mortgage checklist (PDF, 9 pages) (Nederlands (niet-ingezetenen) · Français (non-résidents))
Advice free · commission, as a rule, paid by the bank · §34i GewO · not tax advice
Further reading
Financing listed properties (in German)
Also relevant for expats — a combination of depreciation and capital allowances is possible.
QNG financing for new-build projects (in German)
KfW 297/298, EH-40 standard, subsidised loan — without a capital repayment grant.
KfW 297/298 Climate-friendly new-build (in German)
Details page with terms and conditions and the application process.
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 10–25 % (50 % at 100 % financing) 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. Many people looking for an international mortgage or an international mortgage broker want financing for a property in their 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 10–25 % (50 % at 100 % financing) is applied for reliably verifiable pay, depending on currency and type of income. See German passport, residence abroad.
Can expats get a buy-to-let mortgage in Germany?
Yes. As an expat with residence in Germany — including holders of an EU Blue Card or a settlement permit — a buy-to-let mortgage for a rental property works through the same banks as owner-occupation, though the circle of lenders may differ. For expats with residence abroad, we know the banks that finance a rental property in Germany for a non-resident buyer; the criteria are the same: income, loan-to-value and creditworthiness.
What does an international mortgage broker for expats do, including for expats from the UK?
We find the German bank that actually takes the case — not every lender is open to a residence abroad, a foreign-currency income or a UK-based applicant. The three situations we cover are expats resident and taxed in Germany, Germans abroad buying in Germany, and cross-border commuters; we compare over 650 banks and work in English, Russian, Spanish or French. We arrange financing for property in Germany only, not a mortgage in the UK or elsewhere.
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
Financing listed buildings (in German)
Relevant for expats too — listed-building depreciation combination possible.
QNG new-build financing (in German)
KfW 297/298, EH40 standard, subsidised-interest loan up to €150,000 per unit — no repayment grant.
KfW 297/298 climate-friendly new build (in German)
Detail page with conditions and application path.
KfW 261 full energy retrofit
Up to 150,000 € per residential unit, Efficiency House 85 as the minimum standard.
KfW 300 for families
Up to 270,000 € for owner-occupiers with children — income limit and prior-ownership rule apply.
Residence permit Germany — how banks read a temporary or a settlement permit
Fixed-term or permanent — which banks accept which permit.
Property financing with an EU Blue Card
EU Blue Card mortgage: which banks finance Blue Card holders, how much equity, whether KfW funding is possible. § 34i GewO advice, Krefeld and nationwide.
Expat buy to let: German real estate investment with an EU Blue Card
A let flat as an investment with residence in Germany — the choice of banks.
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.
