KI-generiert
Property in Berlin,
in plain English.
Buying, selling or investing in Germany works differently from what you may be used to at home. I explain every step in English, from the first viewing to the notary’s signature, and I’ve been doing it in Berlin for more than 11 years.
What I do
Click on any service to see the details.
It starts with a realistic valuation that looks at the building’s condition as well as the market, because that is often what moves the final price. After that, I take care of the marketing, the viewings, the negotiation and the notary appointment.
If you would rather not advertise publicly, for instance because the flat is let, I can sell it discreetly to buyers I already know. And if you live abroad, the whole process can run without you having to fly in.
I build the search around what you actually need: the neighbourhood, your budget, and whether you plan to live there or let it out. I check the paperwork before you commit, accompany you to viewings and negotiate on your behalf.
Have a look at what’s currently on the market, or tell me what you’re looking for and I’ll come back to you with options.
You can invest in single flats for long-term value, or in whole apartment buildings (blocks of flats) if you are looking for income. Together with Juna Estate GmbH, my partner of many years and a specialist in apartment buildings across Germany, I work with sellers and investors in Berlin and Leipzig.
More on the Leipzig market here: Sell or invest in Leipzig.
Whether it’s a house in Tuscany, a flat in Sardinia or a farmhouse in Umbria or Puglia, I work with partners on the ground in Italy to help buyers find the right place and sellers reach buyers in Germany and abroad. You’ll find more in the section on Italy further down.
Contracts, land register, owners‘ association minutes: German property paperwork is thorough and entirely in German. I go through it with you in English, coordinate with notaries, translators and financing advisers, and make sure nothing important gets lost in translation.
How buying works in Germany
If you have bought property in the UK or the US, a few things will feel familiar and a few will not. The biggest difference: nothing is binding until you sign in front of a notary.
Viewing and offer
You view the property and make an offer in writing. At this stage, nothing is legally binding for either side.
Checking the paperwork
This means the land register, the owners‘ association minutes, the reserve fund and the energy certificate. It’s where most surprises are found.
The notary
One notary acts neutrally for both sides and reads the contract aloud, with an interpreter if needed. Signing makes it binding.
Completion
You pay once the notary confirms everything is in place, then you get the keys. The land register is updated a few weeks later.
Currently on the market
Flats in Prenzlauer Berg and other Berlin neighbourhoods, both vacant and let. The list is updated as new properties come in.
More than 11 years in Berlin.
I’m Saverio Pallocca, Italian by origin and an estate agent in Berlin for more than eleven years. I run a small agency in Prenzlauer Berg, so you deal with me directly rather than a different person at every stage. For apartment buildings, I work with Juna Estate GmbH. Together with REB Consulting GmbH, also a partner of many years, I can offer clients wider support, including advice in Portuguese.
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A home in Italy
As an Italian, I see this as the part of my work closest to home. With partners in Tuscany, Sardinia, Umbria, Puglia and the Marche, I help buyers from abroad find the right property and Italian owners reach buyers in Germany and beyond. Some of the pages below are in German or Italian. If you’d rather talk it through in English, just use the investment form above or get in touch.
FAQ: Property in Berlin for English speakers
The practical difference is financing: since Brexit, UK buyers are treated like other non-EU buyers, and German banks usually ask non-residents for a larger deposit than they would ask of local buyers.
For flats and houses, the agent’s fee is split equally between buyer and seller, typically up to 3.57 percent each including VAT.
It usually takes a few weeks to get from an agreed offer to the notary appointment.
Leasehold (Erbbaurecht) exists but is the exception, and it shows up in the land register.
I look at those together with the building’s condition, because that is where most surprises are found.
It’s worth sorting out banking and financing early, before you start making offers.
For the notary appointment you can attend in person or give a notarised power of attorney, which can be arranged abroad.
Whole apartment buildings, and cities such as Leipzig, tend to offer better yields.
What clients say
5.0 · Google Reviews
Emma P.
“Saverio was our buying agent for a property in Berlin in 2021. Great service, also done digitally from the Netherlands.”
Renate H.
“Sehr angenehmer Makler, der einen nicht unter Druck setzt. Absolute Empfehlung!”
Car
“Mi sono trovato molto bene con Saverio, disponibile, capace nel suo lavoro. Consigliato!”
Let’s talk
Pallocca | Immobilien
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Pappelallee 78/79 · 10437 Berlin Prenzlauer Berg · English-speaking estate agent in Berlin
