Here you find useful vocabulary for orientation in the German real estate alphabetically ordered in German. Vocabulary is translated or sets to facilitate the understanding of real estate in German. Every explanation of words in German is given in English to help you in your research.
A
Abgeschlossenheitsbescheinigung: certificate of self-containment – In German law, a Certificate of Self-containment confirms that apartments, flats or units in a multiplex building, even where there is a part-ownership in place, are structurally independent from other rooms and dwellings. For the purposes of the Condominium Act, this is achieved by walls and ceilings. Also, it is essential to have an entrance which can be locked. The certificate is provided by the German building supervisory board, they will also approve a construction and grant building licenses.
Altbau: old, traditional building
Angebot: offer
Anzeige: announce
Aufzug: elevator, lift
B
Badezimmer: bathroom
Ballungsgebiete: district with a regulation for the increase of the rent.
Baubeschreibung: construction specification – The construction specification contains comprehensive information on the structure to be built. It not only lists the materials which will be used, but explains how the work will be carried out. If the build is financed by private investors the construction specification forms part of the documentation that the home buyer or builder should provide to their bank to obtain credit. Therefore it is an essential element of the building contract. Moreover, it is vital if a section of land, or anything else connected with the construction, is being bought from the builder.
Baufinanzierung: construction financing
Baugeld: money to build
Baugenehmigung: building permit, planning permission
Baugrundstück: building plot, buildable land
Baujahr: year of construction
Baulasten: charges for construction
Baulastenverzeichnis: list of charges for construction
Bauplanung: planning of construction
Baulexikon: glossary of construction
Ballungsgebiete: district with a regulation for the increase of the rent.
Betriebskosten: Service charges – The service charge refers to the costs of running and maintaining the property as a whole. This can include, but is not limited to, heating, repairs, liabilities and housing tax.
Bezirk: district, area, quarter
Bezugsfrei ab: available from (date), it gives you a possible date of moving in.
D
Darlehen: to borrow
Darlehensgebühr: Loan fee – Once a loan is arranged, the fee for this service will be payable. The amount owing will vary, but is agreed in advance between the company providing the credit, the lender, and the borrower. In general, the calculation is presented as a percentage of the total loan amount. Frequently, the amount is simply added on to the loan account. The payment schedule is then worked out on a monthly basis, with the total amounts representing both a proportion of the interest and a portion of the actual repayment. The loan fee will be added to the interest amount as this relates to all the costs incurred by the loan.
Darlehenzinsen: interest of a loan
Dienstbarkeit: property services
E
Einbauküche: kitchen, already furnished kitchen
Eigenkapital: Equity capital – Equity capital refers to the amount of money a buyer supplies from their own funds in order to purchase the property. This can be in the form of savings or cash.
Eigentümer: owner
Eigentümergemeinschaft – WEG: Community association – When people buy a home in a housing complex, they become part of a community association. This is a legal requirement and the association cannot be annulled. Each resident is part of any decision making process and they have external representation in the form of a trustee – known as a WEG trustee.
Eigentumswohnung: owner-occupied flat, condominium, condo
Einzug: moving in
Energieausweis: Energy pass – Buildings are assigned a category according to how energy efficient they are and this is represented by their energy pass. A good energy rating is considered a mark of quality in terms of real estate.
Erdegeschoss: ground floor, first floor
Etage: floor
Etageanzahl: number of floors in a building
F
Fahrad: bike
Fälligkeitsmitteilung: official roquets to transfer the buying price
Fassade: facade
Fertighaus: prefabricated house
Fläche: area, surface
Finanzierungsplan: Financing plan – When a buyer asks for credit they will do so with the backing of a finance plan. This enables them to work out how much they will be obliged to repay per month and whether they can realistically afford these instalments.
Fremdkapital: Borrowed capital – The financial term, Borrowed capital, refers to the funds which may be borrowed from a building society, bank, or a third party and form part of a loan taken out to buy a property.
G
Garage: garage
Gehoben: excellente quality
Gemeinschaftseigentum: Collective property – Collective property encompasses all the communal areas of a building which are not included in individual ownership; this may be the stairs, boiler rooms and laundry area. Each buyer has the right to use these areas when their purchase is finalised and they move in.
Gesamtmiete: total rent, all charges included
Gewerbe: business area
Grundsteuer: property tax
Grundstück: property, premises
Grundschuldbestellung: ordering a mortgage
Grundbuch: land register, cadastre – The ownership details, the rights of each party and any charges are included in the Land Register; this could be listed in either electronic or written form. This property record is available to the general public and incorporates various pieces of information on specific properties and the owners.
Grundbuchauszug: extract of land register
Grundbuchblatt: document where the property is mentioned in the land property
Grunderwerbsteuer: tax on buying a flat
H
Haus: house, building
Haus kaufen: to buy a hous, a building
Haustier: pet
Hausverwaltung: property management
Hausverwalter: company doing the property management
Heizkosten: heating costs
Heizungsart: type of heating
Hypothek: mortgage
Hypothekendarlehen: Mortgage loan – Mortgage loans are repaid over an extended period of time, they are provided as collateral for a mortgage or land charge. This presents the least possible risk for any lender and ensures interest rates remain low for a borrower, compared to other loan options. The collateralisation is completed by noting the mortgage or land charge in the Land Register.
