How to Search for Property in Germany as an Expat (In English)

Germany does not have a Zillow or a Rightmove equivalent that caters to English speakers. The three dominant property portals — ImmobilienScout24, Immowelt, and Kleinanzeigen — are almost entirely in German, and most listings (Exposés) include legal and structural terminology that does not translate cleanly even with browser extensions.

But the inventory is there. Around 90% of all listed residential property in Germany appears on at least one of these portals. Here is how to use them effectively as an English-speaking buyer.

The Three Portals You Need

ImmobilienScout24 is the market leader, with the broadest inventory across all property types and regions. For most searches in major cities, start here.

Immowelt has significant overlap with ImmobilienScout24 but often carries some listings that are exclusive to their platform. It is worth running parallel searches on both.

Kleinanzeigen (formerly eBay Kleinanzeigen) is Germany's general classifieds platform. For private (privat) sales — properties being sold directly by the owner without a Makler, often listed as provisionsfrei — Kleinanzeigen has a meaningful share of inventory that the other portals do not carry.

Immonet is a smaller portal worth checking for regional markets outside the major cities, but its overlap with ImmobilienScout24 is high in urban areas.

Search Terminology You Need to Know

German property listings use standardized abbreviations that are not self-explanatory to foreign buyers:

A 3-ZKB ETW in a Berlin Altbau of 78 m² WF, Bj. 1930, vermietet, EK: D means: a 3-room freehold apartment in a pre-war Berlin building, 78 sqm, built 1930, currently rented, with an energy rating of D.

Using ImmobilienScout24 as an English Speaker

ImmobilienScout24 has no official English interface. The most practical approach is to use it with Chrome's automatic translation feature, which handles most of the navigation well.

Key filters to use in your search:

• Zimmer (rooms): Note that Germans count all rooms except the bathroom and kitchen. A 3-Zimmer apartment has 2 bedrooms plus a living room — not 3 bedrooms.
• Wohnfläche (sqm): Set minimum size; German apartments are priced and described in sqm, not bedrooms
• Kaufpreis (purchase price): Set your maximum; listings sometimes display prices exclusive of Makler commission
• Etage (floor): Ground floor (Erdgeschoss) typically commands a price discount; top floor (Dachgeschoss) may have a premium but requires checking attic insulation
• Energieausweis Klasse: Filtering by energy rating (A–D) helps you identify properties with lower immediate renovation liability

For each listing you are serious about, request the full Exposé (property details document). This will include the floor plan, Grundbuch excerpt, energy certificate, and usually the Teilungserklärung summary for apartments. The Makler is legally required to provide the Energieausweis before or during the first viewing.

For a complete step-by-step walkthrough of the German property purchase process, from portal search through Grundbuch registration, the Buying Property in Germany — Expat Guide has it laid out in plain English.

Common Mistakes in Online Searches

Comparing sqm prices across different cities without adjusting for what "sqm" includes. German Wohnfläche calculations are standardized under DIN 277, but some listings include balcony areas at 25–50% of their actual size. A ground-floor flat with a large garden may show lower sqm and higher apparent price-per-sqm than a comparable penthouse, not because it is more expensive but because the garden is not counted in the floor area.

Ignoring the Vermietet status. Buying a tenanted property in Germany is a specific investment decision with its own legal implications — particularly around Eigenbedarf (personal use) evictions and the Mietpreisbremse rent cap. If you want to live in the property yourself, a vermietet listing requires careful legal assessment before you make an offer.

Treating the listed price as negotiable by default. In some German cities, particularly Munich, properties are listed at or below market value and then sold via a highest-offer bidding process. In others, asking prices leave room for 3–5% negotiation. Understanding local market dynamics matters more than applying a fixed negotiation percentage.

Missing Provisionsfrei listings on Kleinanzeigen. Buyers who search only ImmobilienScout24 miss private seller inventory that could save them 3.57% in Makler fees — a meaningful sum on a €400,000+ transaction.

Working With a Makler

Once you engage with a property and its Makler, two things are worth clarifying upfront:

1. Does the Makler speak English? Many urban Makler have some English, but technical legal discussions about the Teilungserklärung, WEG minutes, or Grundbuch entries may require a German speaker on your side.

2. Who does the Makler represent? Under the 2020 reform, the fee is split — but the Makler was hired by the seller and represents the seller's commercial interests. Do not treat them as your advisor on deal fairness or due diligence.

For buyers who do not speak German and want someone actively on their side, a dedicated buyer's agent (Käufermakler) is rare in Germany but worth seeking out in major cities.

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