Additional Purchase Costs Calculator

Calculate all additional costs of buying property in Germany: property transfer tax, notary, land registry and broker fees.

As of September 2026Basis: GrEStG + state rates, GNotKGCalculated in your browser – your inputs are not transmitted and are kept on this device only if you choose

Purchase price of the property

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The property is in (3.5% real estate transfer tax), .

I hired the estate agent aloneThen you pay the full commission. Otherwise it is shared.

Land charge for financingWhen financing, the bank usually requires a land charge.

Your purchase costs

€28,253.65

On top of the price come €28,254 in purchase costs (8.1%) – €378,254 in total.

Transfer tax€12,25043%
Notary€2,4819%
Land registry€1,0284%
Agent (share)€12,49544%

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Real estate transfer tax by state

The rate depends on the federal state. Tap a state to calculate with it.

What you can do

Equity: at least €98,254
Banks recommend 20% of the purchase price plus all purchase costs as equity.
Agent commission is shared
Since 23 Dec 2020, commission sharing applies to flats and single-family homes (§§ 656c, 656d BGB): whoever hires the agent pays at least half.
You usually pay purchase costs yourself
Banks usually only finance the purchase price. Also budget 1–2% for moving and furnishing.
Continue to financing
Calculate the mortgage with a €350,000 purchase price, state and agent fee

How this was calculated

Purchase price of the property: €350,000.00
Real estate transfer tax (3.5%): + €12,250.00
NotaryUnder GNotKG table B, incl. 19% VAT: + €2,481.15
Land registryUnder GNotKG, no VAT: + €1,027.50
Agent (3.57%): + €12,495.00
Total cost (price + purchase costs): €378,253.65

Real estate transfer tax: 3.5% to 6.5% depending on the state.
Notary: about 0.6% to 0.8% of the price.
Land registry: about 0.25% to 0.35%.
Agent: depending on the state and agreement.
Purchase costs are usually paid from equity.

Basis: state real estate transfer tax rates (as of 1 Jan 2026), notary and land registry fees under GNotKG table B, agent commission under §§ 656c, 656d BGB.

Additional Purchase Costs When Buying Property: What You Need to Know

When you buy a property in Germany, significant additional costs arise on top of the purchase price. These additional purchase costs typically amount to between 4.5% and 15% of the purchase price, depending on the state and whether a broker is involved - for a property worth €400,000, that is roughly €18,000 to €60,000.

The additional costs consist of the property transfer tax, notary fees, land registry fees and, if applicable, broker commission. Since banks usually only finance the purchase price, these costs must be paid from your own equity.

The four cost blocks of additional purchase costs

Property transfer tax: A state tax ranging from 3.5% (Bavaria) to 6.5% (e.g. North Rhine-Westphalia). The largest item among the additional costs.
Notary fees: Approx. 0.6-0.8% for notarising the purchase contract under GNotKG fee table B (incl. 19% VAT), decreasing as a percentage as the price rises.
Land registry fees: Approx. 0.25-0.35% for registering the new owner and the priority notice (no VAT). A mortgage lien for financing costs extra.
Broker commission: If a broker is involved: 3-7% depending on the state, often split between buyer and seller since 2020.

Example Calculation: Additional Purchase Costs in Bavaria

Property transfer tax by state

1Bavaria: 3.5%The lowest tax rate in Germany.
2Baden-Württemberg, Lower Saxony, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia: 5.0%Medium tax rate.
3Bremen, Hamburg, Saxony: 5.5%Slightly elevated tax rate.
4Berlin, Hesse, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania: 6.0%Higher tax rate in metropolitan areas.
5Brandenburg, North Rhine-Westphalia, Saarland, Schleswig-Holstein: 6.5%The highest tax rate in Germany.

Buying a house for €400,000 in Bavaria (with broker, split commission)

Purchase price: €400,000
Property transfer tax (3.5%): €14,000
Notary fees (approx. 0.71%, incl. VAT): €2,838.15
Land registry fees (approx. 0.29%): €1,177.50
Broker commission, buyer's share (3.57%): €14,280
Total additional costs: €32,295.65
Total cost: €432,295.65

How You Can Save on Additional Purchase Costs

Even though the property transfer tax and notary fees are largely fixed, there are several ways to reduce the additional purchase costs.

Money-saving tips for property buyers

List fittings separately: A fitted kitchen, furniture or a sauna can be listed separately in the purchase contract. No property transfer tax applies to these items.
Buy directly without a broker: When buying from a private seller or directly from a developer, the broker commission is eliminated entirely.
Maintenance reserve: For condominiums, the assumed maintenance reserve fund can be deducted from the purchase price.
Consider the state: For locations near a state border, a neighbouring state can be significantly cheaper (e.g. Bavaria vs. Baden-Württemberg).

Frequently Asked Questions About Additional Purchase Costs

Everything important about property transfer tax, notary fees and broker fees

How high are the additional purchase costs when buying property?

Additional purchase costs typically range between 4.5% and 15% of the purchase price. They consist of property transfer tax (3.5-6.5%), notary fees (approx. 0.6-0.8%, GNotKG fee table B incl. VAT), land registry fees (approx. 0.25-0.35%) and, if applicable, broker commission (3-7%).

In which German state is the property transfer tax lowest?

Bavaria has the lowest property transfer tax rate in Germany at 3.5%. The highest rates of 6.5% apply in Brandenburg, North Rhine-Westphalia, Saarland and Schleswig-Holstein.

Who pays the broker commission when buying a house?

Since 23 December 2020, the following rule applies to residential property in Germany: whoever commissions the broker must pay at least half of the commission. With a split commission (the most common case), buyer and seller each pay 50%.

Can additional purchase costs be financed?

Banks usually only finance the purchase price, not the additional costs. These must be paid from equity. Some banks do offer full financing, but at significantly higher interest rates.

How high are the notary fees when buying a house?

Notary fees are governed by fee table B of the German Court and Notary Costs Act (GNotKG) and amount to roughly 0.6% to 0.8% of the purchase price including 19% VAT - the percentage falls as the price rises. They cover notarising the purchase contract (2.0x fee), handling the transaction (0.5x fee) and administration (0.5x fee), plus a flat expenses allowance. Land registry fees (approx. 0.25-0.35%, no VAT since it's a court fee) are billed separately, and financed purchases incur additional notary and land registry fees for registering the mortgage lien.