Hypothekenzinsen: interest of mortgage
I
Immobilien: real estate – The term real estate comes from the Latin phrase ‘immobilis’, meaning ‘motionless’. For legal and economic purposes, properties and buildings are also referred to as an ‘immoveable asset’. To describe a property, the real estate industry also uses the German word for ‘immovable’ – Liegenschaft.
Immobilienbewertung: evaluation of real estate
Immobiliendarlehen: real estate loan
Immobilienmakler: real estate agent
Immobilienpreis: real estate price
Immobilienwert: real estate value
Innenhof: inter courtyard
Instandhaltungsrücklage: Maintenance reserve – The maintenance reserve is a pool of cash which is put aside in case of future problems with the building, like defects or damages. It may also be used for improvements. For condominiums, the manager will gather payments at an owners meeting – the amount requested will be agreed on beforehand. This is a legal requirement. Establishing an adequate financial provision is an administrative task and payments are often factored into common charges.
J
Jahresabrechnung: Annual statement – Each year an annual statement is issued which compares the incoming and outgoing funds of the property manager responsible for the home owners association. This document must include a complete settlement of any costs and individual invoices relating to separate residences. Costs can include community lighting, waste disposal, water and electricity.
K
Kaltmiete: basic rent, without charges
Kapitalanlageimmobilie: Real estate investment – Real estate investment refers to buying a property as an investment, rather than for personal use.
Katasteramt: Land registry office – The Land Registry Office takes the measurements of each property and keeps this information at the public registry. The largest of these land registry offices are called ‘Gemarkung’ in German. The specific area measured is known as the plot (cadastral parcel) or land lot. Prior to buying a property, it is possible to view the cadastral map in a land registry office. It shows information on usage, plot numbers and other details about the location.
Kaufen: buy, purchase
Kaufpreis: purchasing price
Kaufvertragsentwurf: draft of selling contract, bill sale
Kaution: deposit
Keller: basement
Kiez: quarter
Kinderzimmer: child’s room
Kosten: cost
Küche: kitchen (room)
Kündigung: cancellation
Kappungsgrenze: limite for rent increase in specific area
L
Lageplan: Site plan – The site plan shows how big a property is within a location and in comparison to its surroundings. To request a building application, a site plan is necessary as it illustrates the demarcations and boundaries of the plot or building.
Leben: to live
Löschungsbewilligung: Consent of deletion – By signing the Consent of Deletion the credit provider agrees that when the final loan payment is made, the mortgage is wiped from the land register. This document is essential for legally ensuring the land register wipes the mortgage and must be presented in the form of official documentation.
M
Makler: real estate agent
Markt: market
Massivhaus: whole building
Mieten: to rent
Mieter: tenant, lease holder
Mietkauf: lease-purchase agreement
Mietkaution: Security deposit – Usually, the security deposit equals the equivalent of three months’ rent. It is provided to the landlord as a form of collateral, enabling them to settle future arrears or damages. When the contract comes to an end, the deposit, along with any accrued interest, is given back to the tenant who has left.
Mietpreis: renting price
Mietrecht: renting law
Mietspiegel: Rent index – The rent index gives an idea about the current rents being charged on the private market. This allows prospective tenants to find out where prices are highest.
Mietvertrag: lease agreement, rental agreement
Mietwohnung: apartment for renting
Miteigentumsanteil: Co-ownership share – Co-ownership share refers to an owner’s share of the entire common property, this may include the stairs or other aspects of the real estate. The details are included in the Declaration of Division.
Modernisieren: to modernise
Mustervorlage: sample
N
Nachmieter: next tenant
Nachbarn: neighbor
Nachbarschaft: neighbours
Nebenkosten: extra costs
Neubau: new building, construction, house
Notar: Notary public – A Notary Public guarantees the authenticity of real estate and other contracts; they must be unbiased and work in confidence. The Notary Public is a solicitor, this is necessary to ensure both parties are aware of any legal obligations attached to a sales contract. He or she must advise both parties impartially and also confirm that they understand fully the sales contract they are signing.
Notaranderkonto: Notary public’s escrow account – A solicitor working as a Notary Public can establish a temporary account into which the costs of a sale are transferred. This means the money is not combined with any other amounts and keeps the process transparent. It also enables the legal side of the sale and assists the transfer of a property to the buyer.
Nutzfläche: Usable area – Usable areas are those like the loft, cellar or stairs which cannot be classed as living areas.
O
Objektrendite: Property return – Property return is a real estate industry term. It refers to the net income a property could generate, in relation to its cost. In this way potential investors can decided whether it would be in their best interests to buy. The higher the property return, the more beneficial the investment could be. It should be remembered that initial higher returns can be depleted by value-preserving properties.
Objektzustand: stand/condition of the property
P
Planungskosten: Planning costs – The planning costs of a building will include the architects and structural engineers’ charges, as well as those of any other people involved at the planning stage. These fees are seen as part of the entire building costs.
