Ancillary Purchase Costs for Real Estate in Brandenburg 2025
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When buying property in Brandenburg, ancillary costs amount to 8.5–15.6% of the purchase price. The real estate transfer tax (Grunderwerbsteuer) is 6.5% — one of the highest rates in Germany (national average: 5.2%). On a purchase price of EUR 300,000, taxes and mandatory fees alone amount to at least EUR 25,500.
All Ancillary Costs at a Glance — EUR 300,000 Example
When buying property in Brandenburg, the following ancillary costs arise in addition to the purchase price. Concrete example for a purchase price of EUR 300,000:
| Cost item | Rate | Amount at EUR 300,000 | Mandatory? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Real estate transfer tax | 6.5% | EUR 19,500 | Yes |
| Notary fees | ~1.5% | ~EUR 4,500 | Yes |
| Land register entry | ~0.5% | ~EUR 1,500 | Yes |
| Estate agent commission (buyer side) | 3.57% | ~EUR 10,710 | No (optional) |
| Total without agent | ~8.5% | ~EUR 25,500 | |
| Total with agent (both sides) | ~15.6% | ~EUR 46,710 |
Note on estate agent commission: Since the buyer-pays principle (2020), commission on residential property is split between buyer and seller — 3.57% per side (total commission 7.14% incl. VAT).
Transfer tax exemption under § 3 GrEStG applies to purchases between spouses and direct lineal relatives (parents–children). Your notary will clarify whether an exemption applies before signing.
Transfer Tax Brandenburg — Comparison Across German States
Brandenburg belongs to the group of states with the highest real estate transfer tax at 6.5%. The difference from the cheapest state is 3 percentage points:
| State | Transfer tax | Tax on EUR 300,000 |
|---|---|---|
| Bavaria | 3.5% | EUR 10,500 |
| Saxony | 3.5% | EUR 10,500 |
| Hamburg | 4.5% | EUR 13,500 |
| Baden-Württemberg | 5.0% | EUR 15,000 |
| Berlin | 6.0% | EUR 18,000 |
| Brandenburg | 6.5% | EUR 19,500 |
| North Rhine-Westphalia | 6.5% | EUR 19,500 |
| Thuringia | 6.5% | EUR 19,500 |
Despite the high transfer tax, buying in Brandenburg remains very attractive: a house in Neuruppin costs an average of 2,680 EUR/m² vs. 4,338 EUR/m² in Berlin. For a 130 m² home, buyers save approximately EUR 214,000 on the purchase price — the additional burden from the higher transfer tax is comparatively small.
Source: Real Estate Transfer Tax Act (GrEStG), Federal Ministry of Finance; rates as of 2025, no changes announced for 2025/2026.
Notary and Land Register Fees — What You Are Paying For
Notary and land register fees are set by law (Court and Notary Costs Act, GNotKG) — there is no room for negotiation; fees are calculated as a percentage of the purchase price.
Notary fees (~1.5%)
- Certification of the purchase contract (core fee ~0.8–1.0%)
- Preliminary land register entry (Auflassungsvormerkung) — buyer protection
- Certifications and correspondence with authorities
- Land charge entry if bank financing is involved
Land register fees (~0.5%)
- Transfer of ownership to new owner
- Registration of land charge (bank financing)
- Deletion of preliminary entry after transfer
Combined notary and land register costs in practice: 1.8–2.2% of the purchase price = approx. EUR 5,400–6,600 at EUR 300,000. The notary provides a free cost estimate before the appointment.
Financing Ancillary Costs — What Banks Accept
Most banks will not finance ancillary purchase costs — they must be paid from equity. This has significant implications for financial planning:
| Purchase price | Ancillary costs (8.5%) | Rec. equity (20% + costs) |
|---|---|---|
| EUR 200,000 | EUR 17,000 | EUR 57,000 |
| EUR 300,000 | EUR 25,500 | EUR 85,500 |
| EUR 400,000 | EUR 34,000 | EUR 114,000 |
Some banks offer 110% financing (purchase price plus ancillary costs) for borrowers with excellent credit ratings — at a higher interest rate. KfW subsidy programmes (climate-friendly housing, BEG) can reduce the effective interest burden.
Tip: Plan for at least 10% equity to cover ancillary costs — even if your bank offers full financing — to keep the monthly repayment permanently affordable.
Frequently Asked Questions
The real estate transfer tax in Brandenburg is 6.5% of the purchase price (as of 2025) — one of the highest rates in Germany. For comparison: Bavaria and Saxony charge only 3.5%, Berlin 6.0%. On a purchase price of EUR 300,000, the transfer tax in Brandenburg amounts to EUR 19,500. No changes announced for 2025/2026 (Source: GrEStG, Federal Ministry of Finance).
When buying property in Brandenburg, the following ancillary costs arise: transfer tax 6.5%, notary fees approx. 1.5%, land register entry approx. 0.5% — mandatory costs totalling approx. 8.5%. If an estate agent is involved, a further 3.57% per side applies. On a EUR 300,000 purchase, this means EUR 25,500 (without agent) or up to EUR 46,710 (with agent, both sides).
Most banks do not finance ancillary purchase costs — they must be paid from equity. Some banks with excellent borrower creditworthiness offer 110% financing (purchase price plus ancillary costs) at a higher interest rate. Recommended: plan for at least 10% equity to cover ancillary costs, plus 20% of the purchase price for favourable loan terms.
Transfer tax is waived on purchases between spouses, registered civil partners, and direct lineal relatives (parents–children, grandparents–grandchildren) under § 3 GrEStG. Exemptions may also apply in certain inheritance and gift situations. Your notary will clarify the tax treatment free of charge before the purchase contract is signed.