Forward loan
Lock in today the interest rate for your follow-up financing in 1–5 years. Sensible when rates are rising — you pay a small interest surcharge in return for planning certainty.
Follow-up financing
Follow-up financing & debt restructuring
500+ banks compared. Forward loans can be arranged up to 66 months before your fixed-rate period ends. If you have moved abroad since taking out the loan, your existing bank may not extend — a problem to solve two years early, not two months. Also for buy-to-let and special situations.
Key facts
Follow-up financing at a glance
Three ways out of the interest trap
Restructuring & switching banks
Instead of accepting the house-bank prolongation — compare other banks. On €200,000 remaining debt, a 0.3% rate difference can mean €10,000+ over the remaining term.
Follow-up despite a special situation
Self-employed, near retirement, earlier credit restrictions — many banks decline across the board. With the right bank partner, follow-up financing is still possible.
Timeline
When is the right time?
- 3–5 years before the fixed-rate period ends: consider a forward loan — lock in rates, small surcharge
- 2 years before the fixed-rate period ends: start the bank comparison — even if you sign nothing yet
- 6–12 months before the fixed-rate period ends: obtain binding offers, negotiate with the house bank
- After 10 years of fixed rate: special termination right §489 BGB — you can terminate, even under a longer agreement
What I check specifically
- Current remaining debt + repayment plan of the existing bank
- Market comparison across 500+ banks — including follow-up special cases
- Early-repayment penalty when switching banks — where relevant
- Check the special termination right (§489 BGB)
- Negotiation using house-bank terms as a comparison basis
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is switching banks worthwhile for follow-up financing?
In most cases yes. Even a 0.3–0.5% rate difference often saves €10,000+ over the remaining term. The existing bank rarely offers the best terms — it knows that many clients prolong out of convenience. My market comparison is free.
What is a forward loan?
A forward loan locks in today the interest rate for your follow-up financing in 1–66 months. You pay an interest surcharge (between 0.01 and 0.03% per month of lead time) in return for planning certainty. Sensible when rates are expected to rise.
What does switching banks cost?
Notary/land register for the assignment of the land charge: about 0.15–0.25% of the loan amount. The new bank often pays this. An early-repayment penalty does not arise on a normal schedule — only on early termination outside the §489 special termination right.
Model calculation
Restructuring
Example: restructuring pays off
Restructuring after the fixed-rate period
- Remaining debt€180,000
- Previous rate3.2%
- New rateunder 4%
- New fixed-rate period10 years
- Comparison5–8 banks
- Process3–5 working days
Terms are daily and depend on credit standing.
Model calculations without guarantee. Not binding offers. Terms vary depending on credit profile, property and bank. No tax or legal advice.
More financing topics
Related financing
Financing
100% purchase-price financing
Financing topic.
View page → FinancingCheck your property’s bankability
Financing topic.
View page → FinancingFinancing existing properties
Financing topic.
View page → FinancingFinancing listed buildings
Financing topic.
View page → FinancingFinancing energy class H — what still works in 2026
Financing topic.
View page → FinancingMortgage with foreign-currency income
Financing topic.
View page → FinancingMore than an interest rate
Financing topic.
View page → FinancingPurchase price is not lending value
Financing topic.
View page → FinancingFinancing a QNG new build
Financing topic.
View page → FinancingFollow-up financing despite living abroad
Financing topic.
View page → FinancingGerman buy-to-let for non-residents
Financing topic.
View page → FinancingConversion right §503 BGB explained
Financing topic.
View page →Request a financing analysis
Free, non-binding initial consultation — the commission is paid by the bank. I check 500+ banks plus all state development programmes for your situation.