Preis: price
Privat Anbieter: private seller
Provision für Mieter: commission fee to be paid by the tenant
Provision: Courtage – The term Courtage refers to the monies paid to a broker as their commission. It is paid to the relevant agent on completion of a contract, for their services in negotiating the contract.
R
Refurbishment: Refurbishing a property is a good way to upgrade it; the changes may include creative work, optimisation, repositioning or sustainable modernisation.
Renovieren: to renovate, to refurbish
Renovierung: Renovation – Measures which are undertaken in order to maintain a building are known as renovations. They can include cosmetic work or the repair of damages which have resulted from use – these will be mentioned in the rental contract.
S
Sachwert: Real value – The Real Value of a property is the value which includes the building value, the land value and any other facilities outside. Additionally, it decides the collateral value of any owner occupied property.
Sanieren: to refurbish
Saniert: refurbished
Seitenflügel: wing (part of house)
Schlafzimmer : bedroom
Sondernutzungsrecht: Right of special use – The Right of Special use lays out the ground rules for rooms or areas which are accessed by collective owners. They refer to the gardens or terraces of ground floor dwellings or parking facilities. The Declaration of Division covers the Rights of Special Use.
Sonderumlage: Special fees – Special Fees are made for unforeseen expenses; this may be repairs which were not anticipated and are therefore not covered by the common charges.
Stellplatz: parking spot
Straße: street
T
Tapezieren: put up wallpaper
Teilungserklärung: Declaration of division – The Declaration of Division is a document passed to the Land Registry from the property owner, it confirms that the building is made up of co-ownership shares and these are joined to the estate separately. This document confirms the legality of both joint ownership and ownership. It also highlights which parts of the property are owned individually and which are covered by joint ownership. It lists special usage rights, such as those relating to gardens and parking spaces. The Declaration of Division is needed to create a condominium management book and to charge for co-ownership shares.
Tilgung: Repayment – The Repayment is the regular amount a borrower pays until a loan is cleared. Interest payments are also included. The term of the loan can be shortened by making higher repayments. When repayments stretch out over a long-term, the loan is referred to as a mortgage.
Treppenhaus: stairway, staircase, stairwell
U
Unbedenklichkeitsbescheinigung: Certificate of good standing – A Certificate of Good Standing confirms for the owners, that the buyer has met the relevant land transfer tax fee or is exempt from paying it. It further confirms that any tax matters have been dealt with before listing the details into the land register.
Unbefristeter Vertrag: unlimited contract, agreement
V
Vergleichsmiete: local comparable rent in a specific area
Verkaufen: to sell
Verkehrswert: Market value – The Market value of a property refers to its potential sale price; it is reached using comparisons from similar properties or other methods. It refers to the cost of a property at that particular time and in normal business conditions. The Market Value will take into account the features of a property, its location and other characteristics, but not the details of anyone’s personal relationship with the building.
Vermieten: to rent out, to lease out
Vermieter: landlord, owner
Vertrag: contract, agreement
Vermarktung: commercialisation
Verwaltung: administration
Vorkaufsrecht: Pre-emptive right – In accordance with the Pre-emptive Right, a sales contact can be closed by a third party and still leave the buyer entitled to make the purchase. The Right is mentioned in the contact beforehand, or noted within the land register. Together with the private Pre-emptive Right, certain communities use a Public Pre-emptive Right in order to buy a property.
W
Wertermittlung: Assessment of value – The Assessment of Value establishes a market value for any property, this will be calculated in relation to sales and the rental value. It produces a possible sales price for the property.
Wirtschaftsplan: Economic plan – The Economic Plan is worked out every year for any shared ownership property. The property manager is responsible for preparing the document and will usually have the document ready in advance. In the Economic Plan all items of income and expenses relating to the property are laid out clearly. Once they have viewed the plan, owners pay their fees – usually in advance. When the year ends, the property manager presents another report and then reimburses monies unspent or requests further funds if necessary.
WG / Wohngemeinschaft: flat share, apartment share
Wohnen: to live, reside, stay
Wohnfläche: living space, surface
Wohngeld / Hausgeld: Common charge – All members of a building’s community association must make regular payments known as a Common Charge. As per the Economic Plan all costs are factored into the Common Charge – sometimes known as the Condo Fee. If an individual owner has tenants, they can, in certain circumstances, ask them to pay it. In these cases it is referred to as “apportionable ancillary rental costs”. In the case of low earners, ‘housing allowance’ is a form of financial support which is provided by the housing office. To obtain this benefit, people should apply direct to the housing office.
Wohnung: flat, apartment
Wohnzimmer: sitting room, living room, lounge room
U
Umziehen: to move
Umzug: move, relocation
Umzugsunternehmen: company helping to move
Umzugskosten: cost to move
Z
Zentralheizung: central heating
Zimmer: room
Zwangsversteigerung: sale in execution, auction
Zwischenfinanzierung: Interim financing – For short to medium term loans or funding of another nature, the term Interim Financing is used. These will often be paid off at a later date by what is known as end financing – the use of a long term loan to pay off shorter term borrowing.
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