A local real estate lawyer or translator can ensure you fully understand the terms and conditions of the purchase.Other Costs to Consider- Closing Costs: In addition to your down payment, expect to pay an additional 8-12% of the property price for:- Notary Fees: Around 1-2% of the purchase price.- Property Transfer Tax (Grunderwerbsteuer): 3.5-6.5%, depending on the region- Land Registration Fees: Approximately 0.5-1.5%.- Realtor Fees: As mentioned, these range from 3-7% of the purchase price, plus VAT.Benefits for Service Members- Equity Building: Owning property builds equity over time, providing long-term financial security.- Strong Rental Potential: If reassigned, you can rent the property out in Germany high-demand rental market.- Tax Advantages: Germany offers tax deductions for property owners, which can help offset some costs.Key TakeawaysService members have a unique opportunity to buy property in Germany with minimal upfront costs.

Not to mention the economic development steps the town is taking in ensuring the growth of town (roads, schools, zoning) stays on par with the future expected population growth and new jobs that are going to be a result of the new factories opening.  

I completely understand that real estate is a slow and steady game, and I don’t expect overnight success.

I expect to see it rebranded as something else and I would still be cautious about using them, when they tell you they need to clear your funds overseas before ordering.

@Ofir R.Recommend you first figure out the property Class you want to invest in, THEN figure out the corresponding location to invest in.Property Class will typically dictate the Class of tenant you get, which greatly IMPACTS rental income stability and property maintenance/damage by tenants.If you apply Class A assumptions to a Class B or C purchase, your expectations won’t be met and it may be a financial disaster.If you buy/renovate a property in Class D area to Class A standards, what quality of tenant will you get?

@Zeina Awad Recommend you first figure out the property Class you want to invest in, THEN figure out the corresponding location to invest in.Property Class will typically dictate the Class of tenant you get, which greatly IMPACTS rental income stability and property maintenance/damage by tenants.If you apply Class A assumptions to a Class B or C purchase, your expectations won’t be met and it may be a financial disaster.If you buy/renovate a property in Class D area to Class A standards, what quality of tenant will you get?

@Kenneth Jenkins you forgot to mention owners that expect a PMC to use contractors off Craigslist that are unlicensed, NOT insured and rarely have acceptable experience/skill - but, they quote the "best" price.These same owners will sue a PMC if using these types of contractors results in a tenant lawsuit.

This is something that I have really come to realize over the last couple of months as I've been learning.I came into this expecting it to be complicated, and I am not disappointed!

There's no excuse.I've had renters pick up the keys, then call me 30 minutes later to say the bedrooms are smaller than they expected.

You will surely meet flippers, landlords, etc there who are always looking for good deals.Well this ended up being WAAAAAAAAAY longer than I expected.