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Loans for mortgages

Last activity 11 January 2016 by jamesblonde1962

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henadave

Hi,

Does anyone know where I can get a loan for a mortgage here in Frankfurt.. I would like to get a 100% loan if that is possible.
Please let me know if you have any recommendations

Thanks

beppi

You can approach any bank to enquire about mortgages. Do compare a few (or consult motrgage comparison webpages) before you decide!
In general, a 100% mortgage is seen as very high risk by the banks and thus incurs a much higher interest rate. If at all possible, try to finance 20-30% by other means.

JohannesM

Henadave,
100% financing of Mortgage is very unusual for German Banks.
As remarked earlier, 20-30% own savings is customary and makes sense.
Some people (especially foreigners) quickly bypass this by getting 100% loan from a foreign bank, but TANSTAAFL principle always holds true.
(TANSTAAFL = There Aint No Such Thing As A Free Lunch). There are different drivers in Germany for homeownership than in other parts of the world.
   
Before you embark on such a journey, a little Regional background might help you to understand it a bit :

Only 43% of German Households owns property. (US=68.7%, Spain= 83.2%, UK=70.7%)
German Retail Property is generally undervalued in comparison to Global Prices -  Because Residential Property value appreciation (as investment) is extremely slow (breakeven still is usually only after 8 years due to high transfer costs, various taxes). So the property value is much closer to reality. This can be good or bad depending on the way you look at it. These additional costs makes it uninteresting for speculators to heat up the industry (see recent US real-estate bubble burst).


You may ask why this is so? -
There are several checks and balances in place by the government heralding from 1914 onwards -
where financiers were creating exploding prices for property and exorbitant rental prices, doubling prices overnight – driving artificial bubbles against the poor working class, causing many families to find themselves on the street during winter times.

Very long and well known story, cut short ->
today there are very strong and mature rental rights controls and rent acts & regulations, limiting landlords and defining rentee responsibilities.
(Case in point - rental prices rose by only 2.5% since 30 years in Germany, where in other countries like Spain, Britain, US it rose 90-153% from 2003-2006)

In Germany 53% of the Landlords are private persons (Personal Tax which also Benefits rentee with maintainance etc).
In comparison UK have 90% of rental property owned by businesses/corporates.
Germany has the 2nd Largest number Mortage Loans in absolute Monetary Value terms (UK is #1), but mortage loans is only forming 1% of the banking business in Germany. Take a moment to ponder the impact on a social welfare system (for poor and middle-class).

This tidbit, together with the fact that only 1% of German mortgage loans has a variable interest rate (it is 75% in the UK), makes it difficult for business to cover losses in economy by loading the middle-income families (that band of people worldwide paying the most taxes).

So, in short,
1)    Germans can’t be bothered to buy property (because good laws protect them in difficult times and old-age). If they do, it's just another savings instrument.
2)    If you buy you have to be prepared to keep it for a decade before selling it for (a minor) profit.
3)    Even if your home appreciates its value 50 fold over 20 years,  it will be affected by appreciation tax.


TANSTAAFL of Foreign Bank Mortgages
1)    You’ll get 100% mortgage but at a higher rate, cutting into your monthly spare money & luxuries purse (primarily affecting your ability to save extra money).
2)    The rate will more than often be variable (ie not fixed for 5 or 10 years) – Generally linked to an outside currency and conditions.
3)    Renegotiating a loan after the term matures will probably tip the scales towards the financier. Imagine re-negotiating 800k€ loan conditions after 10 years, contract fine print drafted outside the German Law. You’re literally are standing with your hat in your hand…

Some food for thought - especially if you're not 100% certain
a) in which city you'll live over the next 15 years,
b) or absolutely must buy the latest car model and television set every year

... else, private property is still a good savings investment.

jamesblonde1962

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