Buy a house in Germany from Australia or New Zealand: what a mortgage takes
Arranging a German mortgage from twelve time zones away — it is possible, but requires a different sequence of steps to that followed when applying from Europe. You will need to sort out the foreign currency, power of attorney and apostille.
Germans in Australia and New Zealand: How complicated is it to arrange a German mortgage?
Germans living in Australia and New Zealand can obtain a German mortgage, but this requires more preparation than if they were resident in Europe. The purchase is usually arranged via a power of attorney that has been certified and apostilled locally; certification, the apostille and postal delivery all require lead time. Income in AUD or NZD is only taken into account after a safety margin has been deducted, which is why we select the bank carefully.
Who provides financing for Germans in Australia or New Zealand to buy a property in Germany?
Olga Nikushkina acts as an independent broker in accordance with Section 34i of the German Trade Regulation Act (GewO) for over 650 banks and specifically selects those institutions that accept this arrangement — free of charge; she is usually remunerated by the financing bank.
Do I have to fly to Germany for the appointment with the notary?
Not usually. The purchase is carried out via a power of attorney that has been certified locally and apostilled — both countries are signatories to the Hague Apostille Convention. You should allow for the lead time: certification, apostille and postal delivery all take time.
Will my salary be credited in full in AUD or NZD?
No. Income in foreign currencies is valued at the converted euro amount, subject to a safety margin. The size of this margin varies considerably from one institution to another — which is why it is important to select a bank carefully rather than simply enquiring at your own bank.
Income in foreign currencies: which bank takes this into account →
Can Germans in Australia or New Zealand get a German mortgage?
Yes, this is possible for Germans living in Australia and New Zealand — but it requires more preparation than with residence in Europe.
Why isn’t distance the main problem?
The biggest concern is usually the wrong one. It is not the distance that determines the financing, but three structural factors — and two of them work in your favour.
Firstly: Australia and New Zealand are not included in the restricted list on German banks’ internal country lists. The number of banks that accept this arrangement is smaller than for German residents — but they do exist, and this represents a structural advantage compared with countries of residence that many institutions exclude across the board.
Secondly, both countries are signatories to the Hague Apostille Convention. This means that certifications are carried out via a standardised procedure familiar to German banks and notaries — there is no need for legalisation via embassies.
Thirdly — and this is the crux of the matter: your income in AUD or NZD is in a foreign currency. Banks do not value it on a one-to-one basis, but apply a safety margin to the converted euro amount. The size of this margin varies considerably from one bank to another — and this is precisely what determines which bank is right for you.
Do you need to travel to Germany for the notary appointment?
As a rule, you do not need to travel to Germany for the purchase. The notarisation runs via a power of attorney that is certified locally and given an apostille. That is the standard route, not a stopgap.
What takes time is not the appointment itself, but the steps leading up to it: confirmation of financing, the power of attorney drawn up by a German notary, local certification, the apostille, and postal delivery. If you only start this process once you’ve already found the property, you’ll lose weeks — and, in a competitive market, you’ll lose out on the property as a result. That’s why we sort out the financing side of things before you make an offer.
In practice, the time difference is the least of your worries. Your appointments are early in the morning or late in the evening; that’s something you can plan for.
What do we cover in the initial consultation?
We go through your type of income, currency and discount, equity and its transfer route, the intended use, any plans to return and the documents needed.
- Type of income: employed, self-employed or a combination of both — this has a greater impact on which banks you can access than the amount itself.
- Currency and discount: Which institutions accept AUD or NZD, and at what discount.
- Equity capital and transfer route: Where is it located, how does it reach Germany, and can the route be verified?
- Use: For personal use upon return or as an investment — this affects the choice of bank and eligibility for funding.
- Plans to return: Once a date has been set, this significantly broadens the options.
- Type of document: What needs to be translated, what needs to be apostilled, and in what order.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a German bank account?
It makes sense, but it is not always absolutely necessary. Many banks insist on a bank account for direct debit of the instalments. We clarify in advance which institutions accept alternatives — this is one of the points where enquiries often fall through at a late stage.
I’m planning to return to Germany — will that help?
Yes, usually by a significant margin. Anyone buying a property for their own future use and who has a foreseeable date for returning to it is more likely to secure financing from banks than in the case of a purely overseas investment.
Is the time difference a problem for German mortgage financing from Australia or New Zealand?
In practice, the time difference is the least of your worries. Your appointments are early in the morning or late in the evening, so you can plan around them.
Request a feasibility assessment
We’ll assess your specific situation, whether you’re in Australia or New Zealand — free of charge, with no obligation, in German or English.
Related pages
Residing in Scandinavia — Buying property in Germany
Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland — four very different starting points.
Resident in China — Buying property in Germany
It is the proof of the source of funds (Mittelherkunftsnachweis) and the foreign exchange regime that are decisive, not creditworthiness.
Residing in Russia — Buying property in Germany
Sanctions determine the transfer of capital — the situation with the narrowest choice of banks.
Residing in Dubai and the UAE — Buying property in Germany
Tax-free income, record-keeping and the right banks for UAE residents.
Loans abroad (Auslandskredit) for Germans: a comparison of the US, the UK and Asia
Several overseas locations, one approach: a comparison of proof of income and choice of bank.
Mortgages without a German residence: Which countries are not eligible?
The four factors that determine feasibility — before making your first enquiry.
Residing in another EU country — buying property in Germany
Within the EU, securing finance is often easier — as banks accept EU residency.
Germans in Singapore and Hong Kong: How is your salary calculated?
What the foreign currency discount (Fremdwährungsabschlag) means, which documents make all the difference, and why your choice of bank is the deciding factor here.
Buying a flat in Germany: Is it easier from the Netherlands or Austria?
Neighbouring countries with their own banking systems — what matters if you’re resident in the Netherlands or Austria.
Germans in the USA and Canada — Buying property in Germany
USD/CAD income, time difference, documentation — financing from North America.
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.
