Successful property purchase: What documents you need

Buying a property is a significant step that should be well-prepared. It's essential to have all the necessary documents ready for both the bank and the seller to ensure a smooth process. Use our handy checklist to help you with this.

This checklist will help you gather all the necessary documents in a timely manner to ensure an efficient and smooth property purchase. Remember to seek professional support from a real estate agent or lawyer, if needed, to guide you through the process.

You will need these documents for the bank:

1. Personal documents
   • Identity card or passport: For identification purposes.
   • Proof of income: Pay slips for the last three months or, for self-employed persons, the last two tax assessments and business analyses.
   • Employment contract: To secure the long-term income situation.
   • Self-disclosure form: Form for recording personal and financial circumstances.
   • Schufa credit report: Creditworthiness statement.
2. Financial documents
   • Asset statement: Overview of existing accounts, savings books, securities and real estate.
   • Bank statements: From the last three months to provide insight into the financial situation.
3. Property-related documents
   • Purchase agreement or preliminary agreement: Draft of the notarized purchase agreement.
   • Land register extract: Current extract to verify ownership.
   • Site plan or cadastral map: For the precise location of the property.
   • Building description: For new buildings, this explains the construction method and features.
   • Energy performance certificate: Information about the energy efficiency of the property.
   • Cost breakdown: Detailed list of total costs (purchase price, additional costs, broker fees, etc.).

Further important information

Financing commitment : Before the actual purchase, the financing commitment from the bank should be obtained to ensure that the purchase price can be fully financed.

Notary appointment : The purchase agreement is concluded at a notary's office, where the contract is notarized and the legal processing is ensured.

Note additional costs: In addition to the purchase price, there are further costs such as real estate transfer tax, notary fees and possibly real estate agent fees, which should be included in the financing.

Are you looking for support with buying a property? Contact us. We'd be happy to advise you!

Notice

For the sake of readability, this text uses the generic masculine form. Female and other gender identities are explicitly included where relevant to the statement.

Legal notice: This article does not constitute tax or legal advice for any specific case. Please consult a lawyer and/or tax advisor to clarify the facts of your individual situation.

Photo: © kelpfish/Depositphotos